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ICHABOD THE 1700 SW COLLEGE AVE. TOPEKA, KS 66621 Address Service Requested NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID TOPEKA, KS PERMIT NO. 689 WASHBURN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AUGUST 2011 USE YOUR GIFTS TO HELP WASHBURN STUDENTS FIND THEIRS Gifts to the Washburn University Foundation help: • create scholarships for students • recruit exceptional faculty • build and maintain state-of-the-art buildings • support distinguished programs Visit GiveToWashburn.org or call 785.670.4483 to learn more about using your gifts to make an impact!

August 2011 The Ichabod

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Page 1: August 2011 The Ichabod

ICHABODTHE

1700 SW COLLEGE AVE.TOPEKA, KS 66621

Address Service Requested

NON PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

TOPEKA, KSPERMIT NO. 689

WASHBURN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AUGUST 2011

USE YOUR GIFTS TO HELP WASHBURN STUDENTS FIND THEIRS

Gifts to the Washburn University Foundation help:

• create scholarships for students

• recruit exceptional faculty

• build and maintain state-of-the-art buildings

• support distinguished programs

Visit GiveToWashburn.org or call 785.670.4483 to learn more about using your gifts to make an impact!

Page 2: August 2011 The Ichabod

Alumni Association director Susie Hoffmann, bba ’87

Contributors Dena Anson, ba ’01

director, university relations

Katy Browne, aa ’07 secretary, Alumni Association

Gene Cassell director, sports information

Peggy Clark university photographer

Tracy Curtiss office assistant, university relations

Amanda Hughes, ba ’00 assistant director, university relations

Martha Imparato special collections librarian, Mabee Library

Mike Knipper former assistant director, sports information/marketing

Robin Moser, ba ’99 assistant director, Alumni Association

Julie Olson, aa '94 director, donor relations

Washburn University Foundation

Megan Smith former director, communications and annual giving

Washburn University Foundation

Joy Thompson former publications specialist

Vickie Waters former office assistant, university relations

Ernie W. Webb III, ba ’98 media specialist, Alumni Association

Martin Wisneski assistant director/head of technical services

School of Law library

The ICHABOD alumni magazine is published three times a year by the Washburn Alumni Association for

alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university. Third-class

postage paid at Topeka.

CONTACT US!

Your news, thoughts and questions are important to us. Please write, telephone or send us an email. Letters to the editor and news of jobs, honors, weddings, anniversaries and

births are always welcome. Please include your name, class year, address and daytime phone number. Letters to the editor

may be edited for length and clarity.

Address: 1700 SW College Ave., Topeka, Kan., 66621

Telephone: (785) 670-1641Email: [email protected]

Website: Washburn.edu/alumni

FEATURES

5 Washburn School of Law: Courting Excellence

7 Perennial Wheat: Perennial Growth

11 Washburn Physical Therapy: A Therapeutic Journey

13 Marching Toward Washburn’s 150th

25 Bods Reload After Strong Finish

31 A Brick-by-Brick Career

DEPARTMENTS

3 From the President

15 Alumni News

19 Foundation

25 Sports

30 Campus News

36 Class Notes

42 In Memory

47 History of Washburn

49 Calendar of Events

We want to hear from you. Please drop us a letter or email telling us what you

like or don’t like about the magazine.

Page 3: August 2011 The Ichabod

4

A university is a very special type of institution. Enduring through centuries, universities produce principled citizens with the necessary knowledge and skills to serve society’s needs. Initially created as a repository of knowledge, the role of the university has evolved and changed. Universities serve as catalysts for new knowledge development through their complex relationships with communities, other learning organizations, businesses and government. Washburn University’s mission emphasizes the high-quality interactions experienced between students, faculty and the community. Faculty create experiential learning opportunities for students that expand their capacity for innovative thought and action. It is our legacy of the past, our expectation of the present and our desire for the future that Washburn retain and recruit the highest-quality faculty to sustain this mission. The founding of Lincoln College in 1865 began with a faculty of seven who set the standard for excellence. The Rev. Horatio Q. Butterfield, who taught Greek and Latin during the early years of the college and served as president from 1869-70, secured the vital contribution from Mr. Ichabod Washburn to sustain the school. Professor Charlotte Mendell Leavitt practiced the motto she suggested, non nobis solum, meaning “not for ourselves alone,” by teaching English to students of differing gender, race and ethnicity for more than 50 years. She also served as an early Dean of Women. Current faculty continue the legacy of making significant contributions. Reginald Robinson, professor of law, and Shawn Leisinger, executive director of the Centers for Excellence, are providing capable leadership for our Center for Law and Government. In the College of Arts and Sciences, Matt Arterburn, assistant professor, biology, is working collaboratively with Washington State University to create a viable perennial wheat for food production while improving soil conservation for future generations of farmers. As we look to the future, the success of Washburn will be determined by the decisions we make today to hire the best and brightest faculty. We remain committed to this university’s core mission as established in 1865. We must persevere and seek the necessary resources to ensure that future generations of students experience the same level of academic excellence as our alumni for the past 150 years. Join me in reflection and celebration as we begin to commemorate Washburn's sesquicentennial in 2015!

FROM the PRESIDENT

3 From the President

Page 4: August 2011 The Ichabod

Longtime Kansas lawmaker Jim Slattery was among the guest speakers during the spring semester for the Center for Law and Government.

5 Washburn School of Law

Washburn University School of Law’s Shawn Leisinger (left) and Reginald Robinson say the Center for Law and Government is on the cutting edge in preparing students for their careers. Leisinger is the executive director of the Centers for Excellence, and Robinson is the director of the Center for Law and Government.

Based in a city brimming with government activity, the Center for Law and Government is a natural fit for Washburn University

School of Law.

WASHBURN SCHOOL OF LAW:

COURTING EXCELLENCE

The center was founded in 2008 and began to grow rapidly last fall when Reginald Robinson, a former president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents whose career has integrated law and government service at the state and federal levels, signed on as its first director.

One of Robinson’s first duties was the implementation of a program for a certificate for law and government.

“In many ways, the center is just now being created,” Robinson said. “Having the certification available was a good fit and something Washburn needed. We expect this certificate to serve as a powerful lure for students interested in pursuing careers in law, government and the development of public policy.”

The center is the fourth founded by the law school since 2002, joining the Business and Transactional Law Center, Children and Family Law Center and Center for Excellence in Advocacy.

Enhancing and expanding the centers is one of the top priorities listed in Washburn’s 150 Forward strategic plan.

“The centers exist to recognize specialized paths for the students and to bring in resources in those areas to help improve and complement those areas,” said Shawn Leisinger, jd ’99, executive director of the Centers for Excellence. “The Center for Law and Government is a quintessential example of building and expanding the Centers for Excellence.”

PRELIMINARY RESULTS: IT’S A HITThe certificate in law and government was developed last fall and approved in January. Available for the first time during the spring 2011 semester, it has been a hit with students.

“We just started and I’d say a couple dozen students have already expressed interest in taking this path,” Robinson said. “Already our first- and second-year students have expressed a lot of interest and are excited, even though they’ve only had a chance to sign up since January. The insight of Washburn to develop this center and certificate was spot on.”

To obtain a certificate, a student must meet requirements beyond obtaining a law degree. For example, to earn a certificate in law and government, a student must complete 15 hours of law and government courses, must have 500 minutes of participation in co/extra-curricular programming (events such as seminars sponsored by the law school) and must complete an upper-level writing requirement on a pre-approved topic.

“I describe it as a sort of honors program. It’s advanced study and an opportunity for students to get to the

next level beyond filling basic course requirements,” Leisinger said. “It helps demonstrate to potential employers that the students had a focus on a particular area. Giving that exposure to the students is a huge plus to an employer. It means they have a better understanding of the area they’ll be working in.”

COURTING EXPERTSLeisinger and Robinson said one of the benefits of the certificate programs is the access it allows students to professionals already working in law.

In the spring semester, the Center for Law and Government hosted several discussions, including one featuring longtime Kansas lawmaker Jim Slattery, jd ’75, on the federal government’s involvement in the Kansas health care delivery system.

“One of the great things about being based here in Topeka is that we have access to a lot of figures in law,” Leisinger said. “We have all these government agencies and people involved in public policy that we’re bringing in to speak. That absolutely benefits our students, not only from a standpoint of learning, but also from a standpoint of networking. It’s a critical part of the program.”

“It’s an educational enhancement that the students have an opportunity to experience,” Robinson added. “To bring folks in who have worked in these

agencies and talk about how they got where they are enriches the understanding of how you carve out your own path.”

Robinson also said he is planning a symposium on immigration law and policy and the division of the authority between federal and state responsibility. The symposium – “Breaching Borders: State Encroachment into the Federal Immigration Domain?” – will be Oct. 20-21.

NEW TO THE CASE?The law school offers eight certificates – advocacy, business and transactional law, estate planning, family law, law and government, international and comparative law, natural resources law and tax law – and a ninth is in the works.

“There are considerations for certificates beyond just centers’ programming,” Leisinger said. “We’re currently considering a certificate for indigenous peoples law both in the United States and outside the United States. That certificate is being developed.

“Most law schools offer a certificate or two, but we’re on the cutting edge in having the centers’ programming and delivering a certificate in which you’re delivering exposures to practitioners. We’re ahead of the curve on that.”

CENTER COURTWashburn School of Law has four Centers for Excellence, all implemented since 2002:

Business and Transactional Law: Provides students with opportunities to expand knowledge on business law subjects while developing skills essential to transactional law.

Children and Family Law: Prepares lawyers who can address problems that arise in children and family law.

Excellence in Advocacy: Prepares law students and lawyers to be effective advocates by training them in the persuasive and skilled use of advocacy techniques.

Law and Government: Offers law students opportunities to learn about lawmaking, judicial decision-making, administrative law and the regulatory process.

Washburn School of Law 6

Page 5: August 2011 The Ichabod

Arterburn, an assistant professor in Washburn’s biology department, is working on a project to develop a perennial wheat that would help control soil erosion.

“It’s one of those little ironies in life,” Arterburn said. “I remember the doctor telling me, ‘Well, you can work with it. Just don’t ingest it.’ And I have no intention of stopping. I’ll just work on wheat for other people.”

Arterburn, who began working on perennial wheat as a graduate student at Washington State University, enlisted the help of Washburn students David Beaver, Tecumseh, Kan., and Alicia Burris, Parsons, Kan.

Beaver worked with Arterburn on the project for three years before graduating in May. Burris has worked with Arterburn for two years.

A GROWING CONCERNFarmers have been growing annual wheat for thousands of years, and with good reason. Annuals, so named because they’re genetically programmed for one season, yield millions of tons of grains every year.

But those bounties come with a cost. With every new crop season, land is plowed and exposed to erosion. Because the root

systems of annuals typically use just the top layer of soil – about a foot – farmers use fertilizers to produce high yields, causing further damage. The lack of a permanent root system also limits the growth of symbiotic microbes.

“This really is important research and an important project,” said Beaver, who has a bachelor of science, biology. “With the fertilizer and replanting, we’re doing a lot of damage to the soil. It’s not a sustainable method.”

While statistics vary on how long the land will last, the U.S. loses about 1.7 billion tons of soil every year, according to National Geographic.

“What I tell people who question the viability of what we’re doing is this: ‘The soil might be there for you, and for your daughter, but what about your granddaughter?’” Arterburn said. “This is important for the long-term ability to farm in the U.S., and in the world. We’re trying to produce a perennial wheat so farmers can continue to farm in the future.”

ROOT OF DIFFERENCESOne of the main differences between annual and perennial wheat lies beneath the surface. In the case of the perennial wheat, it’s as much as 12 to 13 feet below the surface.

PERENNIAL WHEAT:

PERENNIAL GROWTH

7 Perennial Wheat Perennial Wheat 8

(L) A viable perennial wheat could prevent the erosion of billions of tons of soil. Matt Arterburn (left) has dedicated a decade to cultivating a perennial wheat. May graduate David Beaver (right) worked with Arterburn on the project for three years.

(R) One of the differences between annual and perennial wheat is the root

structure. While annual wheats mine the top layer of soil for resources, perennial wheat roots grow several feet into soil.

An allergy prevents Matt Arterburn from eating wheat, but he still wants to ensure that others break bread for years to come.

While annual wheat roots mine the top foot for resources, perennial roots dig several feet into the soil and tap deep sources of nutrients and water.

“Perennials have deep root structures, and more will survive in saline conditions,” Beaver said. “They’re able to utilize nutrients; they’re more drought-resistant and resist soil erosion, which is a problem in Kansas. With annuals, you have to fertilize them because you’ve washed away all those nutrients.”

Another major difference is the stem cells. Because they’re programmed for one year of production, the stem cells in annuals die. Perennials leave the cluster of cells alive and begin to grow again during the next season.

CELL CONCENTRATIONThe field research for the project is done on land in Washington, while Arterburn and his assistants work on the genetics of the wheat – focusing on a generation currently dubbed PF5R6 (wheats are not officially named until they’re certified) – being produced.

Though Arterburn, Beaver and Burris do cultivate a handful of plants in a small lab pieced together by Beaver, much of the team’s time was and is spent analyzing samples through the biology department’s high-tech microscope, a Zeiss Axioplan purchased in 2009.

“I’m definitely not going to pretend that I’m a farmer,” Arterburn said jokingly. “Washington State has the research farm and they handle the testing side of it. I’m more comfortable in the lab and in handling the genetics of the project.”

SENDING A SIGNALMost organisms are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, one from the female parent and one from the

male parent. But wheat is a hexaploid, meaning it has six copies of its genome.

“Wheat is kind of designed so that it can take in extra chromosomes,” Arterburn said. “In humans, for example, an extra chromosome causes all kinds of problems. But wheat isn’t typical. When wheat crosses with other species, instead of taking in 50 percent of each parent’s chromosomes, it can take on 100 percent of each, expanding its genome.

“We figured what’s one more genome, and we crossed in these wheatgrasses that are perennial and shoved more chromosomes into the annual. It’s unusual, but possible that you can put the wheat and wheatgrass together and lose nothing.”

In perennials, the gene sending a signal to keep the cells at the base of the plant alive is dominant. In combining the wheat and wheatgrass, the group Arterburn is working with has reversed the annual’s tendency.

Through his research, Arterburn narrowed the survival signal gene to a small portion of a single chromosome.

“We’ve figured that the regimen for staying alive is there in the annual, but the cue to send it is lost,” he said.

A BALANCING ACTProducing a viable perennial that will grow under field conditions will require more than the survival gene. Much of the work done by Arterburn’s team, headed by mentor Stephen S. Jones at Washington State, is attempting to produce a perennial in which additional genes send signals that tell the plant to conserve and store its resources.

“What I do with most of the work is a technique using a DNA probe with a fluorescent compound that specifically attaches itself to DNA sequences of wheatgrass,” Arterburn said. “We’re trying to get a balance that optimizes yield while making the perennial viable.”

Page 6: August 2011 The Ichabod

9 Perennial Wheat Alumni Association 10

Beaver and Burris have had a hand in attempting to find the balance, not only in the research, but also in using the microscope to take images of the plants’ cell structures and designing posters to illustrate the work being done at Washburn.

“This is really important, to find that balance in perennial and annual chromosomes,” said Burris, a double major in biology and biochemistry who is a candidate to graduate in May 2012, “not only to prevent soil erosion, but also to cut down on a lot of environmental issues.”

The production of a viable perennial wheat isn’t a new concept. Scientists and researchers at the Land Institute based in Salina, Kan., have been working on perennial grain projects for more than 30 years. Matt Arterburn, whose doctoral work was funded through the Land Institute’s Graduate Fellows Project, started working on a perennial wheat with his dissertation adviser, Washington State University’s Stephen S. Jones, in 2001. “It’s not something you can quantify exactly,” Arterburn said in reference to a release date for perennial wheat varieties. “There are only three groups devoted to this right now – the Washington State group we’re working with, the Land Institute and one in Australia.” Developing a perennial wheat requires not only lab work, but also field work. Growing and studying the plants takes years. “We’re studying plants that have been growing for six, seven years, because we’re trying to develop a wheat that grows year after year,” said Arterburn, an assistant professor in the biology department. “It’d be foolish to say we’re going to have one in three years, but I’d like to think it won’t take 30 years.”

The ultimate goal is to develop a perennial that produces a similar yield and quality as the genetically-bred annual wheats. According to a research article published in the journal Plant Breeding, the perennial wheat yields produced in the Washington State project ranged from 20 percent to 93 percent when compared to annual wheats. “We’re getting closer,” said Arterburn, who also works with Washburn students on the project. “As technology advances and we have more tools, I think we’ll get there.” The Washington State team also continues to work on improving the protein quality of its perennial wheat, including a generation currently designated PF5R6. “We tried milling it, and it baked badly, so we need the protein and yield quality to come up,” he said. “We’re trying to find that balance. The initial goal is to produce a feed wheat for cattle, then improve from there. “It’s going to take a little while, but it’s not a competition. Whoever can get it, whether it’s the Land Institute, the project in Australia or our group, it’ll have a significant impact. We’re doing this to help farmers farm long-term.”

