Transforming Lives - Rockhurst University

RockhurstTransforming LivesPersonal reflections on the Rockhurst mission

Greetings From FranceSix Rockhurst students traveled to France in January to studythe language and take in the culture. They spent some of theirtime in Paris, where they visited the Louvre, and some of theirtime in Montpellier, a university town in the south of France.The group included (from left) junior Brian Meyer, sophomoreCharly Ann Ryan, sophomore Krista Wardell, junior CaseyHeupel, sophomore Jacquelene Lenie and sophomore Jill Cohen.M. Kathleen Madigan, Ph.D., professor of modern languages,accompanied the students. See more photos of the trip atwww.rockhurst.phanfare.com.1 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

RockhurstSpring 2008InsideTr a n s f o r m i n g Lives 8A student, an alumnus and a faculty memberreflect on the power of the Rockhurst mission.12In v e s t i n g in t h e Fu t u r e 12Sudhakar Raju, Ph.D., professor of finance,has high expectations for his students.Departmentsro c k report 2h aw k talk 16a dva n c e m e n t d i g e s t 18f o r a l u m n i 20class n o t e s 224RockhurstOn the c ov e r: Service learning has changed the wayAnnie Lee, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, thinksabout her students and her role in their education.Editor Katherine FrohoffAssistant Editor Jamie Sievering, ’06 MBADesign Dig DesignContributing WritersJennifer Austin, Amy Castillo, John Dodderidge,Chandler Domian, ’09, Katie Fischer, ’98, Linda SalvayPhotographyJohn Dodderidge, M. Kathleen Madigan, Ph.D.,Mark McDonald, Stacey Potter,Jamie Sievering, ’06 MBA, Dave von Fintel, Geoffrey VontzRockhurst, the magazine of Rockhurst University, ispublished by the Office of Public Relations and Marketing.Opinions expressed in Rockhurst magazine are those ofindividual authors and not necessarily those of theUniversity. Rockhurst welcomes letters and comments.Send letters to:Katherine FrohoffRockhurst University1100 Rockhurst RoadKansas City, MO 64110-2561Or e-mail to katherine.frohoff@rockhurst.eduLearning, Leadership and Service in the Jesuit Tradition

Roc k Re p o r t 4 4 4 4 4 4Threatened Snakes Spawn Research OpportunityWhen rattlesnakeswere discoveredduring thesurvey of a construction sitefor a new subdivision inLenexa, Kan., an alliance ofenthusiasts — including aRockhurst faculty memberand her students — cameto their rescue.Mindy Walker, Ph.D.,assistant professor ofbiology at Rockhurst andprincipal investigator onthe timber rattlesnakerelocation project, was partof a group that transferredthe snakes to an undisclosedsite and began trackingtheir location and survivalrate using microchips,transmitters and wands.Students habituallyexposed themselves tofields of nettles, poison ivy,sunburns and ubiquitousticks, chiggers and mosquitosthroughout the summer.Arriving in the field in thepredawn darkness duringthe winter, they braved20-degree temperaturescoupled with rain. Theyeven set aside time duringChristmas break to isolateDNA in the laboratory.“They’re looking at everylevel of biology from thegene all the way up to theenvironment, which isinvaluable,” Walker said.The students’ passion,labor and relentless dedicationin adverse conditionsearned them, in Walker’sestimation, the designationof “true biologists.”The timber rattlesnake is the focus of a research project led byMindy Walker, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology.As further proof, they willco-author the final researchfindings that likely will bepublished in a nationalherpetology journal.In the classroom,Walker uses the projectto exemplify the interdependencyof organisms inthe environment and moreimportantly, the impact ofhuman development.Although the newsubdivision likely willfeature a stately entrancemarker, the snakes’ newhome won’t be advertisedto protect their safety.2 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Talent and Passion Run in the FamilyExtending their education well beyond theclassroom, brothers Marqwan and JaqwanSirls exemplify the Jesuit ideal of takingpersonal responsibility for learning. Theirambitious arts projects around campus andthroughout the community have garnered praise andrecognition and have helped each one develop hisown individuality.Marqwan, a sophomore majoring in business communication,is an accomplished poet who performs at variouslocations around the Kansas City area, including thehistoric jazz club, the Blue Room. In January he was recognizedas “Last Poet Standing” after defeating 12 other contestantsat the Westport Coffeehouse. For Marqwan, poetrygives the opportunity to share expressions of faith andlove, as well as to communicate frustrations surroundingsocial issues relevant both domestically and abroad.“People have used words to change the world,” saidMarqwan. “Literature changes people’s lives, and I wantmy words to do the same.”Jaqwan, a senior pursuing a major in English and aminor in theater, funnels a similar love for the arts throughnumerous projects that showcase his many interests. He isan actor, a clothing designer, a musician, a choreographer,a playwright and a children’s book writer and illustrator.His most recent projects include acting in A House WithNo Walls at the Unicorn Theatre, interning at the DreamStudio, choreographing the Miss Black Kansas USAand Miss Black Missouri USA pageants, and working asco-creator of the Happy Rhino Clothing Company.“I love creating so much that I can’t do too much of it,”said Jaqwan. “My creativity is a natural part of me. I needit just as people need to breathe and eat to stay alive.”Sophomore Marqwan (left) and senior Jaqwan Sirls sharetheir creative talents on campus and throughout Kansas City.Preparing for PriesthoodD. Scott Hendrickson, S.J.,who taught Hispaniclanguage, literature andculture at RockhurstUniversity from 2002-05,will be ordained as apriest in June. Joinhim for his ordinationand First Mass ofThanksgiving, both atSt. Francis Xavier CollegeChurch on the campusof Saint Louis Universityin St. Louis, Mo. Theordination is at 10 a.m.Saturday, June 7, with hisFirst Mass at 10:30 a.m.Sunday, June 8.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 3

