WINTER 2016
THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
500 MILES,
ONE REASON
On the Camino de Santiago with Fr. Tom Curran, S.J.
LEADING THE WAY
“I’ve learned that true leadership is about acting with integrity, taking accountability for your actions, being predictable, surrounding yourself with great people and, most importantly, never forgetting your sense of humor.” NANCY CREASY, ’84 Senior Vice President, Service and Technology, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
WINTER 2016
THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS LEADING THE WAY Nancy Creasy, ’84
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¡BUEN CAMINO!
ROCK REPORT RU’s Newest Jesuit
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New Big Data Degree
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Faculty Kudos
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Athletics News
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Experience the Camino de Santiago with Rockhurst University’s president.
FOR ALUMNI Class Notes
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Alumni Q&A
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Career Center
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From the Chapters
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In Memoriam
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Everyday Leaders
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IN CLOSING Patrick Smith, ’81
TIME AND PLACE Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 37
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ARRUPE HALL
FRANCIS FEVER
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Learn how our latest campus building embodies the core value of Wisdom. On the Cover The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., on the Camino de Santiago. Photo by the Rev. Mark Hushen, O.S.F.S.
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Rockhurst joins in the excitement as the first Jesuit pope visits the U.S.
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Innovation Initiative Promotes Thinking Big
THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
500 MILES,
ONE REASON
On the Camino de Santiago with Fr. Tom Curran, S.J.
THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY WINTER 2016 RU, the magazine of Rockhurst University, is published by the Office of Public Relations and Marketing.
High school students participate in a Rockhurst workshop to promote innovative thinking.
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here will the next big idea come from? Thanks to a new effort meant to capitalize on innovation’s role in solving a range of complex questions, it may come from a group of Rockhurst students and faculty. Sparked by Risa Stein, Ph.D., professor of psychology, and Turner White, MBA, executive assistant professor of management, the student-led Innovate at the Rock program has hosted events for students with local leaders in innovative thinking, a two-day workshop for high-school students centered on finding ways to reduce the stigma surrounding teens with mental health challenges, and a workshop on innovation for Rockhurst faculty. The initiative’s latest effort was the second annual Rockhurst University Innovation Forum in November 2015. It featured talks from the student Innovation Fellows, a new group of RU students trained in innovation, and leaders of projects transforming the Kansas City area. The event introduced RU student leaders and faculty to the Kansas City innovation community and further exposed the on-campus group to concepts fueling innovation projects citywide.
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Number of Epicenter University Innovation Fellows at Rockhurst. Michael Brummett and Michael Frazzetta are leading campus engagement with innovation efforts.
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Staff Sharon Alexander, ’11 Jeremiah Barber Alicia Douglas Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA Estuardo Garcia Jennifer Knobel Tim Linn Michelle Smith Melissa Thompson Angela Verhulst Editor Katherine Frohoff Design JJB Creative Design Contributing Writers The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., Estuardo Garcia, Tim Linn, Patrick Smith, ’81 Photography Estuardo Garcia, Rev. Mark Hushen, O.S.F.S., Don Ipock, Tim Linn, Mark McDonald Send letters to: Katherine Frohoff Rockhurst University 1100 Rockhurst Road Kansas City, MO 64110-2561 or katherine.frohoff@rockhurst.edu Printed on recycled paper.
ROCK REPORT
Newest Jesuit Brings Varied Experience to Classroom T he newest member of Rockhurst University’s Jesuit community, the Rev. Mark Lewis, S.J., has served around the country and across continents, but he said that it’s Rockhurst that perhaps feels most like home. Inspired by priests from his childhood to both pursue the priesthood and to become a member of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Lewis earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees in history and a master’s degree in philosophy. He knew from studying at Spring Hill College that he wanted to work in higher education. “The atmosphere is so great for discussion,” Fr. Lewis said. “And particularly, I really like what we do in our small schools — it’s a place where everyone, from the star athletes to the professors, can live and learn together in a community.”
His two longest assignments, however, would take him on different paths. For a decade, Fr. Lewis was the director of Rome’s Jesuit Historical Institute, overseeing the publication of a four-volume history of the order. But Fr. Lewis said he would sneak away to teach women in religious communities from other countries at a nearby school and students at the Loyola campus in Rome. Now, following a six-year stint as provincial of the former New Orleans Province, Lewis is teaching history courses and serves as the director of the Rockhurst Thomas More Center for the Study of Catholic Thought and Culture. And from the classroom to campus events, Fr. Lewis said he’s found the community he was looking for.
The Rev. Mark Lewis, S.J.
Leadership Series Welcomes Rudy Giuliani R
udy Giuliani, the 107th mayor of New York City, will be the guest of the fourth Rockhurst University Leadserhip Series luncheon, presented by the Association for Corporate Growth, scheduled for Thursday, March 3, 2016. Giuliani will present “Principled Leadership in the Face of Change and Crisis” at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, putting into focus insights he has gained from a career as a political leader, lawyer and businessman. Known as the “Mayor of the World,” Giuliani guided New York City after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 with a steady hand and a brave spirit that earned him Time magazine’s Person of the Year honors in 2001 and praise from U.S. and international leaders.
For ticket information, visit rockhurst.edu/leadershipseries. ROCKHURST.EDU
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Student Conference Celebrates 50 Years of Interfaith Cooperation
Rockhurst co-sponsored an interfaith conference where students, faculty and staff shared ideas on promoting interfaith cooperation.
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alf a century since its publication, Pope Paul VI’s “Nostra Aetate” continues to transform the Catholic Church. The document, written and released as one of many in the mid 1960s during the Second Vatican Council, is short but profound, encouraging Catholics to build new bridges between those of different religions by fostering mutual respect and emphasizing the shared aspects of their traditions.
On Sept. 3, 2015, students, faculty and staff from Rockhurst University and five other area Catholic institutions celebrated the continued legacy of “Nostra Aetate” with a daylong conference featuring Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Conference, who emphasized how that idea influenced his life, even as a member of the Muslim faith. Through a series of workshops, the conference gave students a
chance to discuss what makes their faiths unique, as well as what they share in an effort to build the bridges between the traditions. “One of the most valuable things that I took away from this is that there are so many people willing to not only start this work but continue this work when they leave the conference today,” said Leena Nabulsi, a Rockhurst University sophomore.
HEARD ON CAMPUS “The difference between the America of yesterday and the America of tomorrow is that the America of yesterday was divided by race, by gender, by economics and it cost us. The America of the future can no longer use the vernacular of the past to shape the future.” – Ernesto Nieto, visiting Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Rockhurst University and founder and president of the National Hispanic Institute, at a Visiting Scholar lecture, Oct. 1, 2015
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ROCK REPORT
Helzberg School Grows Big Data Offerings With New Degree
Patricia Cleary Miller, Ph.D.
Durwood Foundation Grant Boosts Humanities Scholarships
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ig data is having a big moment on the Rockhurst University campus.
In September 2015, the Helzberg School of Management launched its newest degree program, the Master of Science in business intelligence and analytics. It is part of a growing portfolio of programs at the school designed to help meet the growing need for more professionals skilled in working with data. “Timing couldn’t be better,” said Cheryl McConnell, Ph.D., dean of the Helzberg School. “It’s easy to feel the tech buzz in Kansas City with the onslaught of entrepreneurs, investors and, of course, techies.” Designed to fit the schedules of working professionals, the MS-BIA degree path joins the existing data science certificate program. The new degree emphasizes not only the technical knowledge required to compile and analyze data, but also boardroom skills like communication. The MS-BIA degree is one of several ways the Helzberg School is engaging with the big data landscape. In July, the school unveiled its state-of-the-art data analytics lab in Conway Hall, featuring pods equipped with monitors and designed to take advantage of the latest data science software tools. And in late October, Helzberg hosted the MS-BIA Executive Summit, featuring top executives including Mike Nill, ’86, from Cerner, and John Stephens, ’80, from AT&T, and giving business leaders a chance to talk to each other about issues surrounding data.