PERENNIAL PLAYERSThree people at Washburn have been working on the perennial wheat project headed by Washington State University’s Stephen S. Jones:

Matt Arterburn: An assistant professor in Washburn’s biology department, he began work on the project as a graduate student at Washington State a decade ago. He focuses on the genetics of the wheat.

David Beaver: He graduated in May with a degree in biology. Beaver, Tecumseh, Kan., worked with Arterburn on perennial wheat for three years.

Alicia Burris: Burris, Parsons, Kan., is a double major in biology and biochemistry. She has worked with Arterburn on the project for two years.

CULTIVATING THE FUTURE

The Zeiss Axioplan, a high-tech microscope purchased in 2009, allows Arterburn and Alicia Burris, Parsons, Kan., to analyze perennial wheat samples.

Much of the work done on the project at Washburn is producing a perennial wheat in which additional genes send survival signals.

Page 7: August 2011 The Ichabod

11 Physical Therapy 12

Ashley Weigand, Williamsburg, Kan.; Haley Holwick, McLouth, Kan.; Carolyn Steinlage, Carbondale, Kan.; and Jackie Battaglia, St. Louis, Mo., all students in Washburn’s physical therapist assistant program, traveled to Savar, Bangladesh, to volunteer at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed.

“The people were so amazing and grateful for everything we did for them,” said Holwick, who worked at CRP with Weigand from Dec. 30 to Jan. 16. “They wanted to share whatever they had.”

The trips to Bangladesh are the brainchild of Lori Walton, a former director of the physical therapy program who discovered CRP during a 2009 conference in India.

“This is really all Lori Walton, her idea,” said Steinlage, who along with Battaglia worked at CRP from March 25 to May 8. “She thought we needed to get more students over there and sold it. It’s a great experience and well worth it.”

According to its website, CRP was founded in 1979 in response to the desperate need for services for spinal-injured patients. Among the services offered by the organization is physical rehabilitation in a country with a large population of disabled people.

“Ten percent of the people are disabled there,” said Weigand, “and the health care system is not as advanced as the one we have. So CRP is a big help to a lot of people who probably wouldn’t get care otherwise.”

Although CRP lacks many of the perks – air conditioning, equipment, even glass in windows – officials working there adapt.

“One of the big differences is the treatment,” Steinlage said. “One therapist used every part of her body, including her feet, to help a patient. That’s not something you’d see here, a therapist putting her feet on a patient, but it worked.”

The students said the cultural differences were difficult

Haley Holwick with children in Bangladesh. Holwick said visiting an orphanage was one of her favorite parts of the trip.

Ashley Weigand (fourth from left) said learning to

communicate with people she didn’t share a language

with was critical on the Bangladesh trip.

WASHBURN PHYSICAL THERAPY:

A THERAPEUTIC JOURNEYCold showers in the winter, no air conditioning when it was hot

and a language barrier. That may not sound like paradise, but four Washburn students had the experience of a lifetime during a trip to Bangladesh within the past year.

Clockwise from upper left: Haley Holwick, McLouth, Kan.; Jackie Battaglia, St. Louis, Mo.; Carolyn Steinlage, Carbondale, Kan.; Ashley Weigand, Williamsburg, Kan. The physical therapy students worked at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed in Bangladesh.

Carolyn Steinlage (right) said the Bangladesh center has to adapt because it doesn’t have the physical-rehabilitaion resources available in countries like the United States.

BY THE NUMBERS1979Year the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed was founded in Bangladesh.

10 percentEstimate of disabled people in Bangladesh, by the World Health Organization.

160 millionBangladesh’s approximate population – meaning 15 million or more people are disabled.

67-69Life expectancy in Bangladesh.

to overcome, especially the language. Translators were not easy to come by.

“You’re on your own a lot. Sometimes a therapist could help, but not often,” Battaglia said.

“We had to learn some of the language right off the bat,” Steinlage added. “But sometimes you just had to show the patient what you wanted to say. Language was a huge barrier for us.”

The students worked six days a week at CRP, but they did have an opportunity to experience Bangladesh during their off days, traveling to Dhaka, the capital city located about 15 miles from Savar, for shopping and sightseeing.

“One of my favorite parts of the trip was visiting an orphanage,” Holwick said. “It was more like a vocational training place for moms instead of an orphanage. Mothers were there so they could learn to sustain a living for themselves and their kids.”

Each student said the experience had a profound impact on their education and training.

“For me it was about learning how to self-analyze, how to use your resources,” Weigand said. “It definitely helped in learning how to communicate with somebody speaking a different language.”

“It helps your critical thinking skills,” Holwick added. “The way they learn is different, so you had to think outside the box, try to explain things in a different way.”

A Washburn Transformational Experience (WTE) international scholarship helped fund the students’ trips, while The India Association of Topeka donated clothing for them to wear.

Page 8: August 2011 The Ichabod

MARCHING TOWARD

WASHBURN’S 150TH

The first classes at Washburn University were taught in a two-story brick building on the northeast corner of 10th and Jackson Streets in Topeka.

Nearly 150 years later, the school sits on a 160-acre campus in the middle of the city. To say the university has evolved would be an understatement.

13 Washburn’s Sesquicentennial Washburn Institute of Technology 14

The transformation to a top-flight academic institution, as well as the school’s future, will be celebrated with a sesquicentennial kickoff at the university convocation on Aug. 22.

“We have a strong sense of tradition, and we have this long history,” said Washburn President Jerry Farley. “We want to take the opportunity to reinforce some of the long traditions we have, as well as celebrate the future.”

The convocation will launch a series of events leading up to Washburn’s sesquicentennial in 2015. The school was incorporated as Lincoln College on February 6, 1865, renamed Washburn College in 1868 and became Washburn Municipal University of Topeka in 1941. The school became Washburn University in 1952.

During the convocation at White Concert Hall, Washburn will welcome freshmen – members of the sesquicentennial class – in an event that will set the tone for future activities and celebrations.

“Washburn is without question one of the most important assets for Topeka,” said Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten, a member of the Washburn

Board of Regents. “It’s a great university with a history and future worth celebrating.”

In honoring Washburn’s traditions, segments of the university’s history will be recognized during the school years leading up to the official sesquicentennial. During the 2011-12 academic year, the years 1865 to 1914 will be highlighted.

“The formative years are some of the most interesting at Washburn,” Farley said. “The school survived many close calls in the past and has thrived. It will continue to be here 400 and 500 years from now. Not many organizations and corporations can say that.”

The sesquicentennial comes at a

time when Washburn is beginning to implement several objectives outlined in the 150 Forward strategic plan.

Approved in April 2010, 150 Forward was initiated by Washburn’s Board of Regents as a process to develop a long-range plan for the next decade.

The plan includes the development of a doctor of

nursing practice degree, expansion of the School of Law’s Centers for Excellence (outlined on pages 5-6) and multiple other objectives.

“We’ve always had a strategic plan, but on this one we involved more people from the community and more alumni,” Farley said. “What the strategic plan did was provide the ideas that will be the cornerstone of the sesquicentennial as Washburn moves forward.”

Two signature events mark the first semester of the sesquicentennial celebration: the convocation and the Bow Tie Ball, which will highlight faculty and student accomplishments.

Other kickoff items include lapel pins, banners and a logo unveiling on Aug. 18 during Ichabod Washburn's birthday celebration.

SESQUICENTENNIAL SIGNATURE EVENTS

CONVOCATION (4 P.M., AUG. 22)Overview: The opening event in Washburn’s march to the

sesquicentennial welcomes all faculty, staff and students to

campus. Those attending will enter by walking through 50

robed members of the faculty. The event will include

the kickoff of the faculty/staff giving campaign, followed

by a barbecue.

Other highlights: A newly unveiled sesquicentennial logo,

free T-shirts and calendar of events, gift to the freshman/

sesquicentennial class, speech by President Farley.

BOW TIE BALL (7 P.M., NOV. 19)Overview: You’ll have a chance to show off your best duds

at this formal event, which features top-notch entertainment

at Washburn, as well as presentations on some of the

extraordinary work of faculty and students.

Other highlights: Washburn’s Fetter Quartet and Payless

Jazz Combo will perform throughout the evening. The event,

at a cost of $50 per person, also will include valet parking,

a coat check, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, the announcement

of the first 35 of Washburn’s 150 people of distinction,

and a champagne toast by President Farley. Also, a bow

tie and cummerbund set and brooch can be purchased to

commemorate the event. For more information,

email [email protected].

SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMITTEES

Academic Events, Alumni and Friends, The Arts, Athletics,

Community Events, History of Washburn, Memorabilia,

Special Events, Volunteers.

GET INVOLVED

Interested in volunteering for the sesquicentennial

celebration? Contact Rugena Hall, with the president’s

office, at (785) 670-1556 or [email protected].

Questions about the sesquicentennial celebration?

Email [email protected] or contact

co-coordinators Amanda Hughes at (785) 670-2153

or [email protected], or Julie Olson at

(785) 670-1816 or [email protected].

Page 9: August 2011 The Ichabod

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni News 16

ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIPSALL IN THE FAMILY Washburn runs in the blood of Connor Crimmins, Topeka, who was awarded a Washburn Alumni Association scholarship this spring. Both of his parents, two grandparents and his uncle went to school at Washburn, so becoming an Ichabod seems natural.

“I’ve known about Washburn all of my life because I’ve gone to Washburn events with my dad,” said Crimmins, a Shawnee Heights High School sports standout who plans to play football and baseball at Washburn. “Getting this scholarship is a big deal and helps a lot. I know it means a lot to my parents.”

Crimmins, whose Heights team won a state baseball title in the spring, will play in the outfield and pitch for the baseball team and play wide receiver in football.

“I’ve been going to games with my dad for a long time, so I can remember when we weren’t very good in football,” he said. “(Washburn football coach Craig) Schurig has done a good job getting them turned around. I can’t wait to start.”

Crimmins’ father, Scott, received a bachelor of business administration in 1989, and his mother, Laurie (Fenoglio), a bachelor of education in 1987. His grandfather, Joe Crimmins, and grandmother, Sandy (Shaw) Crimmins, both graduated with a bachelor of business administration in 1959. Uncle Shawn Fenoglio received a bachelor of arts in communications in 1989.

Connor Crimmins’ scholarship was one of 51 totaling more than $28,000 given to incoming and current Washburn students. Forty-eight of those 51 are Washburn legacies. Twenty-four are high school students who will attend Washburn, 24 are current Washburn students and three are transfer students.

LEGACY LIVES ON Attending Washburn is a tradition for many, but

few have the ties Justin Blumreich’s family has to

the university.

Blumreich, a nursing major and one of 51 recipients of

a Washburn Alumni Association scholarship, has been

recognized by president Jerry Farley as the school’s

only fifth-generation graduate. Though currently

enrolled in nursing, Blumreich earlier earned a bachelor

of business administration degree.

“It's rare to be able to continue a tradition that goes

back as long as this,” Blumreich said. “There are

often times when I'm reminded of my legacy when

someone tells me they were taught by my grandpa or

they know my family through another connection at

Washburn. I’m very proud to continue the tradition

at Washburn.”

Blumreich’s great-great uncles Walter, Festus and

Richard Foster and great-great grandfather Frank

Foster attended Washburn College in the 1870s,

and his great grandmother Dorothy (Foster) Fuller

graduated from the college in 1919.

Other family members with ties to Washburn include

grandmother Mary (Fuller) Muilenburg (b music ’56),

grandfather James Van Slyke (a longtime professor

here), father Craig Blumreich (bba ’76, jd ’79, currently

an adjunct instructor at the school of business) and

mother Dorothy (Van Slyke) Iliff ( b ed ’81).

“It’s a good school, and we’ve always felt pride in

Washburn,” Muilenburg said. “We’ve appreciated that

one-on-one relationship you get with the faculty and

the education we’ve received.”

Justin Blumreich worked at Security Benefit for five

years after receiving his first degree and is pursuing a

new career in nursing. He is a candidate for graduation

in December and plans to attend graduate school.

RUN FOR FUNLooking to help Washburn students further their education? The Washburn Alumni Association’s Scholarship Fun Run/Walk at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 24 gives you that chance. Proceeds from the 5K run or two-mile walk benefit the Alumni Association’s scholarships fund.

Refreshments will be provided after the run/walk at the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center. Those running the 5K will be eligible for awards. First-place medals will be given to male and female winners in various age divisions. There will also be drawings for prizes.

Want to be a sponsor? Sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals and businesses. Contact Susie Hoffmann at (785) 670-1643 or [email protected].

Want to help? All volunteers will receive a complimentary Fun Run T-shirt commemorating the event.

Want to register? Check out the details at Washburn.edu/alumni/funrun/2011runwalk.htm.

Same-day registration begins at 7 a.m. on Sept. 24. Race and walk start at Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center at 8:30 a.m. Money raised supports Alumni Association scholarships fund. The Alumni Association awarded more than $28,000 in scholarships to 51 students for 2011-12. Registration fees: $20 per person for 5K, $15 per person for two-mile walk, children under 12 free. Each participant must complete a registration form. Deadline is Sept. 9. Late registration (day of event and after Sept. 9) is $25 for runners and $20 for walkers. T-shirts are not guaranteed for late registrants.

From left to right, Sandy (Shaw) Crimmins, Joe Crimmins, Connor Crimmins, Scott Crimmins, Laurie (Fenoglio) Crimmins and Shawn Fenoglio. Connor, an Alumni Association scholarship recipient, is the latest member of the family to attend Washburn.

Participants in the 2010 Washburn Alumni Association’s Scholarship Fun Run/Walk

contributed to 51 students receiving scholarships for 2011-12.

“We’re delighted so many legacy students were awarded scholarships,” said Alumni Association director Susie Hoffmann. “It’s great to see them carrying on the family tradition.”

The Alumni Fun Run and license plate program support the scholarship program.

For a complete list of scholarship recipients, visit Washburn.edu/alumni.

15 Alumni News

Page 10: August 2011 The Ichabod

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-12

PRESIDENTRoger VanHoozer, ba ’72Springfield, [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENTStacey (Vossen) Calhoon, ba ’[email protected]

BOARD MEMBERSAnn (McIntosh) Adrian, b ed ’67Newton, [email protected]

Jami (Torske) Bond, bba ’04 Gardner, [email protected]

Brian Clarke, bba ’03, jd ’06 Wichita, Kan. [email protected]

Dawn (Fernandez) Dennis, as ‘99 [email protected]

John Haverty, ba ’99 [email protected]

David Manley, bba ‘67 Auburn, [email protected]

William Marshall, ba ’61 Colorado Springs, [email protected]

Erin (Menard) McGown, bba ’05 Burlington, [email protected]

Mark Ross, bba ’83 Overland Park, [email protected]

Eric Taylor, bba ’03 Olathe, [email protected]

Jeanne (Marker) Vawter, ba ’70, m ed ’[email protected]

John M. Ybarra, ba ’97 [email protected]

Jeanne (Marker) Vawter, ba ’70, m ed ’93, Topeka, retired in 2010 as principal at Jardine Middle School. After seven years of teaching science and two years as curriculum coordinator at Robinson Middle School, Vawter was an assistant principal at Jardine before completing a 14-year tenure as the school’s principal. Currently a volunteer with the housing board for Zeta

Tau Alpha (ZTA) at Washburn, Vawter is a former president of both the Topeka School Fund board of directors and Topeka School Administrators. She also had stints with the Topeka Juvenile Correctional Facility advisory board, Topeka Parks and Recreation board of directors, National Association of Secondary Principals, Kansas Association of Middle Level Educators, Phi Kappa Phi, Psi Chi, United Methodist Women, ZTA Alumni Association and Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2001. Honored as YWCA’s Woman of the Year in the executive category in 2004 and with the Topeka Public Schools Distinguished Staff Award for administrators in 2010, Vawter was a member of ZTA and the Psi Chi honorary psychology society while at Washburn.

Eric Taylor, bba ’03, Olathe, Kan., is a financial adviser at UBS Financial Services. He is a partner of a financial planning team (Total Wealth Management Group) that works with businesses and families to formulate tailored investment portfolios and execute financial plans to meet short- and long-term financial goals. Taylor, who was a double major in finance and

economics, was on the Washburn football team from 1999 to 2003. He was an all-MIAA defensive lineman in 2000 and 2003, academic all-MIAA in 2000-01 and academic All-American in 2003-04. Other academic accomplishments included dean’s honor roll in the College of Arts and Sciences, president’s honor roll and dean’s honor roll in the School of Business. Taylor is a member of the Missouri Free Masons and one of the founders of the Kansas City Ichabod Club.

New members of the ALUMNI BOARD

17 Alumni News Alumni News 18

Basketball and the Baltics, Aug. 1-11, 2012The Alumni Association hopes to partner with the athletics department on a

trip with coach Bob Chipman and the Washburn men’s basketball team. Tentative plans include a unique travel opportunity combining basketball and tourism. You’ll visit several Baltic capitals, including Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Tallinn, Estonia, on a five-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Before the cruise, you’ll enjoy a two-night stay in Stockholm, Sweden. After the cruise, you’ll spend two nights in Copenhagen, Denmark. Cheer on the Ichabods as they compete during the trip. Once plans are finalized, more details will be announced in a future edition of The Ichabod and on the Alumni Association website.