Roc k Re p o r t 4 4 4 4 4 4Freshman Interns With Missouri CongressmanFreshman ZachWerkowitchis getting abehind-the-sceneslook into how the governmentoperates.Twice a week, Werkowitchspends his afternoonsinterning at the office ofRep. Emanuel CleaverII, from Missouri’s fifthCongressional district. Hisresponsibilities includetalking with constituentson the phone and findingand organizing newspaperand journal articles thatdiscuss congressional issuesor feature the congressman.Although Werkowitchhas yet to determine hisprofessional goals, he istaking this opportunityto explore his interestin politics. From thisexperience he has learneda great deal about thecurrent issues confrontingCongress, as well as theresponsibility of voters inthe democratic process.“I didn’t realize howmuch constituents had arole in a congressperson’sdecisions,” said Werkowitch.“Every call or letter ore-mail that is received isaccounted for and thecongressman hears aboutit. When people call, theirvoice is heard. It is veryuplifting.”The internship hasgiven Werkowitchan insider’s perspectivethat has allowedhim the opportunityto explore and assessCleaver’s policies.“I really think thecongressman is trying todo the right thing for thecountry,” said Werkowitch.“He stands strongly forspeaking for those whodon’t have much of a voice.”In addition to hisinternship and a full classschedule, Werkowitchvolunteers at OperationBreakthrough as a tutorand is a member of theexecutive board of RockhurstUniversity’s socialjustice group, VOICES forJustice. He is consideringmajors in both philosophyand history.An internship withRep. Emanuel Cleaver IIis giving freshman ZachWerkowitch an insideperspective into politics.Research on African-American Theater Earns FellowshipYou may have studied the work of early blackplaywrights in theater or literature classes, butyou’ve probably never considered it from areligious perspective. That’s because scholarsof religion have paid a lot of attention to African-American music and dance but have virtually ignoredthe theatrical tradition in African-American cultures.That’s about to change, thanks to the work of CraigPrentiss, Ph.D., associate professor of theology andreligious studies. Prentiss has been awarded a NationalCraig Prentiss, Ph.D., earned a fellowship from theNational Endowment for the Humanities for his researchon African-American theater.4 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Nursing Students Learn From Older AdultsMaking scrapbooks, discussing current events,sharing stories over a bagel breakfast, playingbingo. Such activities are hardly the substanceof serious nursing school coursework, right? Think again.For the students enrolled in Gale Hickenlooper’s OlderAdult Health Practice course, these may be some of themost important lessons they will learn in preparation fortheir nursing careers. Hickenlooper is assistant professorin the Research College of Nursing, which partners withRockhurst to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing.Each semester Hickenlooper accompanies her class ofjunior nursing students to Village Shalom, a full-serviceretirement community in Overland Park, Kan. They spendtwo hours once a week with residents in various levels oflong-term care, sharing activities, hearing their stories andgetting to know them as people, not merely as names ona medical chart.“The students have heard Holocaust survivors tell theirstories and found it very moving. And they’ve assistedresidents in their weekly bingo games,” said Hickenlooper.“They’ve learned how important communication is,nonverbal as well as verbal, and that you have to get eyeto eye with the patient. This is a different level of learningfor the nursing students.”Village Shalom residents (from left) Vern Shelton andLillian Sokoloff collected their memories and mementosfor a scrapbooking session with juniors Katie McKinnis,Stephanie Dunn and Kelsey Buckles.Her students echo her sentiments.“We didn’t do hands-on nursing, but we’ve learnednursing strategies,” said senior Meredith Moore. “The waywe communicate and connect with our patients sets thegroundwork for everything we do.”Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship, whichwill allow him to focus full time on the book he iswriting on the topic. The fellowship extends fromAugust 2008 to July 2009.Prentiss is focusing his research on a periodspanning the 1850s through World War II, when livetheater was a huge part of American culture. Blackplaywrights wrote about all sorts of topics — from thelight-hearted to the serious. From the surface, theseworks dealt with topics such as race and gender.Prentiss says when you look more closely, importantreligious issues are so deeply ingrained within thestory lines that they are a critical component — andbarely noticed by contemporary scholars and critics.“If you read these plays, you’ll find that religiousthemes are constant in, I would guess, 70 percentof them,” he says. “You cannot make sense ofAfrican-American theater without taking religioninto account.”Prentiss’ fellowship also has been designated asa special NEH “We the People” project, which isawarded to encourage scholars to explore significantthemes and events in the nation’s history and culture.“My hope is that my research will lead othersto look at these sources and at theater as a form oftheological debates, not just in classrooms, but everyday when individuals present their truths aboutGod,” says Prentiss.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 5

Roc k Re p o r t 4 4 4 4 4 4Undergraduate’s Numerology Research Published in JournalAs a recipient ofthe 2007 Deans’UndergraduateFellowship forResearch and CreativeActivity, junior LucianoGarofalo spent this pastsummer immersed inboth an intellectual andspiritual endeavor.Under the guidance ofDaniel Stramara Jr., Ph.D.,associate professor oftheology and religiousstudies, Garofalo studiedan English translationof the earliest Greekcommentary on the Bookof Revelation, focusing hisresearch on its portrayalof numerology — thesymbolic use of numbers.The Book of Revelationemphasizes more symbolicnumbers throughout thetext than any other book inthe bible, offering ampleopportunity for explorationin this area, accordingto Garofalo.A history and theologymajor, Garofalo’s interestin historical researchprompted him to applyfor the fellowship. Aftercountless hours searchingand analyzing the text, hecompiled his findings ina 22-page article, whichhas been accepted forpublication in theprestigious multilingualscholarly journal ThePatristic and ByzantineReview.“I really learned howto effectively research andabout the discipline it takesto sift through informationand properly annotate,”said Garofalo. “I realizedthis might be somethingI could do for the rest ofmy life.”Garofalo will presenthis findings on Monday,April 7, at Rockhurst’sFestival of StudentAchievement.Having gained a bettersense of his interests andpassions, Garofalo hasreflected a great deal onhis lifelong calling and isconfident in his plans forthe future. After graduatingin December, he plans toenter the Society of Jesusin hopes of fulfilling hisdesire of becoming a Jesuit.High-Impact Experiences Help Students ThriveWhen youthink aboutyour collegeyears, whatmade the biggest impact onyou? Maybe it was a servicetrip, a semester abroad,a capstone course or anoutstanding professor.Rockhurst administratorsand faculty know thesehigh-impact experiencesare key to providing ahigh-quality undergraduateeducation. According toa recent study, Rockhurstranks high in the qualityand quantity of thesehigh-impact opportunities.The 2007 National Surveyof Student Engagementattempts to measure thequality of undergraduateeducation by lookingat how actively studentsare involved with theirstudies, faculty andcampus community.The results indicatedRockhurst students rankedhigher than their peergroups in categories such asinvolvement in communityservice, volunteer workand courses featuringcommunity-based projects.They also ranked significantlyhigher in participationin research projectswith faculty. Last year,more than half of RUseniors had a capstoneproject, compared with lessthan a third of studentsfrom similar institutions.The study, whichcompares Rockhurst withother Jesuit institutions,a group of similar institutionsand hundreds offour-year institutions ingeneral, surveys freshmenand seniors.“We are very proudof our results,” said BillBassett, director ofuniversity planning andassessment. “We comparefavorably with schoolswith which we compete forfreshman enrollment, andwe are very competitivewith our Jesuit brethren.”Plans are already inmotion to improve someof Rockhurst’s existinghigh-impact opportunities.For example, the 2007–12strategic plan calls forinitiatives designed toincrease study abroadopportunities and toenhance the first-yearseminar, which helpsfreshmen adjust tocollege life.Rockhurst is among anumber of schools postingresults online through apartnership with USAToday. The partnershipis designed to educatethe public about thelink between studentengagement and a highqualitystudent experience.Results can be viewed atwww.usatoday.com.6 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Projects Emulate Workplace, Benefit CommunityAgroup of Rockhurst business students helpedbuild a wheelchair ramp for a resident in NorthKansas City last fall. They planned the project,solicited donations of supplies and labor fromarea businesses, and then rolled up their sleeves to helpwith the construction. The project was one of several inconjunction with Organizational Behavior and Leadership,a course taught by Emmett Perry, Ph.D., assistant professorof management.In the past couple of years in which Perry has given theassignment, students have been creative in selecting theirprojects. One group offered a merit-badge training sessionon rocketry to a troop of Boy Scouts with special needs.Another organized an activities night, complete withdonated prizes, for the elderly residents of a low-incomehousing facility. Another team recruited volunteers anddonations to provide yardwork and household maintenancefor a 93-year-old Raytown resident.Perry gives a service learning assignment to bothundergraduates and MBA students. The intent is forgroups to work together on a rigorous project with a shortdeadline, much like situations they’ll encounter in theworkplace. Students learn organizational skills, conflictmanagement and resourcefulness while meeting a realneed for someone in the community.Senior Cole Mayer’s team solicited donations, coordinatedvolunteers and poured concrete for a North Kansas City resident.Students Give Generously During HolidaysTwo Rockhurst University student-led efforts toconvert unused meal points into cash resulted ina warmer and more satisfying holiday for manyfamilies in the Kansas City area during December.Brad Kelsheimer, a senior from Chesterfield, Mo.,approached Mike Johnson with Sodexho, the University’sfood service provider, to ask if the students on the secondfloor of Corcoran Hall could use their meal points tohelp a family. Johnson said that by the following Tuesday,Kelsheimer had gone door to door throughout studenthousing and collected enough money for Johnson topurchase 70 pairs of gloves, 70 hats and 70 $20 Targetgift cards.The items became part of gift bags distributed to fosterchildren at the holiday party hosted by Associated YouthServices in Kansas City, Kan.“We were very impressed with the Rockhurst students,”said Teri Kriege, vice president for development at AYS.“They also supplied some of the food and drinks for ourparty, which was attended by more than 200 people.”Through another holiday effort, the Ceremony ofLessons & Carols Return to Christmas, students donatedenough meal points to supply St. Francis Xavier ParishSocial Ministries with approximately 2,000 apples, 2,000oranges and 190 five-pound bags of potatoes. The foodwas part of the holiday distribution to more than 300people in 100 households served by the church organization.In addition, food collection barrels were placed inthe church foyer during Rockhurst’s Ceremony of Lessonsand Carols, held Dec. 1. Audience members were askedto bring nonperishable food items rather than pay anadmission fee.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 7