“Timing couldn’t be better. It’s easy to feel the tech buzz in Kansas City with the onslaught of entrepreneurs, investors and, of course, techies.” – Cheryl McConnell, Ph.D.
Generations of students at liberal arts and Jesuit universities have sharpened their ability to think critically and communicate clearly through the study of the humanities, lessons geared to aid them well beyond their lives in the classroom. Recognizing the importance of those skills, the Kansas Citybased Stanley H. Durwood Foundation is now offering a unique opportunity to help bolster scholarships for students studying these subjects at Rockhurst. Between now and Dec. 31, 2016, the Durwood Foundation will match, dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000 in donations made to either existing humanities scholarships at Rockhurst or to establish new scholarships for students studying the humanities at Rockhurst. One way to help the University achieve the match is to contribute to the newly established Patricia Cleary Miller Scholarship in English. Contact Nealey Grosdidier for more information at 816-501-4537 or nealey. grosdidier@rockhurst.edu.
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Chemistry Student Honored for Overcoming Challenges
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shley Neybert proudly shows off the T-shirt she found in the Rockhurst University bookstore. On the front, it reads “I know where I’m going.”
The message is meant to be an inspirational one for all students. But it has a double-meaning for Neybert — with a number of disabilities and a visual impairment that requires her to use a cane to find her way, it’s also a statement that Neybert is more than capable of getting herself around. In August, Neybert, a senior, accepted the Overcoming Challenges Award from the Women Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society at the organization’s semiannual meeting in recognition of her resiliency and persistence. “My automatic thought was I had gone through a lot, but to me, it’s kind of well, this is life,” she said, describing her surprise upon learning she had won. As part of the honor, Neybert said she spoke to about 300 top chemists about her experience. “It was exciting and a little scary,” she said. “But it was an incredible experience.”
Ashley Neybert, senior
Mentors Who’ve Been There Share Experience With Students Being a new college student has many challenges, but the challenges increase dramatically for firstgeneration students like Vanessa Beltran.
Fund scholarships with alumni. The 15 students in the program were paired with alumni based on similar interests, backgrounds, degrees and career choices.
Beltran, a sophomore in the nursing program, and her sister are the first in their family to attend a university.
Randy Lopez, ’06, program officer for the Wyandotte Health Foundation and board member for the Hispanic Development Fund, serves as Beltran’s mentor.
“Growing up, my parents were always pushing me to go to college,” she said. “They made sure I always did my homework to get good grades to get scholarships, but they didn’t have experience on how to go to school in the United States.” To help ease some of these challenges, Rockhurst University partnered with the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Development Fund to create a mentorship program. The program focuses on pairing recipients of Hispanic Development
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“Growing up I had people that I considered mentors who really helped me,” Lopez said. “They were someone I could talk to and relate with. They were someone who knew and understood what I was going through. I wanted to help bring that to Rockhurst and I wanted to take on that role for a student.” As a first-generation student who had successfully completed his bachelor of nursing degree from
Vanessa Beltran, sophomore, and Randy Lopez, ’06
Research College of Nursing, he paired perfectly with Beltran. Beltran said Lopez has been a great resource for her and has helped her navigate through scholarship applications, given her leadership advice for student organizations, and tips for the nursing program.
ROCK REPORT
Old Bones Bring New Life to Anatomy Classroom
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or T.J. Meehan, Ph.D., the path to understanding how the human body works is sometimes about more than knowledge of the muscle and bone groups.
Meehan, an assistant professor of exercise and sport science, earned degrees in geology and biology and a doctorate in biology and has spent years researching the gradual process of evolution and large-scale climactic cycles, primarily by studying the fossil record. “I try to figure out what they did for a living,” he said of the prehistoric mammals he studies. Recently, Meehan delivered a talk at the annual Tate Conference based on fossil evidence of an ancient mammal that fell to a predator, using body position, damage to the bones, and other evidence to come to conclusions about its behaviors and its environment. In addition to biology and geology, Meehan said his research utilizes concepts from paleontology and paleoceanography as well as some botany, to name a few. He said having grounding in multiple disciplines is important when studying the behavior of animals that lived millions of years ago. Similarly, he said that research helps him in the classroom as he explains the various muscle and bone groups of the human
Faculty Kudos
LaKresha Graham, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, returned to the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication after being a fellow in 2014. She became a certified facilitator for Cultural Detective, a cross-cultural communication program, and participated in a weeklong workshop titled LaKresha Graham, Ph.D. “Turning Intercultural Theory Into Practice.” Mylene Schriner, Ph.D, interim chair and assistant professor of occupational
T.J. Meehan, Ph.D., assistant professor of exercise and sport science
body for students who are primarily a part of the physical and occupational therapy programs. “I have to think in terms of form and function and a lot of these students are looking at the human body in similar terms of functional morphology,” he said.
therapy, was interviewed for a video about one of her former patients who received the KU Rehab Hall of Fame Award. The patient had a long and challenging recovery from bacterial meningitis and credits Schriner for helping him focus on rehabilitation efforts. Michael Stellern, Ph.D., professor of economics, is the 2015-16 recipient of the Rues Teacher/Scholar Fellowship. He will facilitate a spring seminar on the case study method of teaching.
Tobey Stosberg, MSN, MAE, RN, assistant professor and director of the Seelos Center and Learning Resource Center at Research College of Nursing, gave a presentation titled “Interprofessional Simulation and Education: Physical Therapy, Nursing, and Theatre Faculty Working Together in the Development of a Standardized Patient Program” at Widener University in Philadelphia.
For more faculty news, visit rockhurst.edu/facultykudos. ROCKHURST.EDU
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Supportive Environment Pays Off for Player and Team
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reecy Seever has surrounded herself with a loving family. At work, Seever’s friends at the Olathe Police Department eagerly await her graduation so she can join the force. At school, her coach and teammates have formed such a tight supportive bond that it will make graduation bittersweet. And at home, Rawley, her 4-year-old son, is such a big fan of mom, he even has his own jersey so he can cheer her on during games. “Every time I get a kill I look up at him and see him yelling, ‘Mom’,” she said.
Preecy Seever, senior
This is Seever’s second and final year playing volleyball at Rockhurst University. Having transferred from Johnson County Community College, Preecy will end her career at a school that welcomed her completely with open arms. “As a mother, I was really worried that I wasn’t going to be able to connect with my teammates or that I would
be treated differently,” she said. “But from day one, everyone has been so welcoming, so supportive of my situation and so loving to Rawley.” Seever said it was coach Tracy Rietzke and the team and environment that he built that made her choice to come to Rockhurst easy. “I’ve known a lot of coaches that are just interested in my athletics and my school work, but not my personal life,” she said. “Rietzke is someone who really cares about his players. Someone that you can go and talk to.” That supportive culture has allowed Seever to play with greater skill and with greater relaxation for her senior year. In past years, she was more focused on her individual stats and goals, but as a senior she is more focused on bringing up her teammates, which has led to the Hawks’ success and her own. Seever averages 2.75 kills and 1.29 blocks per set.
Soccer Team Makes the Grade The Rockhurst University women’s soccer team was recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for its overall team GPA for the 2014-15 academic year. The NSCAA Team Academic Award is given to NCAA and NAIA soccer teams with team GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Rockhurst’s team mark, of 3.74, was second only to Belmont University’s mark of 3.83 amongst all schools in the nation.
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ROCK REPORT
There’s a New Coach in Town
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etting started with a program when you’re new to a university can be tough, but not when you start out with a great group of guys in a very welcoming environment.