BASKING IN THE BALTICS

ALUMNI FELLOWSTHE 2011 ALUMNI FELLOWS:

School of Law: George A. Barton, jd ’77

School of Business: Daniel F. Hutchins, bba ’78

School of Nursing: Nialson F. Lee, bs ’76

School of Applied Studies: Paul R. Silovsky, as ’85

College of Arts and Sciences: Daryl W. Palmer, ba '82; Barry Feaker, bs '80

DISNEY’S TIp OFF CLASSIC, NOV. 4-6, 2011

Disneyland, basketball and the Lady Blues – three things that go great together! Travel to sunny Southern California and cheer on coach Ron McHenry, ba ’85, and the Lady Blues at Disney’s Tip Off West Coast Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Travel packages include any combination of air transportation, hotel, Disneyland resort tickets and basketball tickets.

FRENCH pOLYNESIA, ApRIL 21-MAY 3, 2012

Swaying palm trees, pristine beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters … welcome to paradise!

Cruise the South Seas with Oceania Cruises and discover some of the jewels of the South Pacific. You’ll begin in Tahiti, sail to Moorea, then travel to Huahine. You’ll savor the vanilla-scented air of Raiatea, witness the stunning beauty of Bora Bora and explore Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa before your cruise concludes in lovely Papeete, Tahiti.

To inquire about these trips and other travel opportunities, contact Susie Hoffmann at [email protected] or visit Washburn.edu/alumni.

Page 11: August 2011 The Ichabod

19 Athletics Hall of Fame Washburn University Foundation 20

The Washburn community and men of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta celebrated the much anticipated grand re-opening of their chapter house on April 29. The yearlong renovation project was the result of a nearly $2 million fundraising project made possible by loyal alumni of the fraternity.

More than 200 alumni and guests gathered at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the event and dedicate the house in memory of Ronald K. Richey, ba ’49, a longtime supporter of the chapter who provided the lead gift to make the project possible.

“This project is truly a testament to the dedicated alumni of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta,” said JuliAnn Mazachek, president of Washburn University Foundation. “The partnerships between the Foundation, the men of Phi Delta Theta and Washburn University speak highly to the Greek community on our campus.”

The chapter house was constructed of native limestone in 1927 at a cost of $40,000. It was one of the few buildings to survive the tornado that destroyed much of the campus in 1966.

The renovations preserved the house’s historic character while significantly improving the safety and comfort of the facility. The 12-bedroom, four-story building houses 22 men and opens to members this fall.

“It’s exciting. We can’t wait to move in,” said chapter president Briton Alexander, Lansing, Kan. “It’s a lot to live up to, but the chapter likes the challenge.”

There is still time to be a part of this historical project. Several naming opportunities at the chapter house remain. If you would like more information about how you can be involved, please call Washburn University Foundation at (785) 670-4483.

PHI DELTA THETA

Donors, campus leaders, alumni and current fraternity members at the ribbon cutting for the renovated Phi Delta Theta house.

CLICK FOR MOREVisit Washburn.edu/alumni for more, including:

Additional stories and information on stories in The Ichabod

Blogs by media specialist Ernie W. Webb III

Our newsletter

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Links to Facebook and Twitter

Photos

CELEBRATING A ‘NEW’ CHAPTER HOUSE

Page 12: August 2011 The Ichabod

Natalie Nioce (center), Horton, Kan., received the Geraldine Wilson Barron and M. Adelaide Swift Sondker scholarship. Donors Jill Sondker (left) and Ed Sondker (right) named the scholarship after their mothers.

Capitol Federal Foundation scholarship recipient Louise Lane (left), Meriden, Kan., with donor Tammy Dishman.

21 Washburn University Foundation Washburn University Foundation 22

Each year, grant applications from all facets of campus life are considered for funding by the members of Washburn Women’s Venture Partners (WWVP). This giving circle comprised of eight alumnae who volunteer their time and commit financial support to Washburn University promotes growth on campus by providing funding for campus priorities.

Organizations or individuals must submit grant applications detailing their proposed projects for consideration. Members of WWVP review proposals and select the projects to receive funding for the next academic year.

In the spring, five projects were selected and awards were accepted April 29 by representatives of each organization at the annual awards ceremony.

Those projects included support for a nursing mothers’ room at Washburn University School of Law, online education software for the School of Nursing, equipment for a student media digital editing lab, gel documentation visualization instrumentation for the chemistry department and continued support for the Washburn Student Government Association (WSGA) lecture series.

Grants totaling more than $50,000 have been awarded the past three years.

Lisa Sharpe Elles, assistant professor, chemistry, said the opportunity to purchase and utilize new technology is crucial in preparing Washburn students for careers after graduation.

“It’s important we are able to provide new and updated technology for our students to learn from so they are able to be

competitive in the work force,” Sharpe Elles said. “Providing our students with hands-on learning opportunities while using the latest technology helps set them apart from their peers and better prepares them to be successful in their chosen field.”

WSGA has received a WWVP grant each of the three years. The financial assistance WSGA receives helps in bringing transforming and enlightening speakers to campus.

“The support we’ve received from Washburn Women’s Venture Partners has played a huge role in the continued success of our lecture series,” said WSGA vice president Michael Kitowski, Marysville, Kan. “We very much appreciate our partnership with WWVP.”

WSGA president Taylor McGown, Mound City, Kan., added, “Through WWVP’s continued commitment to our lecture series, we are able to bring campus and Topeka community members together to promote Washburn University.”

All of the projects selected to receive assistance from WWVP this year would likely not receive funding otherwise. The women of WWVP have made it a priority to ensure all facets of campus life continue to flourish.

If you are interested in making an impact through Washburn Women’s Venture Partners or would like to receive information about becoming a member, visit givetowashburn.org or call (785) 670-4483.

The Washburn Women’s Venture Partners have awarded more than $50,000 in grants over the past three years.

WWVP SUPPORTS FIVE CAMPUS PROJECTS

WWA CONTINUES TO GIVE A HAND UPForty-three scholarship recipients and hundreds of guests celebrated the opportunity for continued education May 16 at the Washburn Women’s Alliance scholarship luncheon.

The students receiving scholarships enjoyed conversation and good company with the scholarship donors before receiving their awards. Those in attendance also enjoyed an inspirational message from guest speaker Carol Casale, Topeka, bba ’86, who shared her journey to a degree at Washburn.

Now in its 16th year, Washburn Women’s Alliance (WWA) was established to provide scholarships for nontraditional female students enrolled at Washburn. Preference is given to undergraduate single women, properly enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours, with dependent children residing with them. Since its founding, the organization has awarded more than $617,000 to 319 students.

“This scholarship is a big help as I pursue my education at Washburn and will ultimately lead to a better future for my daughter and myself,” said Amanda Lady, Topeka, a biology major who is a candidate for graduation in May 2013. “I want to be a good influence for her, and obtaining a college degree is part of that.”

All of the women receiving WWA scholarships have the challenging task of balancing work, family and studies. Many of them are trying to manage a household while providing for their children.

A scholarship from WWA, made possible by loyal donors, allows students to spend more time with their families and on school work and less time worrying about finances.

“This scholarship provides me even more motivation to finish my degree. I have a lot of people counting on me,” said technology administration major Barbara Hack, Topeka, who is a candidate for graduation in 2012. “Receiving this scholarship is a reminder of my end goal and that there are a lot of people who have the confidence I can walk away from all of this with a diploma.”

The scholarships awarded at the WWA luncheon would not be possible without a group of dedicated contributors each year. They have recognized the need to support this group of women who may not otherwise qualify for financial assistance.

Ed Sondker, Leawood, Kan., ba ’69 and jd ’73, and his wife, Jill, created a scholarship fund this year in honor of their mothers.

“I attended the luncheon last year as a guest and was so touched by the amazing impact these scholarships are making in the lives of mothers attending Washburn,” said Jill Sondker. “Ed and I decided to start a scholarship fund in memory of each of our mothers, who raised us and our siblings throughout numerous hardships.”

Their fund, the Geraldine Wilson Barron & M. Adelaide Swift Sondker scholarship fund, will provide scholarship assistance for one woman during the 2011-12 academic school year.

The luncheon is an inspiring event that honors exceptional students and donors alike and encourages others to provide a hand up, not a handout, to deserving students.

“It’s hard to imagine now, but I know that someday I hope to be able to give back to Washburn and do for other women what these donors have done for me today,” Lady said.

If you would like more information about how you can become a member of Washburn Women’s Alliance or create a scholarship fund, please visit givetowashburn.org/wwa or call (785) 670-4483.

Page 13: August 2011 The Ichabod

23 Washburn University Foundation Washburn University Foundation 2423 Washburn University Foundation

Charlotte Adair (center) with Washburn president Dr. Jerry Farley (right) and Susan Farley. Adair retired from the Washburn University Foundation in June.

For Charlotte Adair, memories of Washburn stretch far beyond 16 years of employment with the Washburn University Foundation.

Her parents were Washburn sweethearts who met in an astronomy class before World War II. Since age 3, she has lived within several blocks of the campus and remembers learning how to drive a stick shift on the campus streets.

Adair, who retired as senior development director of the Foundation on June 30, is a 1970 graduate of Washburn, served on the alumni board during the 1980s and began her career in fundraising for the university in 1995.

“It has been the perfect place for me to work, because Washburn has been a thread woven through my life in so many ways,” Adair said.

She saw many changes on campus during her tenure, including significant growth in the fundraising efforts to support the university. Adair played a key role in the fundraising success because of her commitment to building relationships and cultivating donors.

“I have loved working with people who care about Washburn as much as I do and want to support our students, programs and faculty with the dollars that are necessary to build and maintain a great university,” Adair said.

Adair said some of her favorite memories of Washburn are the times she saw the “joy of giving” in the faces of the many people who support the university.

“Philanthropy is not always natural for every person,” she said. “When someone is happy to make a gift to Washburn

and enjoys the experience, you know you have been a part of something special.

“That joy is what we strive for as fundraisers and what makes everyone involved feel great.”

When asked what memory stands out the most, it was difficult for Adair to choose just one. She has had the opportunity to attend 100th birthday celebrations for three Washburn alumnae and enjoyed friendships with each.

Adair worked with her father when he donated a baby grand piano in honor of her mother, a music major at Washburn. The piano is located in Ruth Garvey Fink Convocation Hall at the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center.

“It’s difficult to put into words all Charlotte has done for Washburn,” said JuliAnn Mazachek, president of the Foundation. “The impact she has made for the university by helping grow our endowment and grow our number of planned gifts will be seen for many, many years to come.

“She has been a wonderful member of our team and will be missed dearly.”

During her newly acquired time off, Adair plans to spend more time with her family and enjoy having time to sing, dance, play bridge and a few rounds of golf.

“I have very mixed feelings about leaving Washburn. It has been so exciting to be a part of all the progress the university has made, but I look forward to spending more time with my family,” Adair said. “I know I won’t be a stranger to campus and plan to attend a variety of activities and hopefully see many familiar faces.”

ADAIR LEAVES LEGACY WITH RETIREMENT Washburn University Foundation NEW TRUSTEESEight new members have been added to the Washburn University Foundation board of trustees. Their terms began Aug. 1.

Timothy S. Durst, ba ’84, Dallas, Texas. Durst is a senior partner at the law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. and serves as vice chairman of the national board of directors of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

R. Clayton Funk, ba ’93, Kansas City, Mo. Funk is a managing director with Media Venture Partners and has spent more than 14 years as an investment banker.

Dan Garrity, jd ’72, Atchison, Kan. Garrity is a former partner of the law firm Garrity, Kuckelman and Kurth. He and his wife own and operate Nell Hills, a furniture and home furnishings retail store with locations in Atchison and Kansas City.

Donn Land, bba ’71, Spring, Texas. Land owns Donn A. Land P.C. and Ivy Investments Inc., a Jackson Hewitt Tax Service franchisee with 29 locations.

Jenifer Lucas, jd ’75, Washington, D.C. Lucas serves as advisory attorney for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and has served Washburn and Kappa Alpha Theta in a number of volunteer capacities.

William (Bill) Sneed, bba ’77 and jd ’80, Auburn, Kan. Sneed is a partner and shareholder in the Topeka office of the law firm Polsinelli Shughart P.C. and serves on the American, Kansas and Topeka bar associations. Sneed is also on the Washburn Board of Regents.

Mark Ross, bba ’83, Overland Park, Kan. Ross is a sales manager for a Kansas City technology company and also serves on the Washburn Alumni Association board of directors.

Jacqueline (Jacki) Summerson, ba ’68, Topeka. Summerson was co-owner of the Manpower franchise of Topeka and co-founder of Professional Security Inc. and PSI Armored Inc. She was also instrumental in forming AMFO Members Insurance Co. and served on that board for 16 years as well as serving on the Captive Investor's Fund board for several years.

Page 14: August 2011 The Ichabod

Sports 26

Washburn football has undergone a transformation under coach Craig Schurig. Entering his 10th season, Schurig is 62-41, including 48-32 in the MIAA, widely recognized as the toughest conference in Division II.

Schurig’s 62 wins in nine seasons are as many as the Ichabods had in the previous 16 years combined. During that span, Washburn lost 105 games and had four head coaches.

“It took some time and the hard work of a lot of people, but things started to turn around in our third year,” said Schurig, whose 2004 team went 8-4, including a Mineral Water Bowl victory. “We had to win some tough, close games at the end of the year and did that. That got us going. I’d like to think we’re kind of at a point now where we can reload and not have to rebuild.”

Now armed with top-notch facilities and a sparkling Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl, Schurig bids to lead the Ichabods to their third playoff appearance and second conference title since 2005.

Washburn lost receiver Joe Hastings, Wichita, Kan., (1,546 yards, 15 touchdowns), but senior quarterback Dane Simoneau, Salina, Kan., returns to anchor the offense after throwing for 3,459 yards and 33 scores during an 8-4 campaign.

The Ichabods also return their top two running backs in junior Vershon Moore, Midwest City, Okla., and senior Justin Cooper, Denver, Colo., who combined for 1,566 yards and 17 touchdowns. The duo also tallied 311 yards and two touchdowns receiving.

“Dane Simoneau’s back after a big year, and we’ve got very good running backs in Moore and Cooper,” Schurig said. “We’ve got a really good nucleus back on offense, from the O-line to the backfield.”

On defense, Washburn returns All-American defensive back Pierre Desir, St. Peter’s, Mo., (46 tackles, five interceptions) and its top two tacklers in junior linebacker Jahmil Taylor, Aurora, Colo., and senior linebacker Marty Pfannenstiel, Silver Lake, Kan. Taylor and Pfannenstiel racked up 91 tackles each last season, combining for 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Another senior, defensive end Dakota Palan-Johnson, Littleton, Colo., led the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (seven).

Bods Reload After Strong Finish

Vershon Moore, Midwest City, Okla. (below), rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season for the 8-4 Ichabods.

2011 SCHEDULEDATE OppONENT TIMEThursday, Sept. 1 at University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D. 6 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 8 *LINCOLN UNIVERSITY 6 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 17 *at Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Mo. 6 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 22 *MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY 7 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 1 *at Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan. 1 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 8 *at Truman State University, Kirksville, Mo. 2 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 15 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 1 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 22 *at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Mo. 2 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 29 *FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY 1 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 5 *at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan. 2 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 12 *UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI 1 p.m.

Home games in all caps; *MIAA Conference game.

Page 15: August 2011 The Ichabod

27 Sports Sports 28

As if returning seven of its top eight players wasn’t enough, Washburn’s volleyball team figures to be even more dangerous when it opens the 2011 season with a rather large chip on its shoulder.

Despite finishing 30-2, winning a share of the MIAA championship and sweeping Central Missouri in the regular season,

the Lady Blues were snubbed by the South Central Regional committee in 2010. Instead of playing at home, Washburn ended up traveling to Warrensburg, Mo., losing to UCM on the Jennies’ home court.

“We really felt like after the season we had, including beating them twice, that we’d earned the right to host the

regional,” said coach Chris Herron, who is 279-52 in nine seasons at Washburn. “We feel like we were slighted, and that’s motivated the players.”

The Lady Blues do lose one starter in libero Molly Smith, Overland Park, Kan., a defensive star who racked up 654 digs last season. But six starters are back, including All-MIAA middle hitter Mollie Lacy, Lincoln, Neb. The 5-foot-11 senior had 278 kills and 82 blocks during Washburn’s 32-3 2010 campaign.

Washburn also welcomes back right-side hitter Breanna Lewis, Topeka (298 kills, 71 blocks), outside hitters Hillary Hughes, Black Earth, Wis., (261 kills) and Aubri Renshaw, Raymore, Mo., (235 kills), and setter Amanda Guess, Blue Springs, Mo., (972 assists).

“We have a lot of experience with seven of our top eight kids back,” Herron said. “I can say this every year, but staying healthy is going to be a big key for us. As long as we continue to do the work, we’ve got a chance to be pretty good.”

Should the Lady Blues earn their eighth straight trip to the Division II playoffs, they’ll be battle-tested after squaring off against the likes of the University of Central Missouri, Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University in conference play. The Jennies went 32-5 and reached the national semifinals in 2010.

“Our conference has been and is going to continue to be tough,” Herron said. “This is a good, motivated group. They understand the expectations we have here.”