TransformingWhat is it about Rockhurstthat changes people’s lives?We asked a student, an alumnusand a faculty member to reflecton the transformational powerof their Rockhurst experience.Lives8 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

Ben SkochSenior biology/pre-med majorHastings, Neb.If I had to choose an eventthat has shaped my career atRockhurst, I’m not sure I couldpinpoint just one. The truth isthat my experience has been shapedby nearly all of the activities andorganizations I have been a part ofsince I arrived here. Allowing myselfto be totally immersed in the campuslife is definitely among the bestthings I have ever done.When I first arrived on campus asa freshman, I jumped at the chanceto get involved. Campus ministrywas the first group I associatedmyself with. Whether I was cantoringat Mass, leading a Christian LifeCommunity or taking part in aretreat, there was always somethingI could be doing to help out withthis ministry. They really helped mestep out of my comfort zone andinteract with a variety of people andmake some extraordinary friendsalong the way.Through the next couple of years,I had the opportunity to be anorientation leader, a social mentorand a resident assistant, and I waspromoted to small-group coordinatorfor the Christian Life Communities.Each one of these positions taughtme something different about beinga student leader. They all demandedthat I handle myself in a responsiblemanner around campus and forcedme to be the best person I could be.It feels good to be able to say that ifI had to do it all over again, I don’tthink I would change a thing.Small groups called Christian LifeCommunities gather here at theCampus Ministry House at 5134Forest Ave. for prayer, sharing andfriendship. Ben Skoch, now a senior,was among the students who foundedthe program at Rockhurst in 2006.“They really helpedme step out of mycomfort zone.”Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 9

Duane LockExecutive Fellows MBA Class of 2001President, The Lock GroupDuane Lock’s experience at Rockhurst led him to follow his heart and starta business. Today, he’s the head of a firm that specializes in electricity brokeringand risk management.Iattribute the ways I viewthe world, pray and think tothe Jesuit influences that existat Rockhurst. They becamethe largest influences in my adultlife during my years of graduatestudies with the Executive FellowsMBA program.Among the personal developmentand spiritual gifts I received from theRockhurst community, discernmentwas the one that really enabled meto find God in all that I do. Therewere many people at Rockhurst whohelped me, and through discernmentI opened up to new thoughts andideas. It changed my faith life.Rockhurst gave me the tools tolearn about social justice issues aswell as finding God in everything,especially in the areas of corporatesocial responsibility. I began to trulyunderstand the Jesuit notion of being“men and women for others.” It isthrough discernment that I’ve learnedto follow the spirit wherever it callsme, even if that means to live counterculturallyand to speak out againstinjustice.Furthermore, Rockhurst taughtme to have the courage to followmy heart and mind no matter howdifficult that road may be. This ledme into entrepreneurship andstarting my own business.I admire the Jesuit emphasis onstriving for excellence and for havinghigh expectations and a call forservice. Rockhurst challenges us todevelop ourselves fully, to stretch ourvision, to open our minds and to gobeyond what we think is possible.All of these thoughts, actions andexperiences I have as an adult canbe traced back to the people atRockhurst who helped me becomethe person I am today.10 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

Annie Lee, Ph.D.Associate Professor of ChemistryRockhurst University Class of 1994Establishing a service-learningpartnership between mygeneral chemistry classesand a local charter school hasbeen a transformative experience forme. Each week, Rockhurst chemistrystudents provide one-on-one tutoringfor students at a neighboring highschool in the Kansas City, Mo.,school district. Not only do thesehigh school students improve theirchemistry knowledge, but ourstudents, by having to know thematerial well enough to serve astutors, improve their ability inchemistry as well.Annie Lee, Ph.D., has taught chemistryto Rockhurst students since 2001.Interacting with students aboutchemistry and learning about theeducational system in our city andits problems, the needs of the highschool students and access to qualityeducation has hopefully enrichedtheir understanding of the worldaround them. When my studentsreflect on their experiences, they notonly discuss their tutoring experiences,but also issues of justice and civicresponsibility, which is powerfulevidence of this learning.At Rockhurst, we strive to prepareour students to find their unique wayto make a difference in the world.Service learning has been a smallway for them to discern and examinethemselves and their world whilethey are here at Rockhurst. I amthankful to be at an institutionthat supports initiatives like servicelearning. It is, by its very nature, Jesuit.For me, the service learningexperience has changed the way Ithink about my students. It alwayshas been fulfilling to share myexcitement and respect for the fieldof chemistry with them. But servicelearning helps me be more fullyengaged in their development notonly as scientists but also as humanbeings. It has changed where I seemy place in their education. It alsohas challenged me to become moreinvolved in my own community.How has Rockhurst transformedyou? Please share your story withus at alumni@rockhurst.edu.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 11