That’s what has happened with Drew Diener, the new head coach for Rockhurst University men’s basketball. “I feel pretty lucky,” Diener said. “I’ve inherited some high-character athletes who are very focused academically. These guys are so self-motivated to be successful in basketball and beyond that it’s very refreshing and makes it fun to come to work.” Structure was Diener’s first goal. After seeing how well this group of high-caliber players worked together, Diener focused on making sure his team commits to only taking great shots, making unselfish decisions and playing great defensively every single possession. Once his team is focused on playing the Diener way, he wants to focus on another goal: to climb in the Great Lakes Valley Conference ranks. Diener has looked at the success of other RU programs, such as the men’s soccer team and the women’s volleyball team. “Coach (Tony) Tocco and Coach (Tracy) Rietzke have taught me that you can win at a high level at Rockhurst and you can do it the right way with high-character guys who are great students and are great community members,” he said.
Drew Diener, head men’s basketball coach
Skala Named Finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year
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ormer RU student-athlete Taylor Skala, ’15, was honored for her accomplishments on and off the field as one of the finalists for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
school records for goals and points during her four years as a forward. She led the team to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances during that time.
The NCAA received a total of 480 nominations from schools across the country for the honor, a list that was narrowed first to 30 and then to nine — three from each of the NCAA’s three divisions. Clarion University’s Kristin Day received the Woman of the Year honors at an October banquet in Indianapolis.
The Long Grove, Illinois, native’s list of honors includes earning dean’s list honors each of her four years, being named to the Capital One Academic All-America Women’s Soccer team, recognition as the GLVC Fall Scholar Athlete of the Year for women’s soccer in 2012 and being the first female student-athlete at Rockhurst to receive the GLVC’s Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award, given to one female athlete who displays academic excellence, athletic ability and achievement, character and leadership.
A three-time nominee to the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s All-Defensive Team as a guard on the Hawks women’s basketball team, Skala was also a standout on the soccer field, setting Taylor Skala, ’15
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Volleyball Ends Season With Trip to Elite Eight
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t was a record-setting year for the Rockhurst University women’s volleyball team. The Hawks ended their season after losing to Western Washington in the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championship Tournament. This was the Hawks’ first appearance in the Elite Eight. The season started off strong for the Hawks, who won their season opener with a sweep of Cal Poly Pomona in the SpringHill Suites Invitational in Anchorage, Alaska. The Hawks continued dominating the preseason, accumulating an impressive 15-1 record and a No. 13 national ranking to start the Great Lakes Valley Conference season. The Hawks finished conference play with an 18-0 league record and extended their unbeaten-at-home streak to 37 matches. The Hawks ended the regular season first in the nation for win-loss percentage (.938). At the end of the regular conference season, seniors Whitney Kostal and Preecy Seever, as well as junior Morgan Rietzke, were named to
The women’s volleyball team celebrates a 3-0 home victory against William Jewell College in November.
the All-GLVC First Team. Seniors Alyssa Arnold and Katie Loescher, as well as sophomore Anne Hellwege, were given honorable mention accolades. Coach Tracy Rietzke was named GLVC Coach of the Year for the third time.
Despite the heartbreaking 3-1 defeat in the national quarterfinals, the Hawks ended with a 34-4 record, a school-record No. 5 national ranking, three All-Americans and the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year in Preecy Seever.
After losing to Lewis in the semifinals of the GLVC tournament, the Hawks set their sights on the NCAA Tournament where they were selected as a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region.
“We have no complaints over our season,” Rietzke said. “When you make it to the Elite Eight, you tend to get a little greedy and you want to keep going farther, but if someone told you that you were going to have a 34-4 season, you would take it and run.”
The Hawks swept Saginaw Valley in the first round, beat Lewis 3-2 in the second round and collected their first regional volleyball championship with a 3-2 win over Ferris State.
Rietzke said his main focus now is recruiting quality players to fill in some of the roles vacated by the eight seniors who will be graduating this year.
Rietzke Named GLVC Coach of the Year If you were to take a look at volleyball’s top active coaches, you’d see the name Tracy Rietzke near the top of the list. He’s compiled a 1,153-255 career record – fifth in all levels of NCAA women’s volleyball – won the NCAA regional championship and his first Elite Eight appearance, and he has been named the 2015 GLVC Coach of the Year. It’s his third such honor. For more than 28 years, Rietzke has been at the helm of the volleyball program at Rockhurst University, guiding the Hawks to an average of 35 wins per season and 22 trips to postseason play. This year, Rietzke’s team included three American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Americans, including the AVCA’s national player of the year, and six Great Lakes Valley Conference All-Conference honorees. Rietzke says he attributes his Coach of the Year award and the record-breaking success this year to the hard work of his team.
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ROCK REPORT
(Right) Tony Tocco, Ph.D.
Tocco Earns GLVC Coach of the Year Honors Mitch Moncada, junior, and Ben McDonald, sophomore, celebrate the Hawks’ victory in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
Soccer Team Captures GLVC, NCAA Regional Titles
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he Rockhurst University’s men’s soccer team rode a young core, deep bench and an airtight defense to its fifth Great Lakes Valley Conference title and an appearance in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament. The Hawks finished the season with an 18-2-3 record and ranked third among all Division II teams. In front of hometown crowds, the Hawks captured the GLVC title and the Midwest Regional title in the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament before traveling to Pensacola, Florida, for the national semifinals. The team fell, 1-0, against Cal Poly Pomona in that round, but head coach Tony Tocco, Ph.D., said he told the players they had no reason to hang their heads. “It never feels good to lose like that,” he said. “But when you look back at a
season like this, you have to remember just how well you played — and these guys played great all season.” Their success yielded a number of conference and national honors. Five different players earned spots on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s All-Midwest Regional team, while three more players were named to the All-GLVC Team. Junior defender Paul Dean was picked as the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year and named a First Team All-American by the NSCAA. Any number of other players could have earned similar honors, Tocco said. And looking forward, he said he hopes the postseason experience and the team’s youth can translate to more success in the future.
For the fourth time, Tony Tocco, Ph.D., men’s soccer head coach, is the Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year. In his 45th year at the helm of the program, Tocco led the 2015 Hawks to an 18-2-3 record, a fifth Great Lakes Valley Conference title and a Midwest Regional title in the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament. He has a career 662 victories, the second-most among all intercollegiate soccer coaches, and his teams have appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament eight times, including in 2015. Tocco said he appreciates the recognition, but added that coaching a successful team is the effort of more than one person. Specifically, he thanked associate head coach Giorgio Antongirolami for his leadership and many others for their support from the sidelines. “There are so many people, from our athletics office staff and our trainer to the students, alumni and fans who came to the games and supported us this year,” he said. “I think it really helped us win. I truly believe that.”
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SUMMER 2015
¡Buen Camino!
500 MILES OF DISCOVERY ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO STORY BY THE REV. THOMAS B. CURRAN, S.J., president of Rockhurst University
This past summer, I walked the Camino de Santiago. It’s a pilgrimage to the remains of St. James the Apostle. This “Way of St. James” has been attracting pilgrims for over a thousand years. I started my journey in St. Jean Pied de Port in the Pyrenees Mountains of France. From Santiago, I walked another 90 km to see Finisterre (“end of the earth”) and Muxia on the Western Coast of Spain. All told, I walked close to 900 km (over 500 miles). If you walk at least 100 km or bike 200 km of the Camino, you receive a certificate of completion known as the Compostela. Today, the Pilgrim Office in Santiago reports that 70 percent of those making the Way of St. James do so for non-spiritual reasons. For some, it’s an item on their bucket list. For others, it’s a great hike, a chance to lose weight, an opportunity to forget a loss, or a vacation and experience of the beauty of Northern Spain. So, why did I walk the Camino? For me, I chose the experience of a pilgrim to answer this question: What do I really need in my journey as pilgrim? What should I be carrying in this backpack? In my life? Continued on page 14
(Opposite page) The Rev. Tom Curran, S.J. (Left), and the Rev. Mark Hushen, O.S.F.S., at 592 km (370 miles) to Santiago de Compostela
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After completing their first day through the Pyrenees Mountains of France, Fr. Huschen (Left) and Fr. Curran are 493 miles from their initial destination.