Snub Fuels Lady Blues

Mollie Lacy, Lincoln, Neb., was an All-

MIAA middle hitter last season after

hammering 278 kills for the Lady Blues during

a 32-3 campaign.

Lauren Henry, Randolph, Kan., and the Lady Blues

hope to bounce back from an injury-riddled

2010 season.

2011 SCHEDULEDATE OppONENT TIMEFriday, Sept. 2 #Texas A&M International University 10:30 a.m.Friday, Sept. 2 #University of Incarnate Word 3:30 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 3 #Nova Southeastern University 10 a.m.Saturday, Sept. 3 #Midwestern State University 12:30 p.m.Friday, Sept. 9 $University of Colorado at Colorado Springs noonFriday, Sept. 9 $University of West Florida 7 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 10 $Bracket play TBASaturday, Sept. 10 $Bracket play TBAWednesday, Sept. 14 *MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY 7 p.m.Tuesday, Sept. 20 *at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Mo. 7 p.m.Friday, Sept. 23 *TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY 7 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 24 *MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY 2 p.m.Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Newman University, Wichita, Kan. 7 p.m.Friday, Sept. 30 %Dallas Baptist University 2 p.m.Friday, Sept. 30 %Abilene Christian University 6:30 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 1 %Tarleton State University 1 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 1 %Angelo State University 5 p.m.Friday, Oct. 7 *at Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Mo. 7 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 8 *at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan. 2 p.m.Tuesday, Oct. 11 *EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY 7 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 15 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-OMAHA 6 p.m.Tuesday, Oct. 18 *at Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kan. 7 p.m.Friday, Oct. 21 *UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI 7 p.m.Tuesday, Oct. 25 *NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY 7 p.m.Friday, Oct. 28 *at Truman State University, Kirksville, Mo. 7 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 29 *at Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Mo. 7 p.m.Tuesday, Nov. 1 *at Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Mo. 7 p.m.Friday, Nov. 4 *SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY 7 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 5 *PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY 2 p.m.Tuesday, Nov. 8 *FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY 7 p.m.Friday, Nov. 11 *at University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Mo. 7 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 12 *at Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan. 7 p.m.

Home games in all caps; *MIAA Conference; #at Midwestern State Invitational in Wichita Falls, Texas; $at Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver; %at Lady Blues Fall Classic in Topeka.

2011 SCHEDULEDATE OppONENT TIMEFriday, Sept. 2 at University of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas 4 p.m.Sunday, Sept. 4 at St. Edward’s University, San Antonio, Texas noonTuesday, Sept. 6 at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo. 6 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 8 #Texas Women’s University 4:30 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 10 #Dallas Baptist University noonThursday, Sept. 15 *TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY 6 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 17 *FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY 6 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 22 *EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY 6 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 29 *MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 1 *at Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Mo. TBATuesday, Oct. 4 *MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY, Joplin, Mo. 6 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 6 *at University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Mo. 7 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 8 *NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY 6 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 13 *at Truman State University, Kirksville, Mo. 3 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 20 *at Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan. 4 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 22 *at University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, Neb. 6 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 27 *at Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Mo. 7 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 29 *at Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kan. 6 p.m.

Home games in all caps; *MIAA Conference; #at Jennies Classic in Warrensburg, Mo.

With a couple of trips to the Division II playoffs and an MIAA championship under his belt, soccer coach Tim Collins expects to win at Washburn. That made 2010, a 5-9-4 season mired by injuries, difficult to stomach.

“We had more injuries last season than we had in my previous eight seasons combined,” said Collins, who signed on in 2002 to build the program from scratch. “We have high expectations every year, and we will again this year, even though we’re young.”

The 2011 season will be one of transition for Washburn, which will be rebuilding after the loss of five senior starters. Also, Collins is revamping the Lady Blues’ style of play.

“Our theme in the past has been take the ball and shove it down the other team’s throat,” he said. “But, no matter who we play anymore, that doesn’t work. The defenses are too sophisticated for it.

“What we’re going to use is a system in which we gain territory in piecemeal fashion. We’ll try to out-possession the other team, be aggressive defensively. It’s an attack psychologically, to keep the ball from the other team.”

Washburn has been gearing up for the change in style, which Collins compared to Barcelona and Manchester United, two of the top club teams in the world, for a few years now. The roster already featured several players with the versatility needed, and 10 newcomers fill out the 23-player roster.

The Blues will depend on several veterans, including senior midfielder Lauren Henry, Randolph, Kan., who

led the team with four goals a year ago. Other veterans are junior forward Tia Stovall, Wichita, Kan. (six points), junior forward Leah Talley, Wichita (six points) and junior defender Kelsey Raiman, Topeka (started all 18 games).

Collins also will look to sophomores Megan Buckley, Elkhorn, Neb., Taylor Mayhew, Overland Park, Kan., and Caysie Beetley, Malibu, Calif., for leadership. The trio combined for 14 starts in 2010.

Blues Bid for Bounce-Back Season

Page 16: August 2011 The Ichabod

29 Sports Campus News 30 30

ANSON HITS NO. 800Steve Anson jokes that winning 800 games is nothing more than proof that he’s been coaching for a long time.

Thirty-three years is a long time, but only a handful of coaches have piled up as many wins as Anson, Washburn’s baseball coach.

“I really don’t think about things like that, to be honest, because there’s so much work to do,” said Anson, who is 803-739-3 in 33 seasons, including 780-717-3 in 32 seasons at Washburn. “The players I’ve worked with have always meant more to me. Right now, I’ve got to fill out a roster for next year, so there’s not much time to reflect on it.”

Anson reached the milestone in style when the Ichabods swept arch-rival and national power Emporia State University in a doubleheader April 29 in Topeka. The 10-7 and 4-2 wins also helped Washburn lock up a bid for the MIAA tournament.

“We were fighting to get into the tournament, so those were big wins,” Anson said. “That it came against Emporia State added to it a little bit.”

Anson plans to continue coaching and likely will reach even more milestones in the upcoming years.

“Washburn is a special place, and I want to be here as long as they’ll have me,” he said. “I’ve been here long enough that I’m on my second generation. I’ve coached the fathers, now I’m coaching some of their sons. Those are the kinds of things I enjoy.”

Coach Steve Anson (center) has won more than 800 games in 32 seasons at Washburn.

Several intriguing floats highlighted the 2010 homecoming parade. Read more about homecoming at Washburn.edu/homecoming.

MORE SpORTS FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Check out the Alumni Association’s website at washburn.edu/alumni for basketball previews and more on sports.

The December edition of The Ichabod will contain more previews.

Check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates.

A BOD TO FEARAnchored between signature events

celebrating Washburn’s upcoming sesquicentennial, homecoming week is Oct. 24-29. The theme for the week is “Fear the Bod.”

“As the sesquicentennial events will do, homecoming celebrates a

rich tradition at Washburn,” said Washburn President Jerry Farley. “It’s

an important time for our alumni, the students and the community.”

The week begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 with a homecoming ball and announcement of royalty candidates at the Memorial Union and concludes Saturday with the campus parade and the Ichabods’ home game against Fort Hays State University. The king and queen will be crowned during the game, which kicks off at 1 p.m., Oct. 29.

Other notable events include a late-night breakfast at 9 p.m., Oct. 24; the Ichabod Race at 7 p.m., Oct. 25; and Yell Like Hell at 7 p.m., Oct. 27. See a complete list of events below.

“Homecoming is important to Washburn for both students and campus. It brings everybody from all over campus together to show their love of Washburn by participating in homecoming activities and cheering for our Ichabod athletes at the homecoming game,” said Michael Kitowski, Marysville, Kan., vice president of the Washburn Student Government Association and chairman of the homecoming committee.

MONDAY, OCT. 247-10 p.m.: Homecoming ball and announcement of royalty candidates9-10:30 p.m.: Late-night breakfast

TUESDAY, OCT. 2511 a.m.-1 p.m.: “Say Cheese” photo booth11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Tunes on Tuesday7 p.m.: Ichabod Race

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26Noon: Scorch on the Porch7 p.m.: Open Mic Night, Mabee Library

THURSDAY, OCT. 2711 a.m.-1 p.m.: WU Chef competition11:30 a.m.: Criminal justice and legal studies celebration luncheon, Bradbury Thompson Alumni CenterAfternoon: Hallo-WU-een Costume Contest7 p.m.: Yell Like Hell, Lee Arena

FRIDAY, OCT. 2811:30 a.m.: Alumni Fellows luncheon, Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center2 p.m.: Living Learning Center 10th year anniversary reception, LLC lobby5 p.m.: Alumni After Hours, Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center

SATURDAY, OCT. 299 a.m.: Parade lineup, KTWU parking lot10 a.m.: Parade, campus10 a.m.-noon: Phi Delta Theta open house10:30 a.m.: Leadership Institute tailgate party, Union lawn11 a.m.: Phi Delta Theta alumni board tailgate, north of Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl11 a.m.: Student Recreation & Wellness Center tailgate, Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl11 a.m.: Criminal Justice Association tailgate, Moore Bowl11:30 a.m.: Alumni Association tailgate, Moore Bowl

HOMECOMING CALENDAREvents located at Memorial Union, unless otherwise noted.

CAMPUS NEWS

Page 17: August 2011 The Ichabod

31 Campus News Campus News 32

A BRICK-BY-BRICK CAREER“Play on.” Nathan Sawaya, 38, took those words, the slogan for LEGO®, to heart when he got his first set at age 5. More than 30 years later, the toy bricks serve as the foundation of a successful career.

“Like 400 million other kids, I’d played with LEGOs,” said Sawaya, whose “The Art of the Brick”™ will be on display until Sept. 18 at Mulvane Art Museum. “I was sculpting more traditional media, like clay, when I decided it was time to challenge myself. So I dug my LEGO set out of the closet and went to work on a self portrait.”

Millions of LEGO bricks and hundreds of sculptures later, Sawaya’s work has been featured in galleries everywhere from Melbourne, Australia, to Paris, France.

“I wanted to push the boundaries,” said Sawaya, who was a corporate lawyer before his brick-building career took off. “Building sculptures completely out of LEGOs hadn’t been done before on this scale, and I wanted to take it into the fine art realm. It just started off as a fun project.”

That fun project has become a career for an artist who works out of a studio loaded with more than 1.5 million LEGO bricks. The demand for his work is so high that Sawaya often turns down requests for commission pieces.

“Some of that is me being selective. I won’t fill every request, but I will take on things that push the envelope,” Sawaya said. “The other factor is time. It can take weeks or months to complete the pieces.”

One sculpture, a dinosaur skeleton not included in the display at Mulvane, took an entire summer to complete. Sawaya also assembled a four-foot bumble bee requested by rock bassist Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy as a wedding gift for Ashlee Simpson.

“I do the commission work because I like to eat,” Sawaya said with a laugh. “My artwork is where my passion lies. I’ll do one project for commission, then the next one for myself. The inspiration comes from my own journeys, experiences and emotions.”

“The Art of the Brick” opened at Mulvane on June 18.

DID YOU KNOW?Sawaya has a tie to Washburn. Current Mulvane Art Museum director Cindi Morrison encouraged the artist to display his sculptures in an art museum exhibit in 2007 while she was the director at the Lancaster Museum of Art in Lancaster, Pa. “He was doing trade shows and some shows like that, still working as a lawyer,” she said. “I really felt like his work deserved more.” Four years later, his work is on display in the likes of Paris, France, and Melbourne, Australia.

THE ART OF THE BRICKWhen: June 18 - Sept. 18

Where: Mulvane Art Museum

What: Art display featuring works by Nathan Sawaya

Hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesdays; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday; 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Contact: (785) 670-1124, [email protected]

Washburn and KTWU have gone national thanks to a partnership with Public Broadcasting Service. Last fall, the school became one of 11 national providers of graduate-level courses through TeacherLine (pbs.org/ teacherline), an online professional development program for preschool to high school teachers.

“PBS is and always has been about broadcasting and education melded together, so this is a very appropriate thing for us,” said Cindy Barry, formerly the director of development/educational services at KTWU and currently senior development officer at the Washburn Foundation. “When we do things like this, it points out that Washburn is on the cutting edge of offering top-notch coursework at a national level.”

Through TeacherLine, which offers dozens of facilitated courses in instructional strategy, instructional technology, math, reading/language arts, science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), teachers earn graduate credits, professional development program credits and continuing education units.

“It allows us to be recognized not only in the state, but also across the country for offering these graduate-level courses,” said Gloria Dye, chairwoman of Washburn’s education department. “We’re still in the beginning stages, but this is a good project to initiate and develop.”

TeacherLine was founded in 2000 and PBS approached KTWU about becoming a provider about four years ago. At the time, the station didn’t have the staffing to initiate the program.

But in December 2009, PBS contacted Barry with an offer she couldn’t refuse.

“I was asked if they gave me $10,000 if that would allow us to be able to do this, and I said, ‘Yes, I think it would,’” Barry said. “That gave us the ability to hire some staff and to start getting out and going to some conferences to share and gather information.”

Less than a year later, Washburn was a provider of TeacherLine.

“It’s a program that I think will continue to be a valuable entity for KTWU and Washburn,” Barry said. “They’ve also got a peer connection program that’s extremely valuable for the teachers to get advice and share their experiences. We’re just starting with this, and I think it’ll continue to grow.”

For more information on TeacherLine, contact KTWU’s Beth Perry at (785) 670.1111 or [email protected].

Artist Nathan Sawaya has more than 1.5 million LEGO® bricks in his New York studio.

Through PBS’s TeacherLine, Washburn is one of a handful of schools serving as a national provider for graduate-level courses.

DIGITAL LIBRARY IN THE WORKSImagine a library with 40 years worth of

resources available as a teaching tool.

That’s the vision Public Broadcasting

System had when it went to work on the

Digital Learning Library (DLL).

The massive online database is being

designed as a resource to engage

students “in new and inspiring ways,”

according to PBS.

The DLL will include videos, audio,

images, games and documents to assist

teachers in the classroom.

“This will really be a wonderful service

for educators,” said Cindy Barry, former

director of development/educational

services at KTWU and current senior

development officer at the Washburn

Foundation. “It will solve that problem of

having to dig all that material out. It’ll be

available in a single place.”

Customizing the DLL content will be an

option for teachers.

TEACHERLINE A BOON FOR WASHBURN, KTWU

Page 18: August 2011 The Ichabod

33 Campus News Campus News 34

NO DEBATING: OUR TEAM IS ELITEWashburn has been a powerhouse in debate for several years, and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.

The team of Josh Ramsey, Fort Scott, Kan., and Lauren Knoth, Independence, Mo., advanced all the way to the finals in the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) championships in March at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Ramsey and Knoth also finished second in the overall squad sweepstakes at the event, marking the fifth consecutive year that a Washburn squad has finished in the top five.

Ramsey and Knoth defeated teams from Long Beach State, University of Wyoming, McKendree University and Boulder/Wyoming to advance to the championship.

The duo fell just short of a national title with a loss to a team from the University of Oregon.

Knoth was fifth in the open speaker award rankings at the NPDA championship.

Washburn also placed three teams in the top 12 during the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) at Denver University in March. Debate coach Kevin O’Leary, director of forensics, said the tourney features the top 64 teams in the country in a format similar to the NCAA basketball tournament.

The team of Joe Allen, Boise, Idaho, and Aly Fiebrantz, Alta Loma, Calif., finished fourth, winning their first three matches before losing. Allen and Fiebrantz won five of seven matches at the event.

The Ramsey and Knoth duo won four of six matches and finished sixth, while Calvin Coker, Topeka, and Josh Campfield, Kansas City, Mo., went 2-2 and were 12th.

Allen was named as the tournament’s top speaker among 128 competitors.

Washburn’s 2011-12 debate season begins in September.

A ‘GREEN’ PLAYRodney Ferguson didn’t have to look far for a playwright to deliver the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s message on conservation.

The public service executive for the Bureau of Waste Management turned to Washburn’s Penelope Weiner, a professor in the theatre department, to craft a play for high school students.

“I’ve always been a real environmentalist, a naturalist,” Weiner said. “My name was given to Rodney, and he wanted something fun and flashy that would appeal to kids and that could be done within a single class period.”

Weiner went to work last summer on a play about the bureau’s “five green

things” (reduce, reuse and recycle; use durable goods; compost and mulch; take care of and make less hazardous waste; use less stuff) and wrote “Bring It Up! The Assembly That Changed the World.”

“I worked on it all summer long and finished in September,” said Weiner, whose play is 35-40 minutes long. “I also put together a good team to work on this project. It’s a silly, wild, flashy play. It’s a cool little thing for kids.”

The play, produced by the team of Weiner, daughter Alexis Bird, Washburn theatre facilities/systems technician Lynn Wilson, and Lawrence composer Robert Baker, is set at a school assembly on Earth Day.

A guest speaker at the assembly

attempts to deliver a message about conservation in a work featuring a “vampire power” skit, a segment reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and the powerful wisdom of the school’s janitor.

“We wanted something that bridged the gap, and this was a great way to do it,” Ferguson said. “I think this has a real chance of being something we get our message across with.”

Students at Rossville High performed the play on Nov. 23, 2010, and Weiner plans to market the production to more schools this fall.