By Jamie Sievering, ’06 MBAHe has worked for the World Bank, finished a master’s degreefrom Harvard in one year and lets his 11-year-old son invest in thestock market. You might say Sudhakar Raju, Ph.D., sets his goals high.As a professor of finance, he has high expectations for his students as well.Sudhaker Raju, Ph.D.,professor of finance,is a certified risk managerand has been publishedin many of the profession’sleading journals. He has served as aconsultant for the World Bank, UnitedNations Development Program,Bahrain Stock Exchange, ChicagoBoard of Trade and others.Born and raised in Madras, India,Raju attended India’s Loyola University,a Jesuit school considered amongthe elite institutions in the country.He came to the United States in 1983to pursue a graduate degree at theUniversity of Toledo. He later earnedhis Ph.D. in finance and economicsfrom Northern Illinois University.At Rockhurst, he brings hisexpertise and real-world experienceinto the classroom, where he teachesfinance to undergraduates andMBA students.Raju spent his sabbatical in2006-07 earning a master’s degreein public administration and publicpolicy from Harvard’s KennedySchool of Government. He knewthe program would be crowded withsome of the heavy hitters in the worldof public policy. He’d heard theKennedy School educates more of theworld’s leaders than anywhere else.While the Harvard Business Schooltrains people to run companies, hesaid, the Kennedy School trainspeople to run countries.“We had some very challengingcoursework,” he says. “The expectationswere extraordinarily high.”It didn’t take long for him to meethis classmates and realize just howprominent they were. There werefinance ministers, economists andstock exchange directors from variouscountries, corporate CEOs anddiplomats. Among his professorswere a former member of the Councilof Economic Advisors, a chiefeconomist of the World Bank and adeputy director of the U.S. SecuritiesRegulatory Commission. One ofhis colleagues on a group projectapologized for having to miss ameeting — he had to travel to NewYork to close a billion-dollar dealfor his company.12 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

Sudhakar Raju, Ph.D.,teaches finance toundergraduates andMBA students.“He is aphenomenalresearcher.A lot of greatresearchersare not greatteachers.Sudhakar isthe exception.”But for many, including Raju,there was something about goingback into the classroom as a studentthat was daunting.The finance minister of oneparticular country is said to haveflunked a finance course. A securitydirector with the Iraqi military relatedthe apprehension he felt handingin an exam to the fear he felt on thestreets of Baghdad. One morning agroup of Raju’s classmates gatheredin Dunkin’ Donuts for coffee. Whensome African visitors entered, theyinstantly recognized one of thestudents as Fred Sumaye, formerprime minister of Tanzania, andinsisted on carrying his belongingsand walking him to his destination.Sumaye tried to explain that whilehe may be a member of their governmentat home, there in Cambridge hewas only a student.For all its diversity and pressure,this was an environment in whichRaju thrived. He worked hard on hiscoursework and completed two years’worth in a year. On top of that, heearned a fellowship that requiredhim to teach a graduate financeclass, which he considers the mostintellectually enriching experienceof his life. His students must havefound value in it as well because theyhonored him with the KSG TeachingExcellence award.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 13

The award was especiallymeaningful to Raju knowing thatthe Kennedy student governmentvoted on it and, as he later foundout, previous recipients have goneon to win the Nobel Prize.Raju says that while most graduateprograms do a good job of trainingstudents to be technically competent,what’s special about the KennedySchool is that it takes technicalcompetence as a given and insteadfocuses relentlessly on the big picture.His experience at Harvard has helpedhim to further develop his currentarea of research, which explorespolicies that countries use to managefinancial crises.“He is a phenomenal researcher,”says close friend and colleague BrianFitzpatrick, Ph.D., professor offinance. “A lot of great researchersare not great teachers. Sudhakar isthe exception.”The two engage in lively discussionson everything from religion to politics.Fitzpatrick smiles as he mentionsthey have never voted on the samepresidential candidate, at least untilperhaps this year.“I believe markets are inefficientand people are irrational, and hebelieves markets are efficient andpeople are rational,” says Fitzpatrick.“We disagree on many major issues,but we have a deep respect for eachother’s beliefs.”Fitzpatrick had been teaching atRockhurst only a year when Rajujoined the faculty in 1990, and theyimmediately became friends.“Raju is very accepting of allpeople,” he says. “That’s one of hisbest attributes. We don’t think it’sgood to judge people, even though wehave to judge students all the time.”In his 17 years at Rockhurst, Rajuhas made some adjustments to hisapproach to teaching. Early on, itoccurred to him that his studentswould benefit from learning aboutfinance in a way that allows them toapply it to their own lives.This idea really hit home, so tospeak, as Raju and his wife, Aruna, aprofessor at the University of KansasMedical Center, prepared to buy theirfirst house. As they sat down withthe banker to discuss the loan terms,Raju was surprised to see his wifepull out a calculator to compute themonthly loan payment. When heasked her about it, she looked at himin bemusement and said, “You have aPh.D. in finance and you don’t knowhow to do this?”That’s when Raju realized histeaching had been too focused on thetechnical aspects of finance. He couldtalk all day about derivatives andportfolio modeling but was not usedto applying it in everyday situations.He thought, what better approach touse when teaching students?So he focused on presentingfinancial concepts from a morepersonal perspective that touches onretirement planning, investmentsand mortgages. It was less high-techtheory but more useful finance.Students know him as aknowledgeable professor withhigh expectations who teacheschallenging content.“I might be biased because I lovenumbers,” says Steve Seggerman,CFO of Bishop Spencer Place, whohas taken three MBA courses withRaju. “He obviously knows numbers.He definitely knows what he’s talkingabout and has in-depth knowledge.He likes what he does and it shows.”Raju cares deeply for the developmentof his students. He encouragedone of his undergraduates, a firstgenerationcollege student, to applyfor an internship at the U.S. TreasuryDepartment. She not only landedthe internship, but he later learnedshe went on to graduate school atGeorgetown and secured a positionwith the Division of InternationalMonetary Affairs.14 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

“As a faculty member, my responsibilityis to give them vision,” saysRaju. “You should never let studentssettle for doing less than their best.A student who is asked to do onlywhat he can will never do all he can.”But like any teacher, his studentevaluation forms include a range ofpraise and criticism. One in particularstands out in his mind.A student wrote, “We’re not goingto work for the World Bank or theU.S. Treasury. Most of us are goingto get low-level accounting jobs righthere in Kansas City. Why do you tryto teach us all this technical contentthat’s not relevant to us?”Raju considered the commentcondescending to his students andoften mentions it in class. “I am noone to put limits on what anyone canachieve. It’s my job to train you wellenough so that you can succeed atany level anywhere in the world.”“I realize peoplemake a lot ofsacrifices to bein school, andwe should honorthat commitmentby teaching themas well as wepossibly can.”His teaching philosophy is allabout setting high expectations forhis students.“I realize people make a lot ofsacrifices to be in school, and weshould honor that commitment byteaching them as well as we possiblycan. I want to treat students in amanner that I hope other professorswill treat my own children. ”So does managing risk evercome into play in his personal life?Certainly. As his 5-year-old daughter,Shreya, prepared for a field trip to amuseum, Raju made sure she hada note with emergency contactinformation in her pocket.And when his son, Pranav, waslearning about investing in schoolwith software that tracks simulatedinvestments, Raju suggested heopen a real account to learn usingthe real thing.Shocked, his son asked, “Dad, doyou realize I’m just an 11-year-old?”Even though he’s only tradingpenny stocks, Pranav is learning allabout P/E ratios, market-to-bookvalues and options. And his investments?They’re not breaking anyrecords but earning a modest return.Pretty good for a fifth-grader.Seggerman says Raju sets anexcellent example of a healthybalance between work and family.“He’s not absorbed in his work.That’s how I’d like to be with myfamily too.”For someone with his credentialsworking in a field that is so immersedin the idea of maximizing profit,Raju’s approach seems almost outof place.“He is not motivated by money,”says Fitzpatrick. “It’s actually waydown on his list. He’s a devotedfamily man, and it’s the people andthe job that make Rockhurst a goodfit. Maybe that’s why he’s so happy.”Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 15