Continued from page 13
The first third of the Camino was good for me physically. During the second third, I found myself absorbing more about the history and value of pilgrimages. And the third continues to be good for my soul.
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The Camino is considered to be a metaphor for life. You walk the first third of the journey for your body, the second third for your mind, and the final third for your soul. Interestingly, Ignatius Loyola’s life can be divided into thirds: knight-soldier, seeker and pilgrim. As a knight he was concerned about his bodily appearance and was filled with vainglory. After being struck by a cannonball, during his convalescence and what followed, he discerned how he might respond to the voice of God. He describes his seeker period as being “instructed as a school boy.” But more than anything else, he considered himself a pilgrim. During this third period of his life, he literally walked the roads of Spain, France, Italy and the Holy Land. His time as a pilgrim allowed him to be free and totally available for God to be working through him. It resulted in his creating the Spiritual Exercises and the founding of the Society of Jesus. The Camino involves walking daily for six to eight hours in solitude with your own thoughts and prayers, being greeted by fellow walkers and people in the towns with “Buen camino (good journey),” living in the close quarters of the “albergues (pilgrim hostels),” and supporting fellow pilgrims throughout the journey. For Ignatius the pilgrim, his realization of the need for fellow pilgrims resulted in his creation of the Society of Jesus — companions in the Lord. Today, Jesuits and our companions are about inviting the believer, seeker, and even the non-believer to find God in all things.
On the Camino de Santiago, pilgrims often begin their day before sunrise.
My realization that a pilgrimage has an interior and exterior dimension came during the vesper service in the Cathedral of Santiago when I experienced the “botafumeiro.” It’s an 80 kg thurible of incense that reaches 40 mph as it swings towards the ceiling of the transept of the Cathedral. Since the 11th century, this censer was used to reduce the stink of the smelly pilgrims, bless them and let their prayers rise like incense before God. For me it was another moment of clarity to my question of what and whom do I really need in my life as a pilgrim. The answer: all those around me with whom I travel, work, have different political viewpoints, believers and non-believers alike. I believe that I am a redeemed sinner. It’s a tremendous consolation to be surrounded by so many others. The first third of the Camino was good for me physically. During the second third, I found myself absorbing more about the history and value of pilgrimages. And the third continues to be good for my soul.
Would you like to get a better feel for what it’s like to hike the length of the Camino de Santiago? Fr. Curran shared stories and photographs of his pilgrimage with a campus audience as guest lecturer for the inaugural installment of the College of Health and Human Services Speaker Series.
Visit rockhurst.edu/camino to view his presentation. With the pilgrimage across Spain complete, Fr. Tom Curran, S.J., considers how the journey never really ends.
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WISDOM
STORY BY KATHERINE FROHOFF, ’09 EMBA
BUILDS HERSELF A HOME Take a closer look at the settings and symbolism of Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Hall
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The Arrupe Hall lobby features a Roasterie coffee shop, numerous windows and many places to study or relax.
D
epending on whom you ask, it is a great place to grab a cup of coffee,
is a showcase for comic art, makes presentations a thing of beauty through its technological capabilities, or supports classroom innovations for faculty. It’s Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Hall and it’s the latest addition to the Rockhurst University campus. Faculty, staff and students continue to find new uses for the building’s spaces and to make it their own. The building features 22 classrooms and labs in a variety of configurations and 45 faculty offices. With a 500-seat auditorium, a Roasterie coffee shop and conference rooms galore that are perfect for group study sessions or meetings, Arrupe Hall has become a popular destination throughout the day and into the night. Continued on page 18
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Continued from page 17
ROCKHURST CROSSES Rather than just purchasing crosses for the classrooms and meeting spaces in Arrupe Hall, the university’s Jesuit Arts and Core Values Committee decided to have them designed and made specifically for Rockhurst. The Rev. William Oulvey, S.J., as chair of the committee, approached the Benedictine monks of Subiaco Abbey, who made the crosses in three sizes from Arkansas cherry. “We were charged with creating a symbol that represented the Catholic and Jesuit mission of Rockhurst,” said Ellen Spake, Ph.D., assistant to the president for mission and ministry. “We decided to let the cross itself represent the faith and the rising sun seal with the letters IHS represent the Society of Jesus.”
NEW OFFICE SHOWCASES TREASURES With so many mementos and treasures from around the world in her office, M. Kathleen Madigan, Ph.D., professor of modern languages, had to consult a colleague to help her discern which items to move from Van Ackeren Hall to her new digs in Arrupe Hall. A table and two chairs decorated with Paris pillows and a replica of the Eiffel Tower sit below a large, colorful map of France on one wall. Four bookcases on the opposite wall hold memories of her trips around the world, family members and former students. Each piece tells a story and transports her to another country.
CUSTOMIZABLE CLASSROOMS Classrooms in Arrupe Hall are designed to accommodate the latest methods in teaching and learning. With advanced technology and furniture that is easily moved, faculty members, such as Glenn Young, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology and religious studies, are able to configure the setup for collaborative projects and to incorporate multimedia components into presentations.
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SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM For artist Anne Lindberg, water and wisdom are intertwined. They worked together as inspiration for the large-scale artwork she created for the Arrupe Hall lobby as a reflection site for one of the University’s core values – Wisdom. The Rockhurst University seal bears the inscription “sapientia aedificavit sibi domum,” which means “wisdom has built herself a home.”
Learn more about the Wisdom piece and its significance at rockhurst.edu/Lindberg.
REV. PEDRO ARRUPE, S.J. When the architects first presented drawings for Arrupe Hall, the large letters on the side said New Academic Building, and that’s what it was called for months. But Rockhurst President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., began talks with a major donor for the building about a more permanent name. The donor was very interested in finding a way to choose a name that would reflect the mission of the University and convey this identity in a lasting way. After discussing several possibilities, they decided to call the building Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Hall. Fr. Arrupe (1907-91) was the 28th superior general of the Society of Jesus, whose leadership helped focus the Society on being men and women for and with others. He was known for his deep spirituality and commitment to social justice.
COMIC SYMBOLISM On the third floor of Arrupe Hall, you will find an unusual feature for an academic building. The McMeel Family Gallery showcases a number of pieces of framed, original comic strip art by nationally known artists such as Garry Trudeau. Their content is meant to reflect the themes of learning, leadership and service. In addition, a display screen features new comics each evening that appear the following day in media outlets supplied by Andrews McMeel Universal syndication company. The gallery is named for John McMeel, one of the founders of the company, whose family donated the works.
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On Sept. 24, 2015, Rockhurst hosted a watch party when Pope Francis gave a historic address to Congress.
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FRANCIS FEVER
PAPAL VISIT TO U.S. ENERGIZES RU BY TIM LINN
W
ith a plume of white smoke emerging from a Vatican chimney in March 2013, Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis, the first-ever member of the Society of Jesus to be named to the top post in the Catholic Church. Since assuming the papacy, Francis has transformed, for many, the public perception of the Catholic Church by emphasizing a message of mercy and dignity while earning a reputation as a humble, plain-spoken servant of God and humanity. In September 2015, Francis commanded the attention of the nation and the world when he visited the United States for the first time, a trip that included stops in Washington, D.C., to address a joint meeting of Congress; New York City to speak before the United Nations; and Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. A visit to the U.S. — one of the world’s cultural hubs — by a sitting pope is always noteworthy, said the Rev. Mark Lewis, S.J., visiting assistant professor of Catholic studies. But Francis, like the popes before him, also came with a mission.