“The plan is to get out and talk to area schools about using the play,” she said. “I think there are great possibilities for this. It’s delivering a very important message.”

PROGRAMMED TO LEARN: ROBOTICS SERVE AS ALTERNATIVE TEACHING TOOLNearly 30 years after the rock band Styx made “domo arigato” (Japanese for “thank you very much”) popular in the quirky classic “Mr. Roboto,” students expressed their gratitude when the computer information sciences department used robotic devices as an alternative teaching method.

The department introduced the robots – LEGO® Mindstorms and a Scribbler – to teach students programming.

“It was really just a way to make learning more fun,” said Cecil Schmidt, professor, CIS. “I think in the end the students learned what they needed to in the courses. In that way, it was effective.”

The department decided to use devices two years ago when research suggested they would be an effective teaching tool.

“Rather than write a program that’s going to read a text file and write a text file, you see something move around,” said Bruce Mechtly, the CIS chairman. “It’s more exciting for the students when they actually see something moving as opposed to just writing a program.”

The students wrote programs to make the robots move through an obstacle course. Because the devices contain sensors, they could write programs that detected the obstacles.

“It’s not so much about robotics as it is programming,” Mechtly said. “They are not complicated programs. But even if it’s something simple like using these devices, we find that students will be challenged and enjoy using it.”

The more recently used Scribbler, so named because it can hold a pen and scribble ink, did have its share of glitches, however, including unpredictable sensors. The device also drained battery power quickly.

But the department is considering using a new device, the Finch, which at $99 is half the price and smaller than the Scribbler.

“We use Java here, and the Scribbler did not,” Schmidt said. “If we use the Finch, it’s Java-based, which is obviously a plus for us.”

SCRIBBLER vs. FINCHWhat are they? The Scribbler is the most recently used robotic device in the CIS department, while the Finch is being considered as a teaching tool.

price: The Scribbler is about $200. The Finch costs $99.

Differences: The Scribbler is larger and runs on Python programming language, while the Finch runs on Java.

The computer information sciences department has used two LEGO® Mindstorms (far left and far right) and the Scribbler (second from left) to teach programming. The department is considering using the Finch (second from right).

Lauren Knoth, Independence, Mo., and Josh Ramsey, Fort Scott, Kan., finished second in March during the National Parliamentary Debate Association championships.

Page 19: August 2011 The Ichabod

35 Class Notes Class Notes 36

1930s birthdays

Eileen Charbo, bba ’35, Santa

Fe, N.M., celebrated her 100th

birthday in February.

Eldon Sloan, jd ’33, Topeka,

celebrated his 102nd birthday

in March.

1940s anniversary

Richard Vanderwall, ba ’49, and

Erma Vanderwall, Fort Wayne,

Ind., celebrated their 65th wedding

anniversary in April. He celebrated

his 90th birthday in May.

birthdays

John W. Newhart, ba ’48,

Country Club, Mo., celebrated his

90th birthday in March.

Charles A. Martin, bba ’49,

Topeka, celebrated his 85th

birthday in November.

1950s Warren M. Crosby, bs ’53, Nichols

Hills, Okla., received the Dean’s

Award for Distinguished Medical

Service from the University of

Oklahoma College of Medicine

Alumni Association.

David Mosso, bba ’50, Charlotte,

N.C., was a contributing author in the

June issue of Accounting Horizons.

Mosso also had an article published

in the September 2010 edition.

Ed Wiegers, jd ’57, Marysville,

Kan., is the chairman of the Kansas

Commission on Veterans Affairs.

He practices law in Marysville.

anniversaries

Edward Hanson, ba ’52, and

Helen, Topeka, celebrated their

60th wedding anniversary in June.

William L. Johnson, bba ’56,

and Martha, Albuquerque, N.M.,

celebrated their 55th wedding

anniversary in April.

Jack Kahle, ba ’51, and Farol Fry,

Wilsonville, Ore., celebrated their

60th wedding anniversary in March.

1960s Harry Connelly, jd ’62, Las

Cruces, N.M., was appointed as

city attorney of Las Cruces. He

also served as interim city attorney

for Las Cruces and as city attorney

for Santa Fe, N.M.

Maurice Copp, ba ’69 and jd

’77, Lincoln, Neb., retired as staff

attorney from the Department

of Veterans Affairs Office of

Regional Counsel after 31 years of

federal service.

Alan Einsel, bba ’61, Prairieville,

La., retired after 42 years as a

United Methodist minister in

the Kansas and Louisiana

Annual Conferences.

Frank Holtz, ba ’62, Abilene,

Kan., retired as a dentist in

March. Holtz had a practice in

Abilene for more than 45 years.

Terry Marshall, bba '63,

Prescott, Ariz., joined Fain

Signature Group Properties as a

consultant and associate broker

and was appointed to a four-year

term on the Prescott Planning and

Zoning Commission.

Larry Niven, ba ’62 and

honorary doctorate ’84,

Chatsworth, Calif., co-authored

“Betrayer of Worlds,” the fourth

installment of the “Ringworld”

prequel “Fleet of Worlds” series,

published by Tor Books.

Sammy Peck, b ed ’64 and

m ed ’95, Tecumseh, Kan.,

was appointed to the Kansas

Volunteer Commission. Peck has

13 years experience as owner and

general agent of the W.L. High

Insurance Agency.

Richard Schroder, bs ’68,

Lenexa, Kan., is the president of

the Kansas Academy of Science.

Dr. Douglas Wilmore, ba ’60

and honorary doctorate ’95,

Kilauea, Hawaii, has served as

director of Emmaus Medical

Inc. since 2003. Before retiring

as a doctor in 2003, he served

in the U.S. Army and worked at

Harvard Medical School.

anniversary

Doreen (Toal) Overman, ba ’64,

and Lynne Overman, Topeka,

celebrated their 50th wedding

anniversary in December.

1970sThomas Arnhold, jd ’78,

Topeka, was appointed to the

Kansas Workers Compensation

Appeals Board.

Patrick Augustine, ba ’77 and

jd ’85, Denver, Colo., is on the

Occupational Safety & Health

Review Commission. He was

appointed as a U.S. Administrative

Law judge in 1997 and was a

judge with the Social Security

Administration, Office of Disability

Adjudication and Review.

Myron Frans, bs ’73, Minneapolis,

Minn., was appointed

commissioner of the Minnesota

Department of Revenue by Gov.

Mark Dayton.

Edward Glotzbach, ba ’70, St.

Louis, Mo., was appointed to the

board of directors of Perficient

Inc., an information technology

consulting firm.

James R. Hanni, ba ’74, Topeka,

received a public service award

from the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration in March.

Hanni is executive vice president of

the AAA Allied Group in Topeka.

Lynn R. Johnson, jd ’70, Kansas

City, Mo., was recognized by the

Kansas Association for Justice,

which created the Lynn R. Johnson

Justice Award in his honor.

Cecil Kohake, bs ’72, Topeka,

retired after a 33-year career as an

optometrist.

Edward Kushi, jd ’79, Wailuku,

Hawaii, was named first deputy

corporation counsel for the

County of Maui (Hawaii).

Peggy S. Martin, bs ’74,

Overland Park, Kan., retired

as CEO of TFI Community

Services Inc. Martin is continuing

her duties as a member of the

Executive Management Team

and CEO of Kansas Family and

Children’s Foundation.

Cathy (Wollen) Maxwell, ba

’75, Powhatan, Va., is the author

of “His Christmas Pleasure,”

published in December by

Avon Books.

Rick Mowrer, bba ’74,

Swansea, Ill., is the aeronautical

strategic issues manager for the

Foundation National Geospatial-

Intelligence Agency in St. Louis.

Mark Nusbaum, ba ’77, Topeka, was

named vice president of operations for

CLASS NOTES

*Dues-paid Alumni Association members are highlighted in blue.

Page 20: August 2011 The Ichabod

Washburn a driving force for Jean (Ellis) HenryMary Esther (Walker) Grice, ba ’37, would be pleased to know a former student continues to think of her fondly after 70 years. “She pushed me to go to Washburn and did what she could to make it possible,” said Jean (Ellis) Henry, ba ’42, who credits her former high school teacher with providing the encouragement and guidance that continues to influence the life of Henry, who is now 91. In 1937, an era in which an eighth-grade education was viewed as an achievement by many, Henry had already surpassed others in her family when she became a senior at Havensville (Kan.) High. Her mother urged her to seek an education to escape the difficult life of a farm wife, but Henry felt her choices were limited to stenographer, nurse or teacher – professions she wasn’t sure she wanted to pursue. Any doubts about college she may have had evaporated when she took her place in class. Robert Hills Kingman, professor of zoology, “took me places in my mind I never thought possible," she said with a smile. Material she learned as a student of Trann Lamar Collier, professor of psychology and education, continues to enhance her life, which she now fills with family, writing memoirs and the sharing of her musical talent. Her placid memories of the campus are accented with humorous stories that range from an instructor who would shoot a fake pistol in the air during class to startle dozing students to another instructor whose usual stance was to prop his cowboy-booted feet on the desk and smoke a pipe during class. Henry said she thrived at college by participating in as many activities as she could, eventually serving as president of Independent Women, secretary of the sophomore class and Nonoso president her senior year. She took pride in winning a cash prize for penning new words to a fight song, the results of which are now lost in history, and is still honored to have been the recipient of the Nonoso sophomore cup, considered at the time a significant honor. Every aspect of campus life was altered her senior year with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the immediate upheaval caused by students enlisting and leaving to go to war. Her own life was significantly impacted while she waited for nearly a month to learn the fate of her boyfriend who was on the USS Oklahoma, which sank in the attack. Thankfully, Walter Henry, also of Havensville, survived, the couple married in 1944 and Henry “started chasing a sailor around” the world. In February, the Henrys celebrated 67 years of marriage at their home in Newburg, Mo.

37 Class Notes

Now Consultancy, which addresses

issues of national security. He

authored the book “American

Realism Revisited.”

Tracy R. Hill, bsn ’99, Lecompton,

Kan., is in the MSN program at

Washburn. She and her husband

Dennis have three boys, triplets.

Terry Holdren, jd ’97, Manhattan,

Kan., is general counsel for the

Kansas Farm Bureau. He was named

to the 2011 Leadership Kansas class

in March.

Leslie (Pierce) Kaufman, jd ’94,

Topeka, is president and chief

executive officer of the Kansas

Cooperative Council.

Kenneth Kula, jd ’94, Dallas, Texas,

joined Kennedy, Clark & Williams,

a Dallas-based intellectual property

and commercial litigation boutique.

Stan Langhofer, bsn ’92, Topeka,

received the 2010 Zawiski Award

for his service to the National Renal

Administrators Association.

Washburn honored Langhofer as an

Alumni Fellow in 2003.

Scott McGlasson, jd ’91, Lenexa,

Kan., received the Outstanding

Service/Lawyer of the Year award

from the law firm of Linebarger

Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP.

Tommy Millburn, bba ’94,

Topeka, was promoted to senior vice

president at FHLBank Topeka.

Stephanie (Taylor) Mulholland, ba ’96,

Topeka, was named chief of staff to

Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler.

She previously worked at Kansas

Action for Children.

Kathryn Northway, m ed ’99,

Topeka, retired after 29 years of

service from French Middle School,

where she taught and served as a

curriculum coordinator.

Duane Randle, ba ’97 and jd ’01,

Linn Creek, Mo., opened the law

firm of Price & Randle LLC in

Osage Beach, Mo.

Cherie (Cregut) Sage, ba ’99, Topeka, *Dues-paid Alumni Association members are highlighted in blue.

Morris Communications. Nusbaum

was the publisher of the Topeka

Capital-Journal from 2004 to 2011.

Gregory V. Pelton, jd ’78,

Colorado Springs, Colo., joined

the commercial litigation practice

at the law firm Sparks, Willson,

Borges, Brandt & Johnson.

Theodore D. Roth, jd ’76,

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is on

the board of directors at BioMed

Realty Trust Inc. Roth is the

president of Roth Capital Partners

LLC, an investment banking firm.

Kevin Singer, b ed ’76, Topeka,

is the executive director of the

Central Susquehanna Intermediate

Unit. Prior to accepting the

position, Singer was superintendent

of Topeka Public Schools.

Louie Warren, b ed ’76, Omaha,

Neb., retired as president and chief

executive officer of the YMCA of

Greater Omaha after 16 years of

service in May.

birthday

George Berlin, bs ’70, Lawrence,

Kan., celebrated his 90th birthday

in July.

1980s Glenn R. Braun, jd ’81, Hays,

Kan., is a partner at Glassman, Bird,

Braun & Schwartz LLP. He serves

as the City of Hays prosecutor and

previously served two terms as Ellis

County (Kan.) Attorney.

David E. Bruns, jd ’84, Topeka,

was appointed to the state Court

of Appeals. Bruns had served as a

district judge in Shawnee County

since 1994.

Tod Bunting, ba ’81, Berryton,

Kan., retired after seven years as

Kansas adjutant general, holding

the rank of major general. He

also served as director of Kansas

Emergency Management.

Nick Cox, jd ’88, Tampa, Fla.,

was named statewide prosecutor by

Florida’s attorney general.

Bryan Fox, bba ’87 and mba ’95,

Lawrence, Kan., was promoted to

director of supply chain operations

at Kansas City Power & Light.

Greg Greenwood, bba ’88,

Topeka, is vice president of major

construction projects for Westar

Energy. He was named to the 2011

Leadership Kansas class in March.

Debbie (Duntz) Hedke, bsn ’85,

Waterville, Kan., is director of

Meadowlark Hospice for Clay

County (Kan.) Medical Center.

Previously, she was a registered

nurse case manager for Meadowlark

Hospice for 11 years.

Scott Hipp, bba ’89, Overland

Park, Kan., earned designation as

a certified financial planner from

the CFP Board of Standards Inc.

Hipp is co-owner of Lifetime

Financial Solutions.

Kevin Kennedy, bba ’81, Topeka,

was promoted to manager in the

state and local tax department of the

Marks Nelson Vohland Campbell

Radetic accounting firm.

Cally (Kirby) Krallman, bfa ’81,

Topeka, exhibited paintings at

the Coutts Museum of Art in El

Dorado, Kan.

John Krane, ba ’86, Evergreen,

Colo., was appointed to director of

sales and marketing for Northern

Crane Services Group.

Martha Look, b ed ’83, Grand

Prairie, Texas, retired from

Dallas Independent School District

after a 26-year teaching career.

Mary Lou McPhail, bs ’84,

Topeka, was elected president of the

Washburn Women’s Alliance.

Kevin Moncrief, bba ’83, Oak

Hills, Calif., earned a doctorate from

the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi

Ito Graduate School of Management

at Claremont Graduate University.

Jim Newins, bba ’87, Topeka,

was named director of the

property and casualty division

at the Kansas Insurance

Department. He began working

there in 1988 and has worked as

an automobile policy manager

and policy examiner supervisor.

Roger Noriega, ba ’82, Washington,

D.C., is a fellow at the conservative

American Enterprise Institute.

Judy Olander, jd ’82, Topeka,

is a recipient of the Honorable E.

Newton Vickers Professionalism

Award from the Topeka Bar

Association. Olander is the City of

Topeka’s assistant attorney.

Martha Bartlett Piland, ba ’86,

Auburn, Kan., is president and chief

executive officer of MB Piland Fat

Free Advertising.

Benjamin Sexton, jd ’86, Abilene,

Kan., sat with the state Supreme Court

in April to hear an appeal on the court’s

docket. The Dickinson County judge

had a private practice until appointed

to his current post in 2001.

Gayle (Hurst) Smith, bba ’86,

Topeka, is an information

technology administrative assistant

at FHLBank Topeka.

Jeff Wagaman, ba ’84, Topeka, was

appointed deputy chief of staff to the

Kansas attorney general.

Kenneth Warner, jd ’84, Kansas

City, Kan., was appointed first

assistant to the U.S. Attorney’s

Office in the District of Kansas.

Shari Wilson, ba ’88, Kansas City,

Kan., received an energy efficiency

award from the Kansas City Board of

Public Utilities for the development

of the Historic Lowell Lofts.

anniversaries

Gayle (Hurst) Smith, bba ’86,

and Brian Smith, bs ’86, Topeka,

celebrated their 25th wedding

anniversary in February.

1990sVictor Braden, jd ’98, Lawrence,

Kan., is deputy attorney general

for the Kansas Attorney General’s

office. He was named to the 2011

Leadership Kansas class in March.

John J. Briggs, jd ’93, Greeley,

Colo., was appointed as Weld

County (Colo.) Court judge by

Gov. Bill Ritter.

Maureen (Brock) Bryan, jd ’94,

University City, Mo., was honored

by Missouri Lawyers Weekly for

winning the largest defense verdict

in 2010.

John Burns, ba ’92, Topeka,

was named Alpha Delta Alum

of the Year at the fraternity’s

founder’s day. He is the director

of the athletic training education

program at Washburn.

Dennis Dinwiddie, aa ’92 and b

ed ’96, Topeka, is education curator

for the Topeka Zoo.

Lynn (Villamaria) Fountain,

mba ’92, Overland Park, Kan.,

chaired the 2011 Risk Management

Conference in Overland Park.

Dr. Scott Freeman, bs ’96,

Keystone, Colo., is a dentist at

the Dental Wellness Center

in Keystone.

