Two Rockhurst University Grads in Pursuit of One Common Goal

Rock ReportNursing Students and Faculty Volunteer in UgandaOne of the Jesuitcore values is carefor the wholeperson. That value extendsto every person even whenthey are 8,000 miles away.In October 2011, fourstudents and two facultymembers from the ResearchCollege of Nursing took atrip to Gulu, Uganda, withMedical Mission Foundationof Kansas City.Shaina Rivera, senior,said the trip made herreally appreciate all of thethings she took for grantedat home.“It was a shock justgoing there,” Rivera said.“There was no electricity orrunning water. Some of thechildren didn’t even haveclothes, they were justwearing shoes.”The students and faculty,along with the doctorsfrom the MMF, set upsmall clinics at an internalrefugee camp called theAwach refugee camp, OcerCampion Jesuit Collegeand St. Catherine’s School.The doctors and nursestreated children who hadsuch illnesses as malariaand typhoid fever.Surgeries were alsoperformed at St. Mary’sLacor hospital in Gulu.The nurses assisted thesurgeons with reconstructivesurgeries on childrenfrom burns that were nevertreated. On adults, thesurgeries involved reconstructionfrom injuriesShaina Rivera salutes along with some Ugandan children.Rivera and other Rockhurst students from the Research Collegeof Nursing volunteered to go to the African nation in the fall.received from the rebelwars and terrorizations.Rivera said she reallyenjoyed her time with thedoctors and her time inUganda.“I want to go thereagain, but this time as areal nurse and not just astudent,” she said.Students Embrace the Sound of SilenceIf you don’t think alot can be said duringsilence, think again.In November 2011, 14Rockhurst University studentsfound out what couldConception Abbey inConception, Mo., was thebackdrop for Rockhurst University’sinaugural silent retreat.happen with nearly 24hours of silence.Cindy Schmersal, campusminister, said she hadheard about silent retreatsand thought that studentscould use a break fromtheir hectic lives to just disconnectand spend sometime alone and with God.The students spent theday at Conception Abbey inConception, Mo., which isabout two hours from theRockhurst campus.Bridgette Pretz, junior,found starting the retreatto be a little daunting. Forthe first half hour of silenceshe didn’t know what to doand she started to panic.She decided to take a strollaround the abbey and that’swhen she made her bestdiscovery of the retreat.“It was black outside andcold, but I stumbled upona statue of the Sacred Heartof Jesus,” Pretz said. “I satthere for about an hourthinking to myself and thenI found comfort. That laidthe groundwork for therest of my experience. I justfound a lot of peace andstarted to enjoy the time Ihad to myself.”But it was only a matterof time before the silencewould break and the studentswould return to theirhectic routines. Schmersalis planning another retreatfor the students in April.4 Rockhurst u winter 2012

Rockhurst.edu Gets a New LookIf you haven’t visited www.rockhurst.edu in awhile,you should point your browser our way. The officialwebsite of Rockhurst University is scheduled to sporta major redesign in early 2012 – one we hope you’llfind reflective of our mission and our upcoming rebrand.Recent research shows that a university’s website is aprimary factor that influences prospective students to takeadditional steps to learn more, such as requesting information,visiting campus or completing an application.In addition to serving as that “first handshake,” theRockhurst website is an important source of Universitynews for alumni and others, a place to support theUniversity by making a secure online gift and a hub toconnect with Rockhurst University through social media.As an integral component of the overall Universityrebrand set to launch in 2012, the new design delivers amore intuitive, easier-to-navigate user experience – withfreshened graphics, an enhanced news and events com-ponent, and multipleentry points for information.The site alsoshowcases the newRockhurst Universitylogo with the new tagline“Where leaderslearn.” This statementreflects the University’sposition as a top choice for those who go on to becomeleaders in many aspects of their lives and careers.A revamped website is not the only new feature forRockhurst’s electronic presence. A new mobile websitealso will be rolled out and the Computer Services departmenthas partnered with AT&T to create a new Rockhurstapp, which will have features useful for current studentsand alumni. Look for it in your favorite online app store,such as iTunes.Economics Professor’s Love of Italy Inspires Stage PerformanceDuring the day,Michael Stellern,Ph.D.,is your mildmanneredeconomics professor,but at night he donsa costume and steps intothe spotlight for the LyricOpera of Kansas City.OK, Stellern isn’t exactlythe star of the show, buthe does play the importantrole of a supernumerary.“I’m an extra,” Stellernsaid. “In opera, everythingis overdone, over exaggeratedand over named.”His acting oeuvreincludes a flag bearer inGiuseppe Verdi’s Aida, asettler in Kirke Mechem’sJohn Brown, and nowa Buddhist monk inGiacomo Puccini’s Turandot.Stellern said he first gotinvolved with the LyricOpera when he volunteeredto be a supernumeraryfor Aida.Turandot was Puccini’sfinal composition. Thethree-act performancerevolves around PrincessTurandot and her attemptsto find love in ImperialChina. The Lyric Operastaged the show inOctober 2011 in the newKauffman Center for thePerforming Arts.Stellern’s teachingschedule doesn’t alwaysallow him to volunteer tobe a supernumerary. Therehearsals for Turandot didnot interfere with his nightclass this semester so whenhe was called to volunteerhe agreed.“Even though you are onstage for only a few minutesyou have to be there,” Stellernsaid about rehearsals.“In the first seven minutesyou have 125 people onstage. It takes about a weekfor everyone to know whenthey go on, where they weresupposed to be and whenthey were supposed to getoff stage.”Stellern said he willcontinue to volunteer forthe stage when he can.Michael Stellern, Ph.D.,professor of economicsRockhurst u winter 2012 5