“The decision of a pope to go to one country or another is always influenced by the needs of that community,” he said. “It’s about addressing what our spiritual needs are, and it seemed to me that Francis was giving nearly every group in the United States something to talk about and grow about.” Ana Cardoza, a freshman from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, had the opportunity to see Francis firsthand when she received a ticket to travel to Philadelphia with her father and one of her sisters as part of a group from her church, Our Lady of the Presentation. Even with a ticket guaranteed, Cardoza said the opportunity seemed otherworldly in the weeks leading up to her departure. “People around campus were asking me about it, and I didn’t know what to say,” she said. “It didn’t seem real.” Continued on page 22
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“Pope Francis lives his life with integrity, honesty and a profound love for all God’s people, most especially the poor and marginalized. This is the way Rockhurst University and all Jesuit institutions seek to live.” – The Rev. William Oulvey, S.J.
(Clockwise from front) Rockhurst University freshman Mary Elfrink, senior Carmelita Bahamonde and senior Jenifer Sargent celebrate Pope Francis’ address to Congress with a photo.
Continued from page 21
Her group had to brave a bus breakdown in Odessa, Missouri, and the cold early morning in Philadelphia, but Cardoza said she did get to see the pope as he drove through the city — twice — before listening to his speech at Independence Hall. Bingo cards from the Ignatian Solidarity Network helped viewers track key messages in Pope Francis’ speech.
“I had to watch it again on my phone afterward,” she said, to reassure herself of the experience. Millions watched Francis on TV. On Sept. 24, Rockhurst hosted a watch party for his address to Congress for students, faculty, staff and community members. Sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, the party — complete with papal bingo cards to help viewers follow along — was one of hundreds of such gatherings hosted by parishes and schools of all
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levels across the country. Some heard echoes of the Society of Jesus’ core values in Francis’ words on a range of topics from climate change to the sanctity of all human life to economic inequality. “Pope Francis lives his life with integrity, honesty and a profound love for all God’s people, most especially the poor and marginalized. This is the way Rockhurst University and all Jesuit institutions seek to live,” said the Rev. William Oulvey, S.J., an assistant for Mission and Ministry at Rockhurst. “When I watched Pope Francis speak to Congress, I looked around the auditorium and saw many people nodding in a way that said to me, ‘this is who we are, this is the world we want to build.’”
Continued from page 23
#JESUITEDUCATED The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities celebrated Francis’ visit by asking alumni from the 28 higher education Jesuit institutions in the U.S. to submit stories about what it means to be Jesuit educated, compiling the reflections at medium.com/jesuit-educated. AJCU also unveiled an advertising campaign touting the transformational leadership of Jesuit-educated students, a campaign that included a 70-by-50-foot banner in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.
Senior Nick Blair said he heard a challenge to the U.S. and lawmakers in Francis’ words, but also a message of hope. “The way he’s talking to people about big issues has been inspiring to watch,” Blair said. “Pope Francis talks to people in a way that brings us together instead of making us feel separate. I think that’s what he tried to emphasize in his speech and throughout his visit.” Cardoza, the U.S.-born daughter of immigrant parents, said Francis’ message of unity resonated with her, especially. “Francis said that he is an immigrant too, and this is a land of immigrants,” she said. “I think he was really able to put himself in the shoes of everyone else, even marginalized people.”
It went beyond words. Catherine Green, Ph.D., professor emerita of philosophy, won a single ticket in a lottery from the Catholic University of America, where she had earned her doctorate, to attend the canonization Mass in Washington, D.C., for the Rev. Junipero Serra, a Spanish missionary priest, celebrated by Francis. Though she traveled with her husband, Green went alone to the Mass. But she said the experience was anything but lonely — she instead found it easy to connect with those around her, united by the historical nature of the event and the belief in Francis’ transformative papacy, even though they came from different
backgrounds. Watching as part of the massive crowd, Green said she was struck by the sense of empathy and love that Francis inspired in her and those around her. Her hope, she said, is that it carries forward. “For four days in the United States, I think we weren’t bickering as much about our differences,” Green said. “I think Pope Francis will have a lasting effect and I think his message of unity will have a lasting effect. I don’t think it’s going to fade from our conscious.”
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Fireworks brightened the sky during Family and Alumni Weekend Sept. 25, 2015.
FOR ALUMNI ’61 James M. Stedman, Ph.D., has co-authored the paper “Intentionality and the Aristotelian-Thomistic View of Concepts.” It was published in the Journal of Mind and Behavior. Co-authors include Curtis Hancock, Ph.D., professor of philosophy at Rockhurst University, and Thomas Spalding and Christina Gagne, of the University of Alberta, Canada. Stedman is a psychologist, but earned a bachelor’s in philosophy from Rockhurst.
’70 Thomas P. Conry has a professional background that includes more than 23 years as director of U.S. – Japan relations with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Houston. Before joining JETRO he spent 14 years as program administrator at the southern regional office in the Institute of International Education in Houston. David Huff was honored at a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated at Parroquia San Andres in Ajijic for his 45 years as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy. He was commissioned by Bishop Charles Helmsing in 1970 for the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph and has subsequently served in parishes in four other dioceses in the United States. Upon his retirement, Huff and his wife Catherine moved to Mexico and the Archdiocese of Guadalajara. Prior to retirement, he was
Stay Connected
a prison chaplain for 12 years with the Missouri Department of Corrections. In 2000, Huff was the recipient of the Catholic Citizen of the Year Award by the Missouri Catholic Conference for his work in prison ministry.
You’re part of the Rockhurst University community. That means you belong to an organization that’s changing the world one leader at a time. Don’t miss out on news meant for you. Go to rockhurst.edu/update and update your information today. Be sure to share your email address to receive the latest University and alumni news.
’76 Stephen Schneck was named by President Barack Obama to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Schneck is the director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America.
’82 MBA Thomas A. Gerke was appointed to the Tallgrass Energy GP, LP Board of Directors effective July 30, 2015. He sits on the board’s audit committee.
’86 Joe Naylor is the provincial assistant for advancement and communication at the USA Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus. He previously served in a similar capacity at the California Province. Naylor has been recognized as a certified fundraising executive.
’87 Gigi Lombrano was a recent award recipient in two categories of the American Society of Interior Designers Design Excellence Awards. Recent publications
’93 EMBA
for client projects include Power and Motor Yacht magazine and St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles magazine.
’88 Jennifer F. Wood, Ph.D., was selected as the 2014-15 recipient of the Educator of the Year Award at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Wood was recognized at the university’s undergraduate commencement ceremony May 9, 2015. She will serve as a speaker at the university’s 2016 Honors and Awards Convocation.
’91 MBA Tom Werner was named president of commercial foods, an operating segment of ConAgra Foods, in May 2015. The commercial foods segment makes and sells a variety of specialty food and ingredients to major national and international restaurant chains, food service distributors and other food makers across the world. He joined ConAgra Foods in 1999 and has been in roles of increasing responsibility throughout his career across all three of ConAgra Foods' operating segments — commercial foods, consumer foods and private brands.
Danny O’Neill, founder of The Roasterie, received an Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Henry W. Bloch School of Management.
’97 Merritt Engel has assumed equal co-ownership of Merrigan & Co. along with Monica Tiffany. The duo have worked alongside each other at the company for the past 10 years and look forward to leading the business started by Bob Merrigan, ’76, in 1990. The office is located at 55th and Troost in Kansas City, Missouri, near the Rockhurst University campus.
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’97 MBA Damian Thorman joined the Corporation for National and Community Service as the director of the Social Innovation Fund. He most recently served as the founder and CEO of True North Philanthropic Advisors, a national firm providing strategic and tactical counsel to foundations, nonprofits and governments to increase impact either individually or collectively.