Shawn Geil, bba ’94, ba ’98,

mba ’10, Topeka, is the director

of information systems for the

Kansas Electric Power Cooperative

Inc. Prior to that, he worked at

Washburn for 14 years.

Cheryl (Dye) Hayward, bba ’90,

Topeka, was a nominee for the

Women to Watch Award, sponsored

by the Kansas Society of CPAs and

the American Institute of CPAs.

Hakim Hazim, ba ’96, Kuna,

Idaho, is the founder of Relevant

Class Notes 38

Page 21: August 2011 The Ichabod

Trash Mountain Project, a ministry

targeting people who live in trash

dumps around the world.

Kari Erpelding, ba ’05, Topeka, is

a customer support associate in the

Polo Custom Products division of

M-C Industries.

Lyall Ford, ba ’02, Topeka,

received a master of arts in global

and international studies from the

University of Kansas. Ford works as a

production assistant at Washburn ISS.

Regina Franklin, bs ’08, msw ’11,

Topeka, is a performance management

specialist for Shawnee County.

Jordan Frieb, ba ’09, Olmitz, Kan.,

graduated from military intelligence

training at Goodfellow Air Force

Base and received the Gen. Michael

V. Hayden Award as the top

graduate for academic achievement

and high standards.

Lynelle (Strong) Homolka, jd ’00,

Central City, Neb., is Merrick

County (Neb.) attorney.

Amanda (Millard) Hughes, ba ’00,

Topeka, received the Fast Forward

Member of the Year award from the

Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce.

John A. Jackson, m cj ’03,

Alamosa, Colo., is the chief of police

in Greenwood Village, heading a

department of 66 sworn officers and

28 civilian support staff.

Matthew D. Jones, bs ’07, Wichita,

Kan., is a lab tech for the City of

Wichita water lab. He was married

in April.

Kat Keyes, bba ’08, Topeka, is

managing production coordination

for Gizmo Pictures.

Misty (Ribordy) Kruger, ba ’07,

Topeka, is vice president of the

Kansas Association of Public

Information Officers board of

directors and also serves as a

member of the Topeka Downtown

Optimist Club board of directors.

Renee Leeds-McDaniel, jd ’03,

Overland Park, Kan., is an associate

attorney with the law firm of South

& Associates LC.

Megan (Furgason) McCann, jd

’09, Cimarron, Kan., is an associate

attorney with the law firm of

Tamara L. Davis PA.

Ashley McMillan, ba ’05, Topeka,

was named to the 2011 Leadership

Kansas class in March.

Sara R. (Murray) Meyer, bba ’04,

Holton, Kan., was named supervisor

of the year for 2010 at Prairie Band

Casino and Resort. She is employee

relations supervisor.

Hunter Moore, jd ’09, Holbrook,

Ariz., is government relations

administrator for Navajo County, Ariz.

Scott Mossman, bba ’02, Topeka, is

owner and operator of GoBlue, which

specializes in direct mail marketing.

John Mundy, bs ’08, Philadelphia, is

a police officer for Temple University.

Philip Newkirk, bs ’05, Independence,

Kan., graduated from the University

of Missouri-Kansas City School of

Dentistry on May 7 with a DDS.

William E. Overbey, bba ’07,

Denver, is working for Innovest

Portfolio Solutions as manager of the

research department.

Rick Petersen-Klein, jd ’04,

Topeka, was named as executive

director of the Kansas Racing and

Gaming Commission in April. He

has been working in finance and

accounting for more than 30 years.

Christina Roberts, bba ’09,

Stillwater, Okla., raised money

for the Southern Wind Special

Olympics in April by running

44 miles from Kansas City, Mo.,

to Lawrence, Kan. She was the

president of the WU running club.

Amy Setter, bba ’07, Miami, Okla.,

is the store manager at the Sherwin-

Williams in Miami.

Phil T. Stevens, bfa ’02, Topeka, is a

strength coach and co-founder of the

Strength Guild, a group of coaches

and athletes focused on strength

training. Stevens also owns and

operates Marketing Promotions Inc.

Selma Taylor, ba ’02, West Plains,

Mo., completed a residency in

obstetrics and gynecology at Good

Samaritan Hospital Medical Center

in West Islip, N. Y., and is serving

as a Doctor of Obstetrics at Ozarks

Medical Center.

Lori J. (Wayman) Thompson,

bis ’08, Topeka, is the regional

coordinator for Highland

Community College’s Southeast

Regional Center.

J.R. Treto, ba ’03, Chicago, Ill., was

promoted to educational manager

at the College Board’s Midwestern

regional office in Chicago.

Angela (Martinez) Valdivia, bs

’06, Topeka, is the vice president of

MANA de Topeka and the board

director and co-founder of Leadership,

Empowerment and Development.

Daniel Washburn, jd ’01, Apache

Junction, Ariz., was elected as

superior court judge for Pinal County,

Division 1, in December. Prior to

that he was a single practitioner

specializing in business and real estate

law. Jennie (Johnson) Watts, b ed

’04, Topeka, joined the Dave Tew

Agency of Shelter Insurance.

births

Jennifer Dalton, bs ’04, and

Timothy O’Mara, Topeka, a boy,

Kaden Frank, on Dec. 24, 2010.

Dalton is an accountant for the

Kansas Sentencing Commission.

Lori Doonan, ba ’02, and Aaron

Doonan, bs ’00, Maple Grove,

Minn., a boy, Liam, on Nov. 25, 2010.

Annie Flachsbarth, ba ’07, and

Brett Flachsbarth, jd ’05, Topeka,

a girl, Molly Kate, on Dec. 3, 2010.

Annie Flachsbarth is deputy director

of marketing and communications

for the Kansas Department of Labor.

Lindsey (Lowe) Kaminski,

mba ’06, and Jeff Kaminski, Lee’s

Summit, Mo., a boy, Hayden

August, on April 18. Lindsey is an

assistant controller at Overland Park

Regional Medical Center.

Misty (Ribordy) Kruger, ba ’07,

and Tom Kruger, Topeka, a boy,

Thomas III, on Oct. 28, 2010. He

joins a sister, Kayleigh.

Stephanie (Gigous) Moore, ba ’05,

and Corey Moore, Olathe, Kan., a

girl, Macyn Elaine, on Nov. 19, 2010.

Paige Stonerock, ba ’08, and John

Steinkuehler, Overland Park, Kan., a

boy, Hugh Warner, on Nov. 18, 2010.

weddings

Danielle Demoret, bsn ’07, and

Justin Meier, Salina, Kan., on Aug.

21. She is a registered nurse at St.

Francis Health Center and Salina

Regional Health Center.

Brian Forster, b ed ’09, and Laura

Biery, Manhattan, Kan., on June

19, 2010. He teaches at Eisenhower

Middle School in Manhattan.

Alicia Phillips, ba ’08, and

Christopher Mowder, bba ’07,

Topeka, on Sept. 25. She is pursuing

a master’s degree in journalism

and marketing communications

at Kansas State University and is

merchandising distribution planner

for Payless ShoeSource. He is a

marketing communications associate

at Security Benefit.

Cody Steffey, as ’09, and Rebecca

Chappell, Wamego, Kan., on Oct. 23.

He works for the Veterinary Teaching

Hospital at Kansas State University.

2010sAdam Aadalen, b music ’10,

Topeka, was a long-term

substitute teacher at Royal Valley

*Dues-paid Alumni Association members are highlighted in blue.39 Class Notes

was recognized as outstanding

state coordinator, one of the Safe

Kids Champion awards of the

Kansas Department of Health and

Environment.

Charlie Smithson, jd ’94,

Des Moines, Iowa, was named

chief clerk of the Iowa House of

Representatives.

Jeffrey Steiner, bba ’96, Topeka,

is a lending officer at FHLBank

Topeka.

Belva Jean Taylor, aa ’93, Topeka,

was appointed to the Board of Adult

Care Home Administrators.

Steven Vosseller, ba ’94 and jd ’97,

San Diego, Calif., joined the trial

attorneys team at The Gomez Law

Firm. Prior to that, he managed his

own boutique trial firm.

Ernie W. Webb III, ba ’98,

Overland Park, Kan., is a media

specialist with the Washburn

Alumni Association. He previously

worked as a copy editor for the

Tulsa (Okla.) World, assistant sports

editor at the Newport News (Va.)

Daily Press and Page 2 editor at the

Topeka Capital-Journal.

Holly Woodbury, ba ’98, Hollywood,

Fla., is director of development

at Community Partnership for

Homeless in Miami, Fla.

Wendy Wussow, jd ’94, Lincoln,

Neb., is chief legal counsel for the

Nebraska State Patrol.

wedding

Nathan Freeby, ba ’97, and Suzanne

Klinker, Kalamazoo, Mich., on

Aug. 21, 2010. He is a senior systems

developer for the Burlington

Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

births

James G. Clarke, ba ’97, and Jennifer

Svetlecic, Kansas City, Mo., a boy,

Matthew Gorham, on Dec. 15, 2010.

Duane Randle, ba ’97 and jd ’01,

and Tara Randle, Linn Creek, Mo.,

a girl, Norah Kay, on March 3, 2010.

2000sZachary Anshutz, jd ’05, Topeka,

was named general counsel for the

Kansas Insurance Department.

Jeff Barnett-Winsby, ba ’03, Wassaic,

N.Y., released his first monograph,

“Mark West and Molly Rose,” in

2010. He is co-director of a non-profit

arts and music organization dedicated

to emerging artists and community

development in Wassaic.

Elizabeth Bretthauer, bba ’04,

Aliso Viejo, Calif., is an accountant

in the department of financial

services with the City of Aliso Viejo

(Calif.) in Orange County.

Travis J. Brown, b ed ’08, Olathe,

Kan., was recognized as an

outstanding first-year teacher with

a Kansas Horizon Award from the

USD 230 Spring Hill (Kan.) board

of education.

Sarah (Borgerding) Cain, bba

’05, Gardner, Kan., started a new

business, Stand Out Career Services,

which specializes in helping

recent college graduates prepare

for their career search. She is the

chief operations officer for Barber

Financial Group.

Romualdo R. Chavez, ba ’09,

Topeka, had a book, “El Vampiro

and the Curse of the Feathered

Serpent,” published by Xlibris.

Eric Clawson, jd ’10, Pittsburg,

Kan., has joined the law firm of

Wheeler & Mitchelson.

Dustin Cline, bba ’03 and mba ’04,

Stamford, Conn., is an evaluated

pricing analyst for the Americas

on SIX Telekurs’ U.S. Product

Development team. Cline previously

worked as a valuation specialist for

JP Morgan Chase and BNY Mellon.

Jennifer (Fenton) Cocking, ba ’04,

Atchison, Kan., was named editor-in-

chief of the Washburn Law Journal.

Whitney (Bolz) Coleman, bs ’06,

Lenexa, Kan., is an optometrist at

Eye Associates.

Andrew R. Davidson, jd ’04,

Buhler, Kan., is assistant district

attorney for Reno County (Kan.).

Darrin Devinney, jd ’00, El

Dorado, Kan., is Butler County

(Kan.) attorney.

Brett Durbin, bs ’03, and Jaelle

Durbin, bba ’02, Topeka, run

PROFILEJOHN BARRY, BA ’10, TOPEKA

At 21, when John Barry was jamming away in a rock band, a career in history was the last thing on his mind. Ten years

later, the Topekan can’t imagine working in another field. Barry, who graduated with a bachelor of arts, history, last year,

spent four years working for Davis Preservation.

“Dr. (Rachel) Goossen (associate professor, history) told me about Davis Preservation, so I was hired through the

history department,” Barry said. “I had no idea that type of career existed, but it really was incredible. It’s what I want

to do now.”

While at Davis Preservation, Barry focused on researching tax credit rules, newspapers, city directories and other

resources in an attempt to help clients apply for preservation funding.

Among the projects Barry worked on was the Gordon Block in Topeka, the Florence Opera House in Florence, Kan.,

and the H.D. Lee building in Salina, Kan.

“Historians love researching,” Barry said. “I could spend days and days on end researching. There are times when

you hit a brick wall and it’s frustrating, but when you’re finding all this information, it’s worth the work.”

Barry is pursuing a master’s degree in history at Kansas State University and hasn’t strayed from rock n’ roll, as he

plays bass for The Soiled Doves.

40 Class Notes 40

Page 22: August 2011 The Ichabod

42 Class Notes 42

John Kemp was perfectly happy in Washington, D.C. He had been working at the law

firm Powers, Pyles, Sutter and Verville PC for a decade, practicing health care and higher

education law.

“I was happy, incredibly happy,” said Kemp, a 1997 alumni fellow. “I worked for a great

firm. My wife and I loved Washington and what we were doing.”

Then the opportunity of a lifetime came calling. Abilities!, a non-profit agency

dedicated to empowering people with disabilities, offered Kemp a job as president and

CEO. The position also carries the responsibility of running Long Island’s Henry Viscardi

School, which enables children with disabilities to be active, independent, self-sufficient participants in society.

“I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity,” Kemp said. “I really missed being able to touch people’s lives. It’s very

heartening work.”

Kemp, who was born without arms below his elbows and legs below his knees, has dedicated much of his life to

helping people with disabilities. As a boy, he was a poster child for the National Easter Seals Society. Since leaving

Washburn, he has worked with several organizations for people with disabilities.

“I was very fortunate to have an amazing family that was extremely supportive, and I went to a school in Washburn

that is like family to me this day,” he said. “Washburn prepared me for the world I’m in today.”

Before working at Powers, Pyles, Sutter and Verville PC, Kemp co-founded the nation’s largest cross-disability

membership organization, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), in 1995. He served on the

board for AAPD for several years.

“That’s something I’m very proud of,” said Kemp, who along with wife, Sameta, has five grandchildren. “It was an

organization we needed and one that continues to do good work.”

PROFILEJOHN KEMp, JD ’74, ROSLYN, N.Y.

Middle and High schools in vocal

music during the spring semester.

Amanda (Floyd) Backstrom, ba

’11, Vassar, Kan., is a customer

accounts and accounting

representative at D&D Security.

Stefan (Michael) Burrell, ba ’10,

Topeka, took photos of America’s

landscape and people during a

hike across the country.

Regina Franklin, msw ’11,

Topeka, is a performance

management specialist for

Shawnee County.

Jason R. Gardner, bs ’10,

Topeka, received a Sibberson

Award, which recognizes the

highest-ranking members of the

senior class in the undergraduate

program at Washburn University.

Zack Goodman, ba ’10, Sabetha,

Kan., was named to the board

of directors of the Kansas

Cattlemen’s Association. He

works for the Kansas attorney

general’s office.

Aaron Jack, jd ’10, Andover,

Kan., was appointed Kansas

Securities Commissioner by Gov.

Sam Brownback.

Brenda Kostner, ba ’11,

Murdock, Kan., is attending

Garrett-Evangelical Theological

Seminary in Evanston, Ill., to

pursue a master’s of divinity.

Stephen Littleton, ba ’11, Valley

Falls, Kan., is an actuarial analyst

at Actuarial Resources Corp.

Danielle Sanger, jd ’10,

Lawrence, Kan., is an assistant

attorney general for the Kansas

State Board of Nursing. She

previously worked as a

social worker.

Morgan Schaeffer, ba ’10,

Topeka, is communications

specialist for Kansas Family

Partnership.

Erin Thornburgh, ba ’11,

Manhattan, Kan., is a graduate

student at Kansas State. She also

works for K-State.

Ashley (Schmitz) Weber, bsn

’11, Holton, Kan., is the director

of health care services at Glenn

Moore Meadows and a registered

nurse at Midland Care in Topeka.

births

Andy Brown, bs ’10, and Larissa

Brown, Lawrence, Kan., a boy,

on May 8. He joins two brothers.

Andy is working on a master’s

in social work at Kansas and

works for Douglas County

Senior Services.

corrections

Linda Elrod, Topeka, is a life

dues-paid member of the alumni

association. She was not included

in the March 2011 edition

as such.

41 Class Notes

1930s Francis (Roberts) Bowman,

ba ’36, 95, Colorado Springs,

Colo., on Nov. 26. As a student,

she was a member of YWCA,

Women’s Athletic Association

and Pi Gamma Mu social

science honorary society.

Rachel (Knox) Harrison

Johnson, ba ’36, 95, Lake

Oswego, Ore., on Oct. 25.

She worked 20 years in the

comptroller’s office at Wichita

State University, was a member

of the Whiting Society and

a lifetime member of the

Washburn Alumni Association.

John Lovett, ba ’34, 98,

Mesa, Ariz., on Dec. 1. A

Navy World War II veteran,

he served 32 years with the

Akron (Ohio) Area Council,

retiring as assistant executive.

He was a member of Alpha

Delta fraternity and a lifetime

member of the Washburn

Alumni Association.

1940s Naseem Batrick, ba ’42, 90,

Kansas City, Mo., on April 17.

Batrick owned and operated

several businesses in Kansas

City after serving in the U.S.

Naval Reserve during World

War II. He was the captain of a

sea-going tugboat in the central

Pacific during the war and

played football and tennis

at Washburn.