Haw k Talk 4 4 4 4 4 4Women’s Soccer Team Posts Highest GPA in the CountryThe Rockhurst Hawks finished with the highestgrade-point average in the country amongall collegiate soccer programs as the NationalSoccer Coaches Association of America(NSCAA) announced the recipients of the CollegeTeam Academic Award for the 2006-07 academic year.The NSCAA honors collegiate soccer teams each yearfor posting a team grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.Hawks women’s soccer accumulated a 3.68 GPA for the2006-07 academic year. In 2005-06, the women finishedfifth in the country with a 3.60 GPA.“Finishing with the highest team GPA is a tremendousachievement,” said coach Greg Herdlick. “I think thisspeaks well for the intelligence, work ethic and thecharacter of this team. I am thrilled for our players andproud that they represent Rockhurst University as truestudent-athletes.”The Rockhurst men’s soccerteam also earned the NSCAATeam Academic Award.The Hawks finishedwith a 3.21 GPA,which tied for 28thamong all men’sprograms inthe country.Rockhurstwas one of only71 schools tohave both ofits soccer teamsreceive the NSCAATeam Academic Awardin 2006-07.A Senior Floor LeaderJoey DeasJoey Deas hopes toclose out his collegebasketball career atRockhurst with astrong finish. Thesenior point guard hasgrown to become one ofthe top players in the GreatLakes Valley Conference.Deas helped the Hawksupset two nationally rankedteams at home to open the2007-08 season. He posted19 points and seven assistsin a 73-65 win over 24thrankedWisconsin-Parksideon Nov. 29. Deas wasnamed the GLVC Playerof the Week after scoring24 points in an 83-75victory over 18th-rankedCentral Missouri on Dec. 8.“I’m a lot stronger nowthan when I first got here,”said Deas, who was anAll-Metro player at OakPark High School in KansasCity, Mo. “I’ve done a lotmore shooting and liftingweights than I did in highschool.”Deas, who stands5-foot-10 and weighs 185pounds, has added 35pounds since his freshmanseason. He’s also increasedhis playing time from14 minutes per game inhis freshman season to33 minutes per gamethis season.“Joey has workedhard and has physicallyimproved,” said coach BillO’Connor. “He has gottenbetter each year as a playerand is now the veteranleader on the team.”Deas and senior centerJohn Torson have steppedup as scorers after lastseason’s leading scorer,junior guard Aaron Hill,was lost for the seasonwith a knee injury.“We’ve had to makesome adjustments withAaron out. My main goal isto get back into the NCAATournament,” added Deas,who is on pace along withTorson to surpass 1,000career points at Rockhurst.16 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Heinemann Earns All-America HonorsRockhurst’s TomHeinemann wasnamed to the2007 NationalSoccer Coaches Associationof America AdidasNCAA Division II All-America Team.Heinemann, whomissed the 2006 seasonwith a knee injury, earnedAll-America second teamhonors from the NSCAA.He was also chosen tothe All-Great Lakes ValleyConference first team,in addition to earningAll-Region first teamTom HeinemannFreshman SetsHigh Standardshonors from the NSCAAand Daktronics.“Tommy stepped upand had an outstandingseason,” said Rockhurstcoach Tony Tocco, Ph.D.,whose Hawks finishedwith an 11-6-3 record andreached the semifinals ofthe GLVC Tournament.The sophomore forwardfrom St. Louis finishedthird in the Great LakesValley Conference with 15goals (six game-winninggoals) and 36 points.He scored seven goals tolead the Hawks to winsin their first five games.He knocked in three goalsagainst Truman State andscored two goals each inwins over Delta State,Kentucky Wesleyan andBellarmine.Senior midfielder AdamJohnson and sophomoreforward Haggai Lebooreceived All-Region secondteam honors from theNSCAA. Johnson led theteam with 10 assists. Hewas also named to the All-GLVC second team andthe Daktronics All-Regionsecond team. Leboo, whofinished with 12 goals and28 points, was an All-GLVCsecond team honoree.Emily Crowley isalready settinghigh standardsin her first yearat Rockhurst.She stepped immediatelyinto the starting lineup forthe Hawks volleyball teamlast fall.Crowley averaged 2.67kills, 2.27 assists, 2.21 digsand 3.21 points per gamewhile playing right side andsetter for the Hawks, whofinished the season with a22-12 record. She cappedoff the season by beingnamed the Freshman of theYear in the Great LakesValley Conference.“I love hitting the ball,”said Crowley, who was aprep standout at MarianHigh School in Omaha,Neb. “I just like to playwherever I can help theteam. I’ve been luckythis year in that I haven’tbeen hurt.”Crowley posted threetriple-doubles and eightdouble-doubles. She finishedin doubles figures inassists and digs 14 times,and posted 10 or morekills in 12 games.“Emily is a versatileplayer,” said Rockhurstcoach Tracy Rietzke. “Thisaward is nice recognitionand well deserved. I thinkshe will continue toget better.”Crowley also receivedAll-GLVC Second Teamhonors along with seniormiddle hitter Rachel Fowlerof St. Paul, Minn. Seniorsetter Amanda Hydorn ofGladstone, Mo., and junioroutside hitter Audrey Boeseof Wichita, Kan., were bothnamed to the All-GLVCThird Team.Emily CrowleyRo c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 17