’99 Steven Ladd and his brother William opened an exhibition in September 2015 titled “Childhood Games” at Cristina Grajales Gallery in New York City. Their exhibition “Scouts or Sports” opened in October 2015 at the St. Louis Art Museum.
’01 JP Mamuric was named vice president of Tribune Media Company. He is responsible for overseeing financial reporting and will lead the new financial planning and analysis function for the company.
’03 Leonard Paletta has passed preliminary actuarial exam C/4 – Construction and Evaluation of Actuarial Models. He now has completed all five preliminary exams as well as the validation by educational experience courses. He is working toward becoming an associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA).
’05, ’12 MBA Anna (Werner) Hennes and husband John Hennes welcomed their second son, Ethan Patrick, on April 28, 2015 – their eighth wedding anniversary. Ethan joins big brother Owen.
’06, ’09 DPT Sara Pohl, became certified as a clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She works as a clinic director and physical therapist for Excel Physical Therapy in Omaha, Nebraska.
Submit a Class Note We’d love to hear from you. Submit a class note online at rockhurst.edu/classnotes.
’04 Steve Cisetti married Ashley Vogt on Sept. 21, 2013, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. The wedding party included Rockhurst alumni Tucker Lienhop, ’04, Matt Francoeur, ’04, Tom Schmidt, ’05, Josh Nast, ’06, and Cathy Cisetti, ’03. The couple resides in south Kansas City, Missouri.
HIRE A HAWK rockhurst.edu/hireahawk
Looking for the perfect addition to your team? Contact Rockhurst University’s Career Services to connect with RU alumni and students looking to start their careers and secure internships.
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Q&A
FOR ALUMNI
WITH JOHN BREMS, M.D., ’77,
IS THE SURGICAL DIRECTOR AT THE SHERMAN CENTER FOR ADVANCED LIVER AND PANCREATIC CARE AND CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF SURGERY AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO Q: You decided to change your focus and become a surgeon instead of a dentist. What or who made you realize you wanted to make that change? John Brems, M.D., ’77
“Once I got into medical school and started doing clinical rotations, I knew that I wanted to become a surgeon.”
A: I had thoughts about becoming a dentist. However, the Rev. James Wheeler, S.J. (professor emeritus of chemistry), was the one who inspired me to change my focus and become a physician. Once I got into medical school and started doing clinical rotations, I knew that I wanted to become a surgeon. Q: As a liver surgeon, you've treated countless patients, including Mother Teresa. What originally inspired you to choose your specialty? A: I found surgery to be fascinating because you were able to help patients at a time that they were desperately ill. As a surgeon, you see a patient with an acute problem such as appendicitis and you are able to immediately make a decision and do something to correct their problem. I find that to be an amazing thing. Q. How did your experience at Rockhurst influence the way you approach your work? A: Rockhurst gave me the ability to think independently and to pursue my dreams. When I became a surgeon, I decided that liver transplantation would be the area that I would like to pursue. At that time it was considered experimental and brand new. I think this is related to my experience at Rockhurst where I was taught to think independently and to challenge the status quo. Liver transplantation is an area in which we really do challenge the status quo and advance the frontiers of surgery and medicine. Q. What lessons have you learned in your career? What advice would you have for younger students who are now trying to figure out what they want to do? A: The great thing about Jesuit education is it does prepare you and motivate you to think independently and to challenge the status quo. Therefore, I believe students need to use their Jesuit education to become the best possible person they can be. If medicine and surgery allow you to become a better person, then this is the field that you should choose.
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’07 Mary Pimmel wrote an essay about Jesuit education that was included in the Sept. 17 collection of reflections on the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities “Jesuit Educated” site. This was promoted across social media channels in conjunction with Pope Francis’ visit to the United States in late September.
’08 Ashley (Shrader) Miller and her husband, Jake, welcomed their second son, Oliver, into the world on Dec. 15, 2014.
’10 DPT A.J. Thomas, director of rehabilitative services at the Rooks County (Kansas) Health Center, will work with Olympic and Paralympic athletes as a volunteer physical therapist for the U.S. Olympic Committee at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Thomas is among a pool of physical therapists from across the country that will be asked to support the Olympians and medical staff for two-week periods at three Olympic Training Centers.
’11 Ken Bevers was featured in a Kansas City Star article about his successful effort to overcome stuttering.
Dan Winkeler married Sarah Folks on June 13, 2015, at St. Richard Parish. The wedding was followed by a reception at Windows on Washington in St. Louis, Missouri. He teaches personal finance and computer apps to high school students in the Fox C-6 School. The couple resides in St. Louis. Tom Kutilek married Annette Toomer at St. Edward Catholic Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 23, 2015. Tom is an exploring executive for Boy Scouts of America. Annette is a client relations manager and office manager for FarmTable Delivery, a local food distribution, aggregation and marketing center for small organic farms in Iowa and Nebraska. The couple resides in Omaha, Nebraska.
Alexander J. Clark graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, class of 2015. He began a general practice residency in July 2015 at Truman Medical Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Sarah Noble began studies at St. Louis College of Pharmacy in August 2015.
Dominic Zanaboni married Abby Davidson, ’11, ’14 MS, on May 31, 2014, in Omaha, Nebraska.
Connect with Rockhurst University through your favorite social networks. 28
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5
FOR ALUMNI
CAREER CENTER
TIPS
on starting your own business 1 DON’T STAY IDLE: When you start a new business, you get out what you
2 3
put in. You always have to find a way to stay ahead of your competitor. You need a find a way to do things better or differently. You have to constantly think about how you can make things better for your employees and your customers. Develop a vision for what you want your business to become and execute that vision.
TRUST YOUR TEAM:
Your business is your baby and it can be difficult to relinquish control, but you can’t do it alone. You must learn to trust that you’ve hired the right team members who are capable of taking your business to the next level. If you believe in them, they will believe in you.
MISTAKES HAPPEN:
Nobody is perfect, so mistakes are going to happen. It’s from all of these mistakes that you better learn how to run your business. You find out what works and what doesn’t. You have to learn to trust your gut when making a decision, but sometimes it backfires. Don’t get discouraged. It’s a lesson learned. Just don’t do it again.
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE: You can’t constantly compare yourself with the business 4 next door. What works for the Mexican restaurant on the Plaza won’t work for the Mexican restaurant downtown or in the suburbs. You need to find out what makes your business special. You need to focus on what you can provide that other business can’t.
5 RELAX: At the end of the day, there will always be more work to do in the morning. Go home.
Spend time with your family or friends. If you let your work take over your life, you’ll start to burn out. And when you are burned out, you business will start to suffer.
MEET THE EXPERT
Enrique Gutierrez, ’02, is the owner and general manager of Teocali Mexican Restaurant & Cantina. In the summer of 2013, he completed a two-story expansion of his restaurant in the Union Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, making it a go-to destination for traditional Mexican cuisine and nightlife. In the fall of 2015, he founded another business, EZ Transportation, LLC.
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HAWK HANGOUT
UPCOMING
EVENTS FEB. 18
Alumni Night at the Ballgame Enjoy dinner with fellow Hawks and women’s and men’s basketball vs. Quincy.
MARCH 20 St. Louis Palm Sunday Mass and Brunch Join us at Visitation Academy for this Rockhurst tradition.
Send your Hawk Hangout pictures to alumni@rockhurst.edu and you may see one in a future issue.
’12
APRIL 5 Helzberg School of Management’s Business Leadership and Ethics Day Alumni business leaders present to classes throughout the day.
APRIL 6 Library Guild Critique and Luncheon Lou Eisenbrandt on Vietnam Nurse. For more information, visit alumni.rockhurst.edu.
Four members of the class of 1995 attended game six of the American League Championship Series in which the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on their way to winning the World Series. (From left) Thomas “Red” Charles, John Meiners, Tim Chapman and Sean Franke.