John Brier Sr., ba ’49, 84, on

March 9. A member of Phi

Delta Theta, he served in the

Navy during World War II and

was on the executive board of

the Boy Scouts of America.

Marion Chipman, jd ’48, 90,

St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan.

3. He was an Army Air Corps

veteran of World War II and

served as a Kansas district

judge. At Washburn he was a

member of Phi Alpha Delta

legal fraternity.

Marilyn (Eckert) Christner,

ba ’47, 86, Abilene, Kan., on

May 21. A member of Kappa

Alpha Theta, she taught

secondary school in Topeka and

elementary school in Abilene.

Christner also participated in

Republican Women and Retired

Teachers.Marjorie (Titus)

Cofran, ba ’44, 87, Topeka on

Feb. 8.

A member of Alpha Phi, she

worked at Western Foundry

Machine Works.

Glenn Cogswell, ba ’43 and

jd ’47, 89, Topeka, on Feb. 7.

A Navy World War II veteran,

he had a law practice, served

from 1951 to 1957 as judge of

the probate and juvenile courts

of Shawnee County (Kan.) and

was the Republican nominee for

lieutenant governor of Kansas in

1958. At Washburn, he played

basketball and was a member

of Sagamore, Phi Delta Theta

fraternity and Delta Theta Phi

legal fraternity.

Myrtle Hallock, ba ’41 and

jd ’43, 90, Crawford, Colo., on

May 6. She was the first woman

to be president of the Colorado

County Judges Association. A

member of Delta Gamma, she

participated in several business

and professional women

organizations.

Wayne Hill, ba ’42, 90,

Tecumseh, Kan., on April 12.

He was founder of Hill &

Company Inc.

Thomas E. Kelly, jd ’48,

90, Topeka, on March 24.

He served in the Army Air

Corps before a 28-year career

in the FBI. Kelly also served

as executive director for the

governor’s committee on

criminal administration and

was a director of the KBI.

Arlene (Oberhelman) Marro,

ba ’45, 87, State College, Pa., on

May 12. She began her career

as an elementary teacher in

Kansas and Nebraska before

teaching children’s literature at

Penn State. A member of Sigma

Alpha Iota, Marro later worked

for Central Intermediate Unit

with families of children with

special needs.

Harold Oelschlaeger, jd ’49,

85, Overbrook, Kan., on Dec.

27. An Army World War II

veteran with Bronze Star and

Purple Heart awards, he had

a private law practice, was city

attorney for Plainville, Kan.,

served eight years as Rooks

County (Kan.) attorney and was

a staff attorney for the Kansas

State Board of Tax Appeals. At

Washburn, he was a member of

Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.

Connie (Siler) Tabor, ba ’47,

85, Hays, Kan., on March 4.

She was a certification specialist

at Fort Hays State University

and a member of Delta Gamma.

James C. Walters, ba ’46,

85, Athens, Ga., on March

6. He held a doctorate in

philosophy and was a professor

at the University of Alabama,

Oklahoma State, Florida

State and the University of

Georgia before retiring in 1989.

Walters was awarded the Josiah

Meigs Award for excellence in

Teaching at Georgia.

1950sClarence Alling, bfa ’57, 77,

Waterloo, Iowa, on Aug. 5. An

Army Korean War veteran,

he was an accomplished

potter and served 30 years as

director of arts and crafts at

Waterloo Center for the Arts.

At Washburn, he was a member

of Delta Phi Delta art national

honorary society.

Mary (Ward) Baker, bs ’50,

82, Baton Rouge, La., on Jan.

31. A homemaker, she served

in numerous community

organizations, had a sewing

ministry and was active in the

Presbyterian Church.

Her husband, James Baker,

ba ’53, survives.

Lawrence “Larry” Christian,

bba ’55, 77, Marion, Ohio, on

Dec. 10. An Air Force veteran

of the Korean War, he worked

in sales and marketing at

Proctor and Gamble, Owens

Illinois, TODCO Door Co.

and Marion Employment

Agency. At Washburn, he

was a member Sigma Phi

Epsilon fraternity.

IN MEMORY

Page 23: August 2011 The Ichabod

43 In Memory In Memory 44

Robert Corber, jd ’50, 84,

Williamsburg, Va., on Jan. 25.

He was a flight test engineer in

the Navy before becoming a law

firm associate in 1951. Corber

was a state chairman of the

Republican Party of Virginia.

William Dimmitt, ba ’50, jd

’51, 93, Kellyville, Okla., on

Dec. 24. He served in the Navy

during World War II and the

Korean War. Dimmitt was a

longtime attorney and in the

Army Corps of Engineers.

Dale Dickson, ba ’58, 76,

Topeka, on Jan. 9. He practiced

dentistry in Topeka for more

than 37 years. At Washburn,

he was a member of Young

Republicans and Alpha Delta

fraternity. His wife, Bernice

(Collins) Dickson, b ed ’58,

survives.

Duane Dietrich, bba ’58, 79,

Topeka, on Jan. 28. He was a

Navy Korean War veteran and

retired as a department head

accountant with the State

of Kansas.

C. Stewart Doty, ba ’50, 82,

Albuquerque, N.M., on March 4.

A longtime educator, he taught

at Kent State in Ohio and

for 31 years in the history

department at the University of

Maine. Doty was the founding

president of the Education

Faculties of the University

of Maine and the school’s

affiliate of the National

Education Association.

Bobby Farrow, ba ’59, 71,

Longview, Texas, on Dec. 9,

2007. He was a clinical

psychologist and the co-founder

of the psychology department

at Notre Dame. Farrow also

was on the staff of the

Menninger Foundation.

Sue (Knight) Ferguson, ba

’55, 77, Stockton, Calif., on

Feb. 22. She was a homemaker

and substitute teacher. At

Washburn, she was a member

of Young Republicans,

Modern Dance and Zeta Tau

Alpha sorority.

Jerry (Tribble) Foster,

jd ’58, 79, Fort Worth,

Texas, on March 29. She

was regional counsel of the

Greater Southwest Region and

managed a nine-person law

office. Foster, who was named

top freshman at Washburn,

worked for the General Services

Administration for 22 years.

Vivian (Garriott) Fowler, b ed

’59 and m ed ’70, 85, Emporia,

Kan., on Jan. 9. She taught in

the Kansas cities of Minneapolis

and Waterville and served 20

years as a teacher at McCarter

Elementary School in Topeka.

Jack C. Gentry, ba ’54, 79,

Belleville, Ill., on Feb. 7. A

28-year veteran of the Air Force

who served a tour in Vietnam,

he retired as a colonel in 1982.

Gentry was a member of

Sagamore and Alpha Delta and

worked on the KAW yearbook

and Washburn Review.

Robert “Bob” Georgeson, bba ’54,

80, Lawrence, Kan., on Dec. 8.

An Army veteran of the Korean

War, he had a career in banking,

retiring as president and chief

executive officer of Douglas

County (Kan.) Bank. At

Washburn, he was a member of

Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Carl E. Goodrich, bba ’55, 83,

Loveland, Colo., on Dec. 7. A

Navy veteran, he had a career

at Southwestern Bell, where he

held numerous positions and

retired as an engineer.

Edward Havel, b ed ’52, 81,

Narka, Kan., on Dec. 14. Havel

served in the Navy as a pilot

for 24 years before retiring. He

was a member of the American

Legion and the VFW.

Glenn Heider, b ed ’56, 84,

Fort Collins, Colo., on March

1. He retired in 1986 as branch

manager at Home Federal

Savings in Fort Collins. Heider

also served as president of

Home Savings and Loan of

Atchison, Kan., and spent

several years as a teacher and

principal. He was a pilot in the

Army Air Corp.

Virginia (Copeland)

Hutchins, ba ’50, 82, Enid,

Okla., on May 5. She worked

for 18 years at Dillingham

Insurance in Enid. Hutchins

was a member of Beta Sigma

Phi sorority.

Ned Hutchison, ba ’55, 79,

Tucson, Ariz., on Dec. 23. He

was an Air Force navigator,

worked 30 years in the

pharmaceutical industry and

co-founded Resource One,

which promoted wellness

in low-income children. At

Washburn, he was a cheerleader

and a member of the choir and

Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Edith (Kimber) Keucher,

ba ’56 and m ed ’70, 94,

Springfield, Ill., on Jan. 10.

She was organist at Gage Park

Baptist Church in Topeka

and First Baptist Church in

Granville, Ohio, and served

with her husband in churches

where he was a pastor.

Mary (Falk) Kolodziej, bs ’54,

81, Ballwin, Mo., on Jan. 26.

Boyce McCarter, bba ’56, 77,

Topeka, on May 22. He worked

as an information technology

professional, retiring from the

State of Kansas.

Justin McGarity, bba ’51, 88,

Topeka, on April 8. McGarity

worked at Insurance Services

Office of Kansas for 33 years.

McGarity served in the Army

Air Corps from 1943 to 1945, a

stint that included combat duty

in England.

Shirley (Bean) Meek, b music

’50, 82, Topeka, on Jan. 30. She

owned and operated Meek’s

Inc. Office Supply for 37

years. At Washburn, she was a

member Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia

professional music fraternity.

C.J. Morgan, ba ’59, 74,

Topeka, on May 9. He worked

at the Menninger Foundation,

Community Addiction

Treatment Center and Topeka

State Hospital before retiring.

Eugene Percy, b music ’50,

87, Berryton, Kan., on Feb. 12.

Percy was an educator from

1950 to 1981 and a member of

the Masonic Lodge for more

than 65 years.

Bernice “Maxine” (Turner)

Pryor, ba ’52, 83, Kansas City,

Mo., on Dec. 27. She taught

second grade for 42 years in

Kansas City, Mo., and was

a member of St. Augustine’s

Episcopal Church. At

Washburn, she was a member of

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Carol (Zeller) Roach, b ed ’59,

74, Topeka, on Jan. 11. She

taught at Crestview and

Parkdale elementary schools in

Topeka and at New York School

in Lawrence, Kan., and had a

career in real estate as a closing

officer. At Washburn, she was

president of Zeta Tau Alpha

sorority. Her husband, Nick

Roach, bba ’58, survives.

Gene Schroer, ba ’57 and jd

’57, 83, Topeka, on Dec. 11.

An Army Korean War veteran,

he was the senior partner of

the Schroer, Rice PA law firm

for more than 40 years. At

Washburn, he was a member

of Kappa Sigma fraternity and

Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity.

Marie (Brewer) Sherrard, b ed

’56 and m ed ’67, 89, Topeka,

on May 8. She was a teacher for

41 years, including Randolph

and Lundgren elementary

schools in Topeka. Sherrard

also was a member of the Delta

Kappa Gamma sorority and

several teacher organizations.

Edwin Tucker, bba ’56, 77,

Chatham, Ill., on March 31. A

Kappa Sigma, he worked in the

claims department at Liberty

Mutual Insurance and Shelter

Insurance Company. Tucker

served in the Marines from

1956 to 1958.

Stanley Vining, ba ’56, 79,

Springfield, Mo., on Feb. 8. He

served from 1951 to 1955 as an

Air Force intelligence officer,

received a Fullbright Fellowship

to study in Australia, retired

from Southwest Missouri State

College as a political science

professor and was active in the

Democratic Party.

Robert Wilcox, b music ’54,

81, Topeka, on Jan. 14. He

attained the rank of captain

in the Air Force, worked for

Carroll Radio and Sound,

Zercher Photo and was a

deputy in the Shawnee County

Sheriff’s Office. At Washburn,

he was a member of Alpha

Delta fraternity.

Stan Wisdom, jd ’53, 83,

Wichita, Kan., on Feb. 13. He

practiced law throughout his

career in Wichita after serving

in the Navy during World War

II and the Korean War.

1960sKenneth Blush, bs ’63, 70,

Corona, Calif., on Dec. 15. He

worked 34 years at the Naval

Ordnance Lab in Norco, Calif.,

and was a member of Friends

of the Mojave Road and First

Baptist Church of Corona.

Janet (Nickel) Busey, ba ’64,

68, Topeka, on Nov. 23. She

worked for more than 30

years at Blue Cross and Blue

Shield of Kansas, retiring as

a management information

coordinator.

Russell Ewbank, ba ’66, 69,

Topeka, on March 21. He

retired in 1999 after 35 years

as a research programmer

and statistician at Menninger

Hospital. Ewbank was an

Eagle Scout and member of the

Topeka Jaycees.

David J. France, ba ’67, 66,

Edmond, Okla., on April 17.

He worked for the Federal

Reserve Bank in Kansas City

and at the Oklahoma City

branch as a vice president and

manager before becoming a

mortgage consultant.

Melvin Gaines, bba ’67,

68, Panama City, Fla., on

Feb. 10. He owned Melvin

B. Gaines Yacht Brokerage

Inc., Convenience Rental

Corporation and A to Z Rental

after 13 years at E.I. DuPont

Finishes Department.

Dennis Harry, bba ’65, 68,

Topeka, on Feb. 4. He worked

for the Longmont (Colo.)

Times-Call and in the circulation

department of the Topeka

Capital-Journal and was a

baseball umpire. His wife,

Sharon (Eklund) Harry, b ed

’72, survives.

Jewell (Camp) Hill, ba ’65, 84,

Ellijay, Ga., on June 4, 2010.

Joan (Loop) Hood, b ed ’60,

78, Topeka, on March 28. She

taught elementary school in

Wilson, Wakarusa and Topeka.

She finished her career at

Lyman Elementary in Topeka.

Anthony “Tony” R. Russo,

jd ’61, 75, Prairie Village,

Kan., on Dec. 25. He practiced

law in Kansas City, Kan. At

Washburn, he was a member of

Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.

Elijah Shacklette, ba ’65,

Austin, Texas, on May 8. He

served in the Air Force, working

as an instructor and serving

as a member of the Military

Officers of America and Air

Force Association. Shacklette

was an academic advisor at the

University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Richard “Dick” Smelser, bba

’63, 74, Topeka, on Jan. 31. A

Navy veteran, he worked for the

Kansas Insurance Department,

retiring as an administrative

assistant in the Department of

Workers Compensation.

Robert J. Walker, bfa ’69,

68, Berryton, Kan., on March

4. He served in the Air Force

from 1960 to 1964 and worked

for 35 years as an engineering

technician specialist at Kansas

Department of Transportation.

Walker was a past president of

Forbes Field Golf Club.

John Whitfield, bfa ’64, 83,

Lindsborg, Kan., on May

14. Whitfield was an artist

and taught as an adjunct

instructorat Washburn in

the 1960s.

1970sMichael Brunton, ba ’77 and

jd ’81, 62, Topeka, on March

24. An Army veteran, he was a

bankruptcy attorney. Brunton

began his career as an attorney

in criminal law.

Steven L. Davis, jd ’78, 57,

Emporia, Kan., on Jan. 10.

He had a 33-year law career in

Emporia and across Kansas. At

Washburn, he was a member of

Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

Mary Gregory, m ed ’71, 75,

Omaha, Neb., on April 19. She

retired as a teacher at Highland

Park in Topeka.

Glen Griffith, bba ’74, 62,

Topeka, on Feb. 13. Griffith

retired after 40 years at

Goodyear, including a term

as vice president of the United

Steelworkers Union Local 307.

He was a member of Delta

Sigma Pi at Washburn.

William Henry, jd ’78, 63,

Topeka, on May 7. After

working at the Wichita Eagle-

Beacon for several years, he

was an attorney in Dodge City,

Kan., and lobbyist in Topeka.

Betty (Jorgensen) Hoffman,

bs ’73, 89, Lenexa, Kan., on

Jan. 12. She was a geriatric

crisis intervention social

worker for Kansas Social and

Rehabilitative Services in

Wyandotte County.

Page 24: August 2011 The Ichabod

45 In Memory In Memory 46

Frederick Huber, ba ’75 and

bba ’79, 80, Jennings, La., on

March 11. He was a fighter and

bomber pilot in the Air Force,

completing two combat tours

in Vietnam.

Michael Moroney, jd ’75, 64,

Kansas City, Kan., on May

13. He served in Vietnam as a

legal clerk and court reporter,

receiving the National Defense

Service Medal. Moroney

worked for the Kansas Attorney

General’s Office and practiced

law in Kansas City. A criminal

defense lawyer and municipal

court prosecutor and judge

in Edwardsville, Kan., he

was a member of Sigma Alpha

Epsilon, Phi Alpha Delta

and the American Judges

Association.

Barbara Nice, bs ’72,

60, Topeka, on April 20.

She worked at the Kansas

Rehabilitation Hospital

and Shawnee Mission

Medical Center.

Roger Pagenkopf, bs ’74, 69,

Topeka, on Jan. 1. An Air Force

veteran, he had a 35-year career

as an insurance adjuster with

several companies and retired

from Kansas Farm Bureau.

Margaret (DeVore) Reid, ba

’73, 81, Topeka, on April 9.

She worked at Blue Cross and

Blue Shield of Kansas and as

a home economics teacher in

Topeka before retiring in 1989.

Reid was a member of Kappa

Alpha Theta.

Williams Sams, bba ’77 and jd

’80, 60, New Lebanon, Ohio,

on March 30. He was regional

director of the American

Federation of State, County and

Municipal Employees in Ohio

after serving four years in the

Air Force.