Adva n c e m e n t Di g e s t 4 4 4 4 4Scholarship Honors Three From the ’30sApproximately 70 years after their associationwith Rockhurst, the stories of three men willcome alive again, thanks to an anonymousdonor. The donor, who graduated fromRockhurst in 1938, recently established theGordon, Killiger and Tallman Memorial Scholarship tocreate a perpetual memorial to three men he admired andto help pay for the tuition of a deserving student withfinancial need.Norman P. Gordon, a Rockhurst adjunct professorand coach of the debate team, was a young attorney andnew to Kansas City when he solicited the Kansas Citycivic community to sponsor debates between Rockhurstand universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Cambridgeand Stanford. “He turned the Rockhurst debate programinto a David and Goliath thing,” according to the donor.Members of the debate team who became civic leaders inthe community credited Gordon with transforming theirlives by training them to be accomplished speakers.John G. Killiger Jr., ’37, a member of Gordon’s debateteam, attended Rockhurst and the University of KansasCity School of Law simultaneously and held thedistinction of being valedictorian of his class at bothuniversities. He practiced law for more than 50 years andserved as a captain during World War II in the Army AirForce, flying over Alaska, Burma, India and North Africa.Francis J. Tallman, ’35, founder of Tallman InsuranceAgency, served as a gunnery officer on a Merchant Marinevessel during World War II. Active in veterans’ organizationsand in politics, he regularly entertained Gen. RalphTruman (President Truman’s cousin) and his wife, Olive,as Sunday dinner guests in his home. His most exceptionalcontribution is his introduction of the Hungarian Vizslabreed to the American Kennel Club.The donor, like the three men honored in the scholarship,held a distinguished career and will leave a legacyof leadership and service. Through his contribution,21 st -century students enrolling at Rockhurst will be giventhe opportunity to leave their own legacies.Bring Your SwingIt’s time to make plans for the Sixth Annual JosephM. Freeman, S.J., Golf Classic Monday, June 23, atthe Leawood South Country Club. Foursomes willtee off in a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Registration willfill quickly, so gather your golfing pals and reserve yourteam’s spot today.You don’t have to enter the tournament to attend theTee Party at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at the Pavilion atArrowhead. Visit with friends and browse the live andsilent auction items, which include a seven-night stay atthe Sea Star Villa, a stunning private Caribbean villa, forup to 22 people. Learn more and view all the auctionitems online at www.rockhurst.edu/golf. Proceeds fromthe event benefit Rockhurst athletics.To make reservations for the tournament and the TeeParty, call (816) 501-4807.Last year’s tournament drew Rockhurst alumni and friends fromfar and wide, including (from left) Evan Scobie, Denny Hogan, ’70,tournament director Reggie Thorpe, ’71, and Quinn Hogan, ’97.18 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Grants Enhance Campus TechnologyEducational technology is increasinglyimportant in today’s colleges and universities.Prospective students and faculty membersjudge universities based on the educationaltechnologies they offer, and technology canenhance teaching, learning and assessment.Two new grants promise to help keep Rockhursttechnologically advanced. The University has received afive-year, $1.3 million grant from CampusEAI Consortium,a not-for-profit provider of information technologyservices and consulting. The grant will fund an institutionalportal, which will provide students, faculty and staff withWeb access to a variety of information through a singlegraphical interface.Portal users will be able to quickly and easily linkto essentials, including assignments, grades and coursescheduling, as well as more novel information such asweather conditions and stock tips. The portal will integrateand improve access to real-time information, allowusers to personalize their experience and enhance users’communication and collaboration.Rockhurst’s classrooms also will get a technologicalupdate, thanks to a joint gift from the William T. KemperFoundation – Commerce Bank Trustee and the DavidWoods Kemper Memorial Foundation. This two-year,Give Rockhurst Rankings a BoostRockhurst faculty, including Myles Gartland, Ph.D., associateprofessor of economics, use technology to enhance their courses.$300,000 grant will upgrade multimedia classroomsacross campus with streamlined instructor stations,master control systems and interactive whiteboards.New technology also will enable faculty to record audioand video of their lectures to create podcasts for studentsto review while studying.“These critical technology improvements will enhancestudent learning and maintain Rockhurst’s position onthe forefront of teaching excellence,” says Amy MullinaxDrouin, director of foundation and government relations.Did you know that your gift to Rockhurst canimprove our U.S. News & World Report collegeranking? A university’s alumni giving rate isone of the factors the magazine considers increating its annual guide to America’s best colleges.The great news is that it doesn’t matter how much yougive. Any gift, small or large, can help to improve youralma mater’s reputation.If you want to make the most of your gift, considerthe Rockhurst Fund, which targets the University’s mostpressing financial needs. This fund has helped meet suchneeds as faculty development, student research projects,service trips, technology for state-of-the-art classroomsand maintenance for safe facilities.“The reputation of your Rockhurst degree gets strongeras the University as a whole is strengthened,” says ShellyBlake, MBA ’08, annual gifts officer. “An important wayto grow and strengthen Rockhurst is by financiallysupporting your alma mater on an annualbasis. TheRockhurst Fund is a great means for investing in theUniversity’s future.”Donations to theRockhurst Fund canbe made online atwww.rockhurst.edu/giving,by calling (816) 501-4629 or by mailing your gift inthe envelope included in this magazine. Make sure todesignate the Rockhurst Fund when making your gift.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 19

For Al u m n i 4 4 4 4 4 4Benefits Abound for RU AlumniAre you taking full advantage of your RockhurstAlumni Association membership?There’s no need to sign up — you’re alreadya member. There are no dues and no obligations.The Alumni Association comprises alumni and formerstudents from all Rockhurst programs, including thoseat the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a member,you have excellent opportunities to visit with formerclassmates and to make new friends among fellow alumni.But it’s not all about socializing.“Although the social aspect of an alumni associationis very important, we’d like to get more engaged in theareas of continuing education, networking and recruitingfuture Rockhurst students,” says Mary Landers, directorof alumni and constituent relations. “Involvement alsocan enhance the service component of your educationand provide you with career-related services.”Don’t live in Kansas City? You won’t be left out.Landers and others will be traveling throughout theMidwest and the nation to establish alumni clubs.Cities on the summer 2008 itinerary include St. Louis;Springfield, Mo.; Chicago; Omaha, Neb.; Denver; andWichita, Kan. Watch for news of events in your area.Whether you’re near or far, a great way to stay informedis to sign up for the Rockhurst alumni e-newsletterat www.rockhurst.edu/alumni and select first time login.Young Alumni Sp ot l i g h tName Sarah Pomerenke, ’03Degrees Mathematics and EducationCurrently Pursuing a Ph.D. in learning, teachingand curriculum from the Universityof Missouri-ColumbiaAllow us to introduce Sarah Pomerenke.As a student she was involved in severalactivities, including the tennis team andZeta Tau Alpha. After earning her degree,she traveled to Denver where she taught math atRegis Jesuit High School. She also served a two-yearterm as one of two young alumni representatives onthe Rockhurst Board of Trustees.Some of her fond — and quirky — Rockhurstmemories include:• Napping in the afternoon• Taking part in the Finucane Service Project• Practicing Tae-Bo in the basement of McGee• Going to the “dungeon” to lift weights• Seeing the doves released at graduationToday, she’s the captain for the Class of 2003,which means if you’re one of her former classmates,she might be calling on you to get involved andcome out to some alumni events.Pomerenke teaches fifth-graders at the MU Math Fair.Five-Year Reunion ApproachingJoin Sarah Pomerenke this fall as she helps hostRockhurst’s first five-year reunion. If you’re aproud graduate of the Class of 2003, make plansto attend your reunion on Friday, Sept. 26.The event, along with reunions for the classesof 1958, 1968, 1983 and 1998, will be heldin conjunction with Rockhurst Day. If you’reinterested in helping plan your reunion,call (816) 501-4199.20 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Al u m n i LeadersBiblical Ex a m p l e o f Ca r i n gIn s p i r e s Al u m n u s, WifeJust as the GoodSamaritan could notpass by the wounded Jewon the side of the road,Marylyn and Lou DeFeo,’57, are a modern day exampleof Jesus’ commandment to loveour fellow neighbor. Both havedevoted their lives to their Catholicfaith and to being leadersin service to others.More than 20 years ago,Marylyn felt called to reachout to those in need within hercommunity. Despite numerousobstacles, in 1987 she foundedthe Samaritan Center, an interfaithsocial service agency inJefferson City, Mo., that providesfood, clothing, utility assistance,medical and dental care, tax helpand educational programs tofamilies in need.Her husband, Lou, who is anattorney, expanded the center’sofferings after he retired fromhis longtime position as executivedirector of Missouri CatholicConference. In 2003, he establishedthe Samaritan Center’sLegal Care program, which helpsthose who cannot afford legalrepresentation get justice. Theprogram has served approximately1,300 people.Together, the couple has helpedthe Samaritan Center grow fromserving 15 families in 1987 toserving more than 1,100 familieseach month. Today, in any givenweek, approximately 645 volunteersof different faiths give theirtime and 48 local churches donateto the center.However, for the DeFeos, theirconcern is not just how manypeople the Center serves, but howthose people are treated. Theyplace great value on recognizingthe dignity of each person andthey give freely of their time,treasures and talents to servefamilies in need.“You get so much more outof what you give than what youtake,” Marylyn says. “God surelyhas his hand on the center. We’vebeen low financially, but we’venever been out. That’s when someother miracle comes around andfixes it.”The DeFeos, who have beenmarried for 51 years, have sevenchildren — four of whom areRockhurst graduates — and 25grandchildren. Their youngestson, Benjamin, ’00, serves asthe communication outreachspecialist for the Samaritan Center.Through the Samaritan Centerin Jefferson City, Mo., Marylynand Lou Defeo, ’57, helpprovide for families in need.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 21