Lauren Roberts co-wrote the book The Order of the Four Sons, Book I, with Coyote Kishpaugh, a current Rockhurst student. Roberts writes under the pen name, Lauren Scharhag. The publisher is Kensington Gore Publishing in the United Kingdom and the book is the first of a six-book fantasy series.
Quentin Savwoir is the special assistant for public policy in the Office of the Mayor, Kansas City, Missouri.
’14
Matthew McInerny has been accepted to the St. Louis Police Academy. He earned a bachelor’s in criminal justice and a paralegal certificate.
Bryna Federspiel married Jacob Dudley on June 6, 2015. Elise Mitchell married Nick Loughman on June 27, 2015.
’14 EMBA Jessica Lea, CEO of Tria Health, was featured in The Kansas City Business Journal’s 2015 NextGen Leaders list.
’15
Time to Enter Enter to win an Apple Watch Sport with one simple step. Go to Rockhurst.edu/myemail by Feb. 29, 2016, and take a minute to update or confirm your preferred email address. 30
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FOR ALUMNI
FROM THE CHAPTERS
After you leave the Rockhurst University campus, you remain a Hawk for life. Connect with Hawks in your hometown by checking the calendar at rockhurst.edu/alumni. Looking to organize a Rockhurst gathering where you live? Contact Mary Mooney Burns, ’93, at mary.burns@rockhurst.edu.
Golden Hawks In September, members of the class of 1965 were celebrated on campus as the newest flock of Golden Hawks. (From left) Dennis Roese, Steve Retherford, Carl Jansen, Don Homan, Larry Seck, Bob Rowan, and Jim Linehan.
Golf Tournament In late June, teams of RU alumni, parents and supporters representing Kansas City and St. Louis took to the Nicklaus Golf Club at Lions Gate for the Fr. Joseph M. Freeman, S.J., Rockhurst Cup golf tournament. (From left) John McMaster, ’79; Reggie Thorp, ’71, tournament organizer; and Bob McMaster, ’71.
Legacy Breakfast Rockhurst University invited multigenerational Hawk families back to campus to celebrate with a special legacy family welcome breakfast Aug. 16. (From left) Mike Weber, junior; Katie Weber, ’15; Anthony Weber, ’86; Kristen Weber, freshman; and Beth Weber, ’86.
Young Alumni Social Kansas City area young alumni came back to the nest July 30 for a beautiful summer night of food and activities. (From left) Jennifer Colborn, ’09, ’10 MBA; Katy Hernandez, ’09, ’12 PT; Kristin (McGrath) Hoefer, ’09; and Betsy Warfield, ’09.
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Award Luncheon Honors Exemplary Alumni
(From left) David Harrison, ’81, Jerry Haake, ’70, Joshua Yurek, ’07, and Drew Felz, ‘07
R
ockhurst University recognized four outstanding Hawks at the annual Alumni Awards luncheon Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, as part of Family and Alumni Weekend. St. Ignatius Award winner David Harrison, ’81, has more than three decades of experience in regional commercial real estate. In 2010, he founded Caymus Real Estate, now known as VanTrust Real Estate, a company that has played a role in a number of significant national and regional development projects. The recipient of the Xavier Medal of Honor, Jerry Haake, ’70, has spent his professional career in insurance, helping his family’s agency grow into the second-largest privately owned insurance and consulting business in the Kansas City area.
Haake is also a longtime community servant, serving on the boards for area organizations such as the Community of the Good Shepherd. Joshua Yurek, ’07, and Drew Felz, ’07, received the Faber Young Alumni Award. At Rockhurst, Yurek took on a leadership role on student senate and currently is a legislative assistant for U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts. He also continues to give back to his alma mater as the president of the Washington, D.C., alumni chapter since 2008. Felz was a student senator during his time at Rockhurst before serving with the National Federation of Independent Business and working for the Romney for President campaign in Kansas City. Currently, he is the manager of federal affairs for the National Roofing Contractors Association.
St. Louis Turns Out to Honor Couple Nearly 300 alumni, family and friends of Jim, ’73, and Karen Castellano came to wish them well when Rockhurst University honored them with the Magis award at a dinner held Aug. 22, 2015, at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis. The award recognized them for their contributions to the Rockhurst and St. Louis communities. Proceeds from the annual event support the Magis Scholarship, which helps offset tuition costs for students from St. Louis with high financial need.
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FOR ALUMNI
In Memoriam THE REV. RAUL NAVARRO, S.J. The Rev. Raul Navarro, S.J., former assistant dean of the College of Health and Human Services, died on June 23, 2015, in Cusco, Peru. As a child, Fr. Navarro moved with his family from Mexico City to New Orleans. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in subjects ranging from geology to business and divinity, and was inspired by Jesuits he met at Loyola University New Orleans to enter the Society of Jesus in 2002. His ministry and passion was education, which led him to teach high school students and help found a Cristo Rey school and inspired his work at Rockhurst. Fr. Navarro was working to establish opportunities for students to study in Peru. His family has established a fund in his memory for students with this goal. For more information on the effort, contact Amy Drouin at amy.drouin@rockhurst.edu or 816-501-4628.
James L. Wessling Sr., ’46 — May 1
Julius A. Buckman, ’59 — Sept. 10
Uldis M. Eglitis, ’77 — April 25
John A. Wiedeman, ’47 — Aug. 3
Donald T. Heiman, ’61 — May 2
Jay L. Montgomery, ’79 — Aug. 5
Robert Q. Donnelly, ’48 — May 13
Robert J. Bechtold, ’62 — May 9
Elizabeth S. Pugh, ’79 — April 21
Phillip R. Balano, ’49 — May 25
Thomas V. Berry, ’62 — April 24
Gary L. Williams, ’80 — April 19
John J. Massa, ’49 — Aug. 24
Stephen A. Kies, ’62 — July 19
Wallace W. Harvey III, ’81 — July 26
Saverio DeNato, ’50 — Aug. 16
Thomas W. Steadman Jr., ’62 — Sept 19
Cheryl A. Stoebenau, ’81 — Sept. 4
Edward P. Hadel, ’50 — June 15 Gerald R. Ismert, ’50 — July 13 Dr. John. P. McCalla, ’50 — May 1 Robert C. Donovan, ’51 — Sept. 4 John E. Latenser, ’51 — May 13 Robert O. Biser, ’52 — May 13 William F. Havey, ’52 — April 25 Paul A. Larson, ’52 — July 7 Dr. Phillip L. Accardo, ’53 — Aug. 27
A. Gregory Orscheln Jr., ’63 — May 8 Russell D. Miller, ’65 — Sept. 13 Thomas. W. Schofield, ’66 — Aug. 29 Edward F. Van Brabant, ’67 — June 25 Michael P. Waliczek, ’67 — April 24 William E. Mendus, ’70 — April 9 Thomas F. Benyo, ’71 — May 19 Bernard R. Kincaid, ’71 — Aug. 13
Gregory T. Isley, ’82 MBA — Sept. 17 Lea A. (Pagacz) England, ’85 — July 6 Patrick J. Henderson, ’86 — Aug. 10 Michael D. Moeller, ’87 — May 4 Rosemarie C. Steeb, ’88 — May 20 Kurt D. Cross, ’89 MBA — July 21 Richard A. Spring, ’89 MBA — June 5 Gerald N. Stimpson, ’90 — Aug. 17
Annette L. Cameron, ’72 — May 1
Donna M. Colding, ’94 EMBA — Sept. 1
William A. Hughes, ’73 — Aug. 14
Jeaneeta C. Love, ’96 MBA — June 28
Michael S. Laurent Sr., ’74 — Sept. 7
Michael D. VanHercke, ’99 — Oct. 2
Grace L. Nichols, ’74 — July 19
Carol Daggett, ’05 M.S. — June 20
Gordon L. Reintjes, ’54 — July 13
John P. Jackson, ’75 — June 5
Scott Johnson, ’10 M.Ed. — July 16
Louis F. Drees, ’56 — Sept. 4
James C. Schutte, ’75 — Aug. 21
John J. Reichmeier, ’53 — Aug. 31 Robert L. Winsky, ’53 — Aug. 11 Clarence A. McMahon Jr., ’54 — May 17
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Faculty Memory “Mary Pat Shelledy, Ed.S., was one of the first people I met at Rockhurst. I remember meeting in her office with my parents in 2008, hearing about Rockhurst’s education program. Four years later, I was back, seeking advice for my new teaching job. She spent an hour with me discussing techniques and resources, soothing my fears in the process! Her encouragement and wisdom impacted me, and her influence is still with me.” — Kristen Kaufman, ’12
WHERE
?