Michael H. Shaughnessy, bs

’70, 62, Topeka, on Jan. 31. He

was a car salesman for more

than 30 years, a member of the

Kansas City Symphony and a

board member of the Sunflower

Music Festival.

Linda (Hart) Triplett, bs ’75

and jd ’79, 57, Bellevue, Wash.,

on Jan. 8. At Washburn, she

was a member of Phi Kappa Phi

academic honor society.

Gary L. Ward, bs ’75, 69,

Topeka, on Jan. 1. He retired

from the Topeka Correctional

Facility, where he served as a

counselor in the reception and

diagnostic unit and vocational

training center.

Mary E. (Jones) Warner, bs

’70, 80, Topeka, on May 19.

She founded The Toy Store on

the Palace Plaza. Warner retired

in 1984, but her daughter

operates stores in Topeka

and Lawrence.

1980sJoy (Lacy) Blaser, bba ’86, 74,

Topeka, on Feb. 21.

Laurence “Alan” Bransgrove,

bba ’83, and jd ’86, 49,

Littleton, Colo., on Nov. 30. At

Washburn, he was a member

of the Washburn Singers and

Choir, Delta Sigma Pi business

honorary society, Sagamore

and Phi Delta Phi legal

fraternity. His wife, Karen

(Stubbings) Bransgrove,

b music ’83, survives.

Patricia (Borgren) Burrell,

bba ’80, 55, Topeka, on Jan. 26.

Carol (Lusco) Crith, bsn ’89,

51, Topeka, on May 19.

She worked for Menninger

Foundation for 15 years before

moving to Valeo Behavioral

Health Care.

Dorothy (Goodwin) Dickens,

bs ’82, 78, Topeka, on Dec.

10. She was a social worker for

several Topeka nursing homes.

Kathleen “Kathy”

(Hankenson) Fisher, b ed

’80, 67, Topeka, on Jan. 14.

She taught special education

and was a job coach for Topeka

USD 501. Her husband, David

Fisher, b ed ’63, survives.

David Flores, jd ’88, 60,

Fort Worth, Texas, on May

21. He maintained several

law offices in Fort Worth and

was president of the Hispanic

Chamber of Commerce in

the city.

Timili (McCormick) Gartner,

ba ’89, 59, Topeka, on April 12.

Gartner owned and operated

Timili’s Café and Market

in Topeka after operating

Catering by Timili. After

leaving the food industry,

she worked at TARC Inc.,

assisting and advocating for

people with developmental

and related disabilities.

Terri (Franklin) Harris,

as ’88, 51, Syracuse, Neb.,

on Dec. 24, 2008. She worked

with troubled youth at

Social Services.

Ila (Bonham) Maddux, b

ed ’84, 66, Topeka, on May

3. She was a longtime teacher

and retired after teaching for

years in the Rossville (Kan.)

school district. Maddux was

a member of the National

Education Association and the

Kansas National Education

Association.

Gerhard Metz, jd ’87, 58,

Topeka, on May 4. Metz

served in the Seabees Reserves

in Topeka.

Sally Michael, bs ’88, 69,

Topeka, on April 22.

Thomas Moorman, jd ’81,

58, Arvada, Colo., on April 7.

Moorman was a staff attorney

for the Colorado State of

Appeals before running a

private practice. He was an

associate comments editor for

the Washburn Law Journal.

Richard W. Parker, jd ’80, 56,

Naples, Fla., on Feb. 16. Parker

was the chief financial officer of

a transportation company after

practicing law for several years

in Kansas City, Mo.

Stephen Rhodd, ba ’81, 61,

Stratford, Okla., on April 6,

2010. He retired from

Tinker Air Force Base as an

aircraft mechanic.

Donna (Felch) Seastrom, bsn

’89, 46, Scranton, Kan., on Feb.

10. She was a home health nurse

after working as an oncology

nurse for Cotton-O’Neil and at

the VA hospital.

Kenneth Spain, bsn ’81, 61,

Hutchinson, Kan., on March 7.

He also held degrees in

teaching, nurse anesthesia

and guidance and counseling.

A member of American

Association of Nursing

Anesthetists, Spain worked as

a CRNA at Summit Surgical

Center in Hutchinson.

Ronald Yaklich, jd ’82, 62,

Pueblo, Colo., on Dec. 25.

He had a solo law practice

and was a member of Easter

Seals Society and Fraternal

Order of Eagles.

MEMORIAL GIFTS: Remembering loved ones through memorial or tribute gifts to Washburn University leaves a unique legacy in their names while enriching the lives of students at the university. A gift to Washburn honors individuals in keeping with your wishes and unites their memory with the lives of so many others. Please visit givetowashburn.org/memorialsandtributes for more information on how to create a memorial or tribute gift.

Nancy Dinneen retired in 2000 after 28 years as a professor of Spanish at Washburn. She earned a bachelor of arts in

Spanish at Smith College (Massachusetts) in 1953, and a master’s (1955) and doctorate (1972) from the University of

Kansas. Dinneen was a member of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish, the Modern Language Association,

the University Women’s Club, Spanish Playreading Group and the Zodiac Club.

A lifelong traveler, Dineen counted Mexico City; Saigon, Vietnam; Grenoble, France; and Barcelona, Spain, among

her residences. Dinneen also traveled to the British Isles, Italy, Germany, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Lithuania and Tunisia.

Dinneen is survived by her husband, David, two daughters, one son and three grandchildren.

IN MEMORYNANCY (LANE) DINNEEN, 78, LAWRENCE, ON JAN. 5

1990sBeverly (Adkins) Adams, aa

’95 and bas ’97, 72, Wakarusa,

Kan., on Dec. 31. She was a

committee secretary for the

Kansas legislature.

Colleen K. Commerford, bba

’97, 41, Topeka, on April 20.

She worked as a pharmaceutical

sales representative and

was an advocate of

disadvantaged youth.

Stephen Estelmann, jd ’99,

61, Madison, Wis., on Aug. 4,

2010. He retired from the

Army at the rank of major in

the field artillery.

Barbara Glover, as ’97, 63,

St. George, Kan., on Feb.

8. She was a medical health

information technician for

nearly 30 years, working at

St. Marys Regional Hospital,

Mercy Regional Hospital

and Heartland Anesthesia of

Manhattan (Kan.).

Bryant Hertel, bba ’95, 46,

Topeka, on Feb. 2. He was an

adjunct instructor from 1996-98

at Washburn for the health,

physical education and exercise

science department.

Maria (Toomer) Marlin, m ed

’95, 59, Topeka, on April 4. She

served in the Jesuit Volunteers

Corps for two years and taught

at St. Anthony Padua School in

New Orleans and Our Lady

of Guadalupe School in

Topeka. Marlin also was a

reading specialist at Holy

Family School.

Susan McGivern, aa ’91, 57,

Topeka, on Feb. 9.

Kevin L. Taylor, bba ’95

and mba ‘10, 49, Topeka, on

Dec. 18. He was a controller/

accountant in the Topeka area.

Mark Velasquez, bba ’93,

44, Fayetteville, Ark., on May

13. He practiced immigration

and naturalization law in

Fayetteville from 1996 until

his death.

2000sKathryn Haliday, bs ’09, 45,

Topeka, on Dec. 2. She was a

member of Most Pure Heart of

Mary Catholic Church.

Martha Hernandez de Venzor,

bas ’04, 72, Topeka, on Nov.

23. She worked in the crime

victims compensation board

division of the Kansas Attorney

General’s Office and retired

from Payless ShoeSource.

Jennifer Hicks, mba ’08,

28, Topeka, on Dec. 1. She

worked for Hills Pet Nutrition,

Walgreens and Blue Cross and

Blue Shield of Kansas.

Kristina Strickler, aa ’01, 30,

Meriden, Ks, on March 15.

She worked at Appino & Biggs

Court Reporting Service for

more than 10 years.

Catherine Ward, bba ’09, 49,

Topeka, on May 17. She was

a staff accountant at Myers

and Stauffer. Ward was a team

captain for the American

Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Page 25: August 2011 The Ichabod

47 History of Washburn History of Washburn 48

The theme for 2011 Founders Day was “Washburn Rocks,” bringing to mind the boulders on campus, all of which honor one or more individuals or commemorate an event.

RITCHIE ROCKLocation: South side of Benton HallPlaque: In memory of John Ritchie, an early friend of Washburn College

Kansas was a territory when John Ritchie envisioned a Christian college in Topeka. He pledged land and a building at the annual meeting of the Kansas

Association of Congregational Churches in 1857 in an attempt to demonstrate support for a college.

Ritchie gave friend Harvey Rice power of attorney to go east to borrow money against his land. Rice secured $2,000 while visiting his former home in Hartford, Conn. Ritchie bought 160 acres from George and Clara Davis in spring 1859.

Lincoln College was incorporated Feb. 6, 1865, and John and Mary Jane Ritchie deeded the land to the college as partial payment of a $3,000 pledge. They also donated two lots at 10th and Jackson for an interim building because the 160-acre property was too far out of town.

The first building opened Jan. 3, 1866. In 1872, the college began building on its permanent site.

The college named buildings after Harvey Rice and Peter McVicar in 1902. In 1912 the trustees voted to construct a memorial on campus for John Ritchie. Originally located near the College Avenue entrance, the memorial was moved in the early 1970s to its present location.

1906 BOULDERLocation: Northeast of CarnegiePlaque: None. Engraved with the year 1906

According to the June 1, 1906, edition of the Washburn Review, the senior class placed the boulder on campus in hopes that other classes would continue the tradition and the campus would be beautified.

It was a tradition for the graduating class to present a gift to the college. But “misguided persons” buried the boulder 18 inches underground. Rather than dig it up, the class decided to give money to purchase electric lights for the steps of Carnegie. The lights graced the Carnegie steps until the 1966 tornado, and the boulder was unearthed shortly after.

STONE WALLLocation: North side of campus along 17th Street from Stoffer to White Concert HallPlaque: None

In 1906, the Dramatic Club was contemplating a way to beautify the campus. With the proceeds of the spring play, members paid the athletic department debt and hired a mason to create a stone gate on either side of College Avenue at 17th Street, the official entrance to the campus for many years. They added a plate (plaque) in 1908, which no longer exists.

In 1907, the faculty used the proceeds from their lecture course to pay for a gate at 17th and Boswell, which was referred to as the Faculty Gate for many years.

The Dramatic Club again donated funds in 1913 to connect the College and Boswell gates with a stone wall. The class of 1914 gave money to extend the wall from College to Mulvane, and the class of 1915 paid for the wall from Boswell to Jewell.

The class of 1914 said it well: “Sidewalks will wear out, the old bell may disappear, but this wall will stand for ages.”

PART IICheck out the December edition of The Ichabod for a story on the flagpole, presidential grove and John Morton rocks.

The Ritchie Rock commemorates John Ritchie, who was instrumental in launching the school.

The Flagpole Rock will be featured in the December edition of The Ichabod.WASHBURN ROCKS

Note: This is the first of a two-part series. The second part will be published in the December edition of The Ichabod and focus on the Flagpole Rock, Presidential Grove Rock and John Morton Rock.

Page 26: August 2011 The Ichabod

ALUMNI EVENTSSEPTEMBER8 Alumni Association tailgate, Washburn vs. Lincoln University, 4:30 p.m.9 After Hours, 5 p.m.14 Washburn Wednesday, The Other Place, Overland Park, Kan., 5:30 p.m.22 Alumni Association tailgate, Washburn vs. Missouri Western, 5:30 p.m.24 Alumni Scholarship 5K Fun Run and Campus Walk, starting at Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center, 8:30 a.m.

OCTOBER7-16 Alumni Association-sponsored Paris and London trip12 Washburn Wednesday, The Other Place, Overland Park, Kan., 5:30 p.m.15 Alumni Association tailgate, Washburn vs. University of Central Oklahoma, 11:30 a.m.18 Campus Alumni and Friends Luncheon, 12:30 p.m.28 Alumni Board meeting, 9 a.m.28 Alumni Fellows luncheon, 11:30 a.m. (reservation required)28 After Hours, 5 p.m.29 Homecoming parade, campus, 10 a.m.29 Alumni Association tailgate, Washburn vs. Fort Hays State, 11:30 a.m.

NOVEMBER4 After Hours, 5 p.m.9 Washburn Wednesday, The Other Place, Overland Park, Kan., 5:30 p.m.12 Alumni Association tailgate, Washburn vs. University of Central Missouri, 11:30 a.m.19 Bow Tie Ball, 7 p.m., Memorial Union (reservation required)

DECEMBER3 After Hours, 5 p.m.11 KC Holiday event on The Plaza with School of Law (reservation required)14 Washburn Wednesday, The Other Place, Overland Park, Kan., 5:30 p.m.

Alumni events are in the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center, unless otherwise noted. Football tailgates are located in the parking lot north of Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl.

MULVANE EXHIBITS & EVENTSThrough Sept. 18“Art of the Brick”TM

LEGO® brick sculptures by artist Nathan Sawaya

“Things Got Out of Hand Chapters I & II”Woven vessels and collages by Shannon Weber

Unless otherwise noted, exhibits and events are in the Mulvane Art Museum located in the Garvey Fine Arts Center. For more information, call (785) 670-1124 or visit Washburn.edu/mulvane.

THEATRE EVENTSSEPTEMBER1-3 “Two Sisters and a Piano,” 7:30 p.m.8 “Two Sisters and a Piano,” 7:30 p.m. 10 “Two Sisters and a Piano,” 7:30 p.m. 11 “Two Sisters and a Piano,” 2 p.m. Written by Nilo Cruz (reservations required) 16 Sha Sha Higby: International performance/sculptural artist, 7:30 p.m.

CALENDAR of EVENTS NOVEMBER4-5 “Scapin,” 7:30 p.m.11-12 “Scapin,” 7:30 p.m.16 “Scapin,” 2 p.m. Written by Moliere, adapted by Bill Irwin

Located at the Andrew J. and Georgia Neese Gray Theatre, Garvey Fine Arts Center. For information, call (785) 670-1639.

ACADEMICS & STUDENT LIFEAUGUST22 Fall classes begin22 WU Fest, Memorial Union lawn, 6-8 p.m. 22 University convocation, 4 p.m.27 Leadership Institute fall orientation

SEPTEMBER5 Labor Day holiday (university closed)7-9 Sorority recruitment, 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.10 Sorority recruitment and bid day, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

OCTOBER1-4 Fall break15 Family Day15 Leadership Institute family brunch, Kansas Room, Memorial Union, 9:30 a.m.24-29 Homecoming week

NOVEMBER11 International Club Celebration of Cultures, White Concert Hall, 7 p.m.23-27 Thanksgiving student recess

DECEMBER7 Leadership Institute Student Project Showcase, Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center, 9:30-10:45 a.m., 1-2:15 p.m.9 Last day of classes16 Fall Commencement, Lee Arena, Petro Allied Health Center16 School of Nursing Recognition Ceremony, White Concert Hall, Garvey Fine Arts Center, 3:30 p.m.24-Jan. 1: Winter holiday break (university closed)

SPECIAL EVENTSAUGUST22 University barbecue, Memorial Union lawn, 5 p.m.31 Activities and Majors Fair and Study Abroad Fair, Washburn Room, Memorial Union, 11 a.m.

SEPTEMBER1 Crane Observatory open house, 9-10 p.m

8 The Plagiarism Forum, hosted by Washburn Student Media, Washburn Room A, Memorial Union, 6-8 p.m. (Contact Robert Burkett at [email protected] for more information)

8 Planetarium show, Stoffer Science Hall, 7-8 p.m.

13 Career and Graduate School Fair, Lee Arena, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

14 Whiting Society event, Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

15 Crane Observatory open house, 8:30-10 p.m.

21 Constitution Day, presentation by journalist and author Robin Wright, White Concert Hall, 7 p.m.

OCTOBER6 Crane Observatory open house, 8:30-10 p.m.13 Planetarium show, Stoffer Science Hall, 7-8 p.m.19 Health Care Career Fair, Washburn Room, Memorial Union, noon-2:30 p.m.20 Crane Observatory open house, 8-9:30 p.m.22-23 SWIPE Out Hunger, sponsored by LinC (A food packaging event, with meals going to Haiti. For more information, call (785) 670-1950.28 Living Learning Center 10th Anniversary Celebration, 2 p.m.

NOVEMBER3 Crane Observatory open house, 7:30-9 p.m.10 Planetarium show, Stoffer Science Hall, 7-8 p.m.17 Crane Observatory open house, 7-8:30 p.m.

DECEMBER1 Crane Observatory open house, 7-8:30 p.m.8 Planetarium show, Stoffer Science Hall, 7-8 p.m.

SCHOOL OF LAWSEPTEMBER8 Business law student reception, Bradbury Thompson Alumni

Center, 5-7 p.m.

OCTOBER6 Distinguished practitioner in residence (sponsored by the

Business and Transactional Law Center): Benedictine College president Steve Minnis

15 Board of governors meeting, Marriott Country Club hotel, Kansas City, Mo.

20-21 Breaching Borders immigration symposium (open to public)31-Nov. 4: Family Law scholar in residence: Fergus Ryan, professor, Dublin Institute of Technology

For more information, contact Shawn Leisinger at 785-670-2462.

Nathan Sawaya sculpture

“Folds of Gold” by Shannon Weber

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