Class No t e s 4 4 4 4 4 4’58Stanley C. Garnett hasretired after 40 years offederal service. For thepast 10 years, he has beendirector of the ChildNutrition Programs, whichare administered by theUnited States Departmentof Agriculture. He andhis wife, Eileen, residein northern Virginia,and now will have moretime to spend with theirthree children and fourgrandchildren.’67James C. Wirken wasrecently voted as aMissouri “Super Lawyer”for the third year in a row.This honor is reservedfor the top 5 percent ofMissouri lawyers. Hecontinues to serve as thecoordinator of the TrialAdvocacy Program atUMKC School of Law andteaches the legal modulesin the Helzberg ExecutiveFellows MBA program.’72James Kopp has beennamed senior vice presidentof global sourcing and U.S.operations for Aero ProductsInternational Inc. Priorto this position, he servedas president of RT SourcingUSA Inc., the U.S. divisionof RT Sourcing Asia Ltd.,a marketing, productdevelopment and globalsourcing company.’76Stephen R. Parke hasrecently retired after 20years as an institutionalchaplain for the stateof Colorado. He is nowfocusing on travel, writingmusic and giving presentationsabout westernKansas history.Sign Up for YourAlumni E-NewsletterTo stay up to date with the latest Rockhurst news andgatherings in your area, sign up for the University’salumni e-newsletter. You’re also invited to log on toRU’s online alumni community, where you’ll haveaccess to news, events, career services, an alumnidirectory, member photos and more. Sign up forboth by visiting www.rockhurst.edu/alumni andselecting first time login.’80Jim Kissinger has beennamed executive vicepresident of humanresources for YRCWorldwide. In thisrole, Kissinger willbe responsible foroverseeing all aspectsof human resourcesincluding compensationand benefits, talentmanagement, leadershipand employee developmentand diversity.’80 EMBARobert Druten joinedthe board of directors forthe American ItalianPasta Company inDecember. He retiredfrom his position asexecutive vice presidentand chief financialofficer of HallmarkCards in 2006.’81Barbara Jene (King)Johnson graduatedin May 2007 with aneducational doctorate inurban leadership andpolicy studies from theUniversity of Missouri-Kansas City.’82 MBATom Gerke has been namedchief executive officer ofEMBARQ. Gerke serves onRockhurst’s Board of Trustees.’86Leonard L. Wagner has beenappointed associate generalcounsel for Kansas CitySouthern. His focus area willbe claims and litigation.’86 MBAJeri Woerner Bartunekhas been honored witha number of awards,including Women WhoMean Business, KansasWoman Owned ServiceBusiness of the Year andthe National Association ofWomen Business Owner’sTeam Builder Award. Herbusiness, Bartunek TechnologyGroup, was named oneof the 100 fastest growingcompanies in Kansas City.22 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4’90Scott C. Trout, managingpartner for Cordell &Cordell PC, was named“Super Lawyer” for 2007.This honor is reserved forthe top 5 percent ofMissouri lawyers.’91 EMBAMark Johnston wasappointed to the newregional board of directorsin the Greenville, S.C., areafor First National Bank ofthe South. He is co-founderand CEO of CommunityJournals LLC.’92 MBAKelly Tyler is a nationallyknown speaker, trainer,business owner andauthor with expertise inmanagement, employeedevelopment and motivation.She speaks fondly ofher Rockhurst education inher speaking engagements.’94Jenifer Lynn (Gundry)Whiting completed amaster’s degree in theologyat Georgian CourtUniversity in 2001 and amaster’s degree in libraryscience from Universityof Wisconsin-Milwaukeein 2005. She is adoctoral candidate inthe history departmentat Drew University.’96Joe Erskine has beenpromoted to the newposition of deputy secretaryfor finance and administrationat the Kansas Departmentof Transportation.He oversees the agencyoperation of the Divisionof Administration, Officeof Management andBudget, Office of ChiefCounsel and Office ofCivil Rights.’98Shandin (Fiskin) Klobewas elected newslettereditor of the Kansas CityParalegal Association.She is a member ofSt. Agnes Parish, whereher three children attendelementary school.’99James P. Still was recentlypromoted to tax managerat BKD LLP, a CPA firm inKansas City.’00Eric Charles Larson Jr.graduated from theUniversity of Missouri-Kansas City School ofDentistry in 2006. Herecently has been made apartner at Kuhlman, Majorsand Larson Dental Groupin Wichita, Kan. He alsohas served as a director forthe Wichita DentalDistrict Society.’01Jacqueline C. Barnes-Almquist is executivedirector of the State FairCommunity CollegeFoundation in Sedalia,Mo. She is responsiblefor managing the foundation’sassets, working withthe board and friends ofthe college and providingscholarship support tostudents. She is pursuingher Ph.D. in relationaland organizationalcommunication at theUniversity of Missouri-Columbia. Barnes-Almquistis the daughter of JimBarnes, ’75, and resides inSedalia with her husband.’02Kim (Sieve) Yawitz andher husband, Andrew, areopening a new business inthe Grove neighborhood inSt. Louis in March 2008.’04Leah Meisterling willcomplete her anesthesiaresidency this summerat Hartford Hospital inHartford, Conn. She wasaccepted as a CriticalCare Fellow at GeorgeWashington University inWashington, D.C.’05Kathryn Dyan (Hanna)Raatz was promoted tomajor account executiveat IKON Office SolutionsInc. She specializes inproduction printing andthe graphic arts industries.Births’89James K. and CarolineA. (Vetter) Millard, ’94,announce the birth of theirsecond daughter, AnnaGrace, born Aug. 25, 2007.Grace joins her sister,Lauren, 3.’96Kristie (Eisman) Kupkaand her husband, John,welcomed the birth of theirfirst child, Danielle Nicole,born April 12, 2007.’98James A. Ringwald andhis wife, Kaia, announcethe birth of their son, Eli,born Sept. 27, 2007. Jamesis a practicing CPA inSt. Cloud, Minn.Submit a Class NoteWe’d love to hear from you. Submit a class noteonline at www.rockhurst.edu/classnotes.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 23