ARE THEY NOW Catching up with former athletes
H
aving spent a good portion of his life on a baseball field, one might think there’s not much new for Ray Chang, ’05, on the diamond. But in a Sept. 7, 2015, game for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, he chose to play an inning at each of the nine defensive positions, including his first-ever stint behind the plate, catching Blue Wahoos closer Zack Weiss’ 97-mile-per-hour fastballs. “The crowd was cheering me on the whole time,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.” A former infielder for the Hawks, the Leawood, Kansas, native has played for a decade and currently plays for the AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. In 2009, Chang said he played some of the most meaningful baseball of his life when he was selected to be part of China’s national team in the World Baseball Classic. “It didn’t really hit me until I got back,” he said. “But both of my parents were born and raised in China, and they just kept telling me how proud they were of me.”
RETRO 1959 ROCKHURST
Ray Chang, ’05
For the last seven years, Chang has spent his offseason at an MLB youth camp in China, where baseball is in its relative infancy. Chang said it gives him the opportunity to impact young players of the game he grew up playing, which in turn inspired him to consider becoming a coach when he retires as a player.
The Rockhurst College float makes its way down 13th Street and Grand Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, as part of the 1959 American Royal parade.
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FOR ALUMNI
Son's Legacy Powers Nepalese Village Ambulance I n November 2013, Jerry Grimaud, ’74, lost his son Christopher in a tragic car accident, cutting short a young life. But the St. Louis alumnus recently got a firsthand look at the way his son’s legacy is helping save lives in a small village in Nepal.
For the mostly poor residents of rural Lisankhu, located six hours on gravel and dirt roads from the nearest hospital in Kathmandu, access to medical care is a critical concern. The Karma Thalo Foundation, with which Grimaud’s brother Joseph has long worked, provides limited health services in the village through a small clinic. And the government of India donated a vehicle to use as an ambulance. Joseph worked to establish Christopher’s Fund to honor his nephew’s life by filling another important need — fuel and ongoing maintenance for the Lisankhu’s ambulance and a salary for the full-time driver. Seeing the fund in action for the first time during an October visit to the village with a medical team that included his daughter, physical therapist Allie, Jerry said he was touched by the impact his son’s legacy could have. “It touched me that the villagers, especially the elders, were so appreciative and thanked me for the ambulance,” Jerry said. “Losing our son is a pain we will never forget, but this project is another way for us to remember Christopher.”
Jerry Grimaud, ’74, and his daughter, Allie, next to the ambulance maintained by Christopher’s Fund, a charity set up following the death of Grimaud’s son, Christopher, in 2013.
Everyday Leaders Aspiring Sportscaster Stands Up for Principles
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fter graduating from Rockhurst with degrees in English and political science, Joey Zanaboni, ’13, set out to make his goal since childhood a reality and join the ranks of those practicing what he called a “truly American art form,” sports broadcasting.
Zanaboni quickly made strides in his career, in the booth for smaller baseball teams in the summer and at the historically black Coahoma Joey Zanaboni, ’13 Community College, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where he is sports information director. In June 2015, he was invited to work for the Orem, Utah, Owlz, an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. That was before Zanaboni found out about the Owlz’s plans to host a “Caucasian Heritage Night” promotion, the idea and details of which he found insensitive. He said he shared his concerns with the front office in a professional manner. Drawing on a Jesuit education and advice from friends, he said he chose to resign when team officials decided to move forward anyway. “Those first couple of days were definitely tough to get through,” he said, with false speculation that his resignation indicated he was involved in the event. “In the end, you have to do what you think is right.” And that principle paid off, Zanaboni said — he’s continued to find a welcome home at Coahoma and, between last June and September, announced for the Rockford Aviators baseball team.
ROCKHURST.EDU
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IN CLOSING
Waxing Philosophical BY PATRICK SMITH, '81
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t has been over 34 years since I graduated from Rockhurst University (College, back then) in 1981. I am in a selfimposed “semi-retirement” after a successful retail career of nearly the same duration. As I ponder my many options for a “second act,” I find myself reflecting on my education at Rockhurst, in particular my philosophical education. On the surface, one would clearly make the connection between my BSBA degree in marketing from Rockhurst and my career, but likely not between my true love (and almost second major), philosophy, and that very same career. For a small town boy like me who had never been exposed to the discipline of philosophy, coming to understand “love of wisdom” and all that it implied was a revelation. When much of my academic education sometimes felt it got in the way of all the other aspects of my new campus life, walking in to a class taught by the incomparable Sister Rosemary Flanagan or trying to keep up with the brilliant (and highly entertaining) Father Wilfred LaCroix, S.J., was positively exhilarating. Those two, in particular, lit my brain up and they changed my life. I say that about very, very few people. Philosophy became, for me, not just about thought, about wisdom or about life — it was life. So much so that I intended to double major and get a degree in philosophy as well as business. However, my workload of classes, full-time job and my post-college job search got in the way of that goal. I made the difficult decision to forego the philosophy major, in spite of already completing the first draft of my paper for Rossner Medal consideration. Regardless, in some ways great, and in countless small, my philosophy studies helped shape and frame my world view and the way I approach everything (far more, frankly, than my marketing degree did), and for that I am grateful. I could certainly go on about how this education helped me to seek even broader viewpoints that went far beyond the seemingly Western and tradition-centric bent of philosophy as it was taught at the time, but it would miss the seminal point of how my education at that time, in that place, has shaped, and continues to shape, my life.
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In the business world in general, in retail in particular and in any corporate environment I have been in, a lot of lip service is paid to “making the right decision” and doing “what is right,” which more often than not can become doing what is legal, what one can get away with (exemplified in the phrase “better to ask forgiveness than permission”), what is best for the shareholders, or simply what is best for the individual(s) most likely to profit from the decision. Rather than taking the time to make decisions more holistically and with a deeper understanding of the consequences of one’s actions, decisions are justified within a fairly narrow framework. This is where I believe my philosophy education served me best. I look back on the bulk of my career with no regrets in terms of the course of my actions, the moral and ethical decisions I had to make, or the consequences of those decisions. Much of this is attributed to what I learned and how I learned to think while studying philosophy at Rockhurst. Not that I haven’t made mistakes in my career, or in my life for that matter. I’ve made some whoppers, but I don’t have many regrets. I’ve even rectified a few. Yet, a lingering regret is that I was unable to complete the requirements for a major and degree in philosophy. Back then, I was more concerned about balancing working full time with completing my business degree and finding a job. Yet, to this day, I desire to complete my studies in philosophy and get that degree. Maybe that’s part of my second act. Patrick Smith, ’81, began his career in Macy’s executive training program in Kansas City and recently retired as vice president of general merchandise for Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
TIME AND PLACE
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 2015
Juniors and second-degree students from Research College of Nursing had their hands blessed and were given white coats during a meaningful ceremony.
The Rev. Raul Navarro, S.J. (Sept. 25, 1959 – June 23, 2015), celebrates Mass in Mabee Chapel. 1100 Rockhurst Road Kansas City, MO 64110-2561
PAID
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