Class No t e s 4 4 4 4 4’98 BSNChristina “Crissy”(Thompson) Pattersonand her husband, William,proudly announce the birthof their first child, EmeryAnn, born Sept. 16, 2007,in Poughkeepsie, New York.Crissy completed hermaster’s degree specializingin health education andpromotion at the Universityof Missouri-Columbia.Marriages’98, ’07 MBAMatt Hall and KatieLaurent, ’01, were marriedon Oct. 20 in Kansas City.Matt is a sales representativefor Sherwin-Williams, andKatie is director of prospectmanagement and researchat Rockhurst University.More than 40 Rockhurstalumni gathered to attendthe wedding, including(seated from left, row one)Katie Dolan, ’98, Katie (Freshley)Dugan, ’01, Molly (Welch) Thiessen,’01, Matt Hall, ’98, ’07 MBA,Katie (Laurent) Hall, ’01, Dawn(Childers) Menges, ’98, Rachel(Ellebracht) McGraw, ’00,Katie (Hart) Siengsukon, ’00;’99, ’00 BSNElizabeth (Fischer)Schroeder and herhusband, Greg, announcethe birth of John Patrick,born Jan. 9, 2008. Johnjoins big brother, Will, 2.James P. and Penelope(Taft) Still, ’00, welcomeMatthew James, whowas born March 11, 2007.He joins big sister,Madeline Nicole.(row two) Mike Brishetto, ’98, Julie(Baum) Herzog, ’98, Penny (Taft)Still, ’00, Susie (Hirschbuehler)Wiley, ’98, Shannon (Temeras)Johnston, ’98, Jay Radisauky, ’98,Dan Mullane, ’99, Terry Mullane,’66, Tori Soltis, ’99, Kelly (Hantak)O’Neill, ’99, Carmen (Massad)Thum (attended ’70-’72), Lynne(Micek) Pagano, ’74, Mike Laurent,’74, Tim Siengsukon, ’00, AshleySummers, Dan Novasone, ’00;(row three) Lindsay (Hummer)Runnebaum, ’05, Jason Herzog, ’98,Jim Still, ’99, Matt Johnston, ’98,Jason Wiley, ’98, Chris Gaubatz,’98, Gary Vontz, ’69, Tom Mullane,’69, Dave Pease, ’91, Scott Troy, ’00,Terry O’Neill, ’99, Paul Pagano, ’74,Brian Menges, ’99, Kate Dove, ’00,Todd Burrus, ’01; (row four) KevinMullane, ’78, Tom Dugan, ’00,Ben Kuster, ’98, Casey McGraw, ’00.’00, ’02 MPTKaren (Rice) Bock andher husband, Mike, areproud to announce thebirth of their daughterCaroline Elizabeth, bornJuly 13, 2007.’04, ’05 MBAJon and Kristi (Clark)Meyer, ’04, announce thebirth of their daughter, AvaRose, born April 30, 2007.They live in St. Louis, Mo.’01Jose-Paulo Lota Mamuricand Nikki Jean LaBruyerewere married Aug. 18,2007, in St. Louis. Bothwork for Procter andGamble in Cincinnati,Ohio. He is a seniorfinancial analyst for globalbusiness services, andshe is an assistant brandmanager for Folgers.In MemoriamJohn Magers, ’40Feb. 1, 2008John L. Black, ’41Nov. 14, 2007Richard Hans “Dick” Dierks, ’44Nov. 22, 2007Jerome Richard Kennally, ’44Oct. 11, 2007Frederick C. Azar, ’45Nov. 17, 2007John H. Walsh, ’46Nov. 22, 2007Leo W. Zahner Jr., ’47Nov. 15, 2007Walter H. Epp, ’48Oct. 27, 2007Rev. Thomas P. Gier, ’48Oct. 5, 2007Clarence Deitchman, ’49Oct. 11, 2007Larry A. Kratofil, ’49Oct. 22, 2007John F. Schutty Jr., ’50Oct. 15, 2007Donald Edward Renken, ’51Oct. 21, 2007Leonard E. Fagan, ’54Oct. 11, 2007John F. Eisenhauer, ’55Oct. 30, 2007C. John Forge, ’56Nov. 16, 2007Frederick Francis Bukaty, ’57Dec. 18, 2007James W. “Jim” Ryan, ’60Jan. 8, 2008J. Lee Wiederholt, ’65Aug. 19, 2007Charles A. Basgall, ’67Oct. 26, 2007Terrance A. Dierks, ’68Feb. 5, 2008Roger G. Hurd, ’69Jan. 2, 2008William G. “Bill” Willis, ’71Jan. 20, 2008Joseph J. Byrne, ’75Nov. 19, 2007Melvin D. “Tax Man” Loux, ’77Dec. 22, 2007Carla Ann Harris, ’79Nov. 29, 2007Lisa Steele McCann, ’89 MBAJan. 8, 2008Loren E. Walter, ’95 MBADec. 3, 200724 Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008

Create a Perpetual Living MemorialThe Gordon, Killiger, Tallman scholarship (see page 18) tells thestory of a Rockhurst graduate who established a perpetual livingmemorial honoring a teacher, a classmate and a schoolmate.You too could consider creating a perpetual living memorialthat will help transform lives and form leaders. Rockhurstendowment funds can be established to honor individualsand to provide support for operations, scholarships, faculty,athletics, the library or various other needs.The Office of Advancement can guide you through five simplesteps to establishing a named endowment:1. Determine whom you want to honor with the endowment.2. Decide what you want your endowment to benefit.3. Contact the Office of Advancement for assistance.4. Determine how you will fund the endowment.5. Select the launch date.Gift officers are available to listen to you, to talk aboutRockhurst and to show you opportunities that link yoursituation and interests with the needs and vision ofRockhurst University. To learn more, call (816) 501-4629.Ro c k h u r s t4s p r i n g 2008 25

Troost AvenueIs in BloomRockhurst studentshelp plant bulbs andmaintain flower bedsfor Tulips on Troost,an initiative aimedtoward changingthe way Kansas Cityviews color onTroost Avenue.1100 Rockhurst RoadKansas City, MO 64110Nonprofit Org.U.S.PostagePAIDKansas City, Mo.Permit No. 782Please send address changes toalumni@rockhurst.eduor to the alumni office.