Rock ReportRockhurst Names Athletic DirectorRockhurst baseballcoach Gary Burnshas been named thenew director of athletics atRockhurst University, effectiveDec. 13, 2011. He is thefifth full-time director ofathletics since 1941.Burns will continue hisduties as head baseballcoach for the Hawks.“As our baseball coach,Gary developed a reputationfor athletic success,Gary Burnsresponsible stewardship,integrity, and passion forRockhurst and our students,”said RockhurstPresident the Rev. ThomasB. Curran, O.S.F.S. “Garyand his team of coacheswill continue our winningtradition on and off thefield/court — being strongand respected.”Rockhurst hired Burnsin 1994 to rebuild thebaseball program after theHawks had gone 18 yearswithout a program. He hasposted a 570-393 recordover the past 18 seasons.Burns has led theHawks to 13 post-seasonappearances, includingfive berths in the NCAADivision II Tournament.In 1999, Rockhurst capturedthe NCAA CentralRegional and finishedfourth at the NCAA DivisionII Championships inMontgomery, Ala.Rockhurst Alumnus Hits BroadwayMike McClernon, ’80, always had a connectionwith Godspell.Since he first saw it in 1977, he knew hewanted to be a part of it. In 1980, he was given thatchance when Rockhurst University was slated to stage itsown production of the play.After trying out, he was given the role of Jesus.More than 30 years later, when McClernon, now CEOof Smart Source Rentals, learned that the play was onceagain coming back to Broadway, he jumped at the chanceto become involved.Godspell producer Ken Davenport of DavenportTheatrical Enterprises Inc. found out that McClernonhad a passion for the show and had a keen sense ofbusiness so he brought him onboard as a co-producer.The revival of Godspell opened on Nov. 7, 2011,on Broadway.“My first Broadway opening was electric,” McClernonsaid. “We had celebrities in the audience who had been inthe show before, including Eugene Levy, Martin Short andPaul Shaffer. It was very exciting.”The premise of the play’s stories told in parable form isstill the same, but McClernon said everything, includingthe music, has been updated.McClernon said he likes being a co-producer and thathis acting days are long gone.“When you start as Jesus, how do you follow up withthat?” he asked.The 1980s cast of Godspell at Rockhurst Universityprepares to perform. Mike McClernon, ’80, is seated in front.6 Rockhurst u winter 2012

Rockhurst Faculty Member Writes for “New” New TestamentThe New Testament is central to understandingthe Christian faith and many Christian scholarshave contributed to our knowledge of it.But what can Jewish specialists on the NewTestament period teach us about how to interpret theseChristian texts?Now there is a venue to explore this intriguing question.In November 2011 the Oxford University Press publishedThe Jewish Annotated New Testament, which featuresnotes based on the New Revised Standard Version,introductions to each book and many relevant articlescollected at the back of the volume, all written by Jews.In addition to introducing Jews to the New Testament, itis also designed to introduce Christians to new ways tothink about the meaning of these sacred texts.Among the prominent Jewish scholars who contributedto the work is Mark D. Nanos, Ph.D., Soebbing DistinguishedScholar-in-Residence and visiting assistant professorof theology and religious studies. Nanos contributedthe introduction and notes to “The Letter of Paul to theRomans” and an article titled “Paul and Judaism.”Nanos said this is an unprecedented opportunityfor both communities.“Christians have been interpreting sacred Jewish textsthrough the centuries becausesome are an essential part ofChristian history and theology,and are included within theirHoly Bibles,” said Nanos.“However, Jews have notgenerally studied the NewTestament or contributeddirectly to the history ofChristian interpretation ofthe New Testament. Thislandmark project willbe especially welcomedby those committed todialogue as a venue forimproving Christian-Jewish relations.”The book is availablein print and electroniceditions at Amazon.com.MBA Gives Physical Therapists AdvantageAs the healthcareindustry continuesto evolve, so doesRockhurst University. InDecember, Rockhurst University’sDepartment ofPhysical Therapy Educationand the Helzberg School ofManagement announcedthe creation of a dual doctorof physical therapy andmaster of business administrationprogram.Don Hoover, P.h.D.,associate professor of physicaltherapy, said this newprogram is only the secondof its kind in the countryand the only fully integratedprogram.“The advantage is thatyou are not going to haveto put your clinical educationand skills on a shelffor a year,” Hoover said.The goal of the dualdegreeprogram is to helpthose students who want torun their own clinic, takeon leadership roles for largerhealth systems or helpcreate future legislation forthe medical industry – allwhile gaining the clinicaland business skill sets theyneed to succeed.Hoover said he alreadyhas a number of potentialstudents eager to sign upfor the program.“Partnering with theHelzberg School of Managementwill help us growsomething pretty uniquethat will give our students acompetitive edge,” he said.Rockhurst u winter 2012 7

Civil LeadersBy Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBATwo Rockhurst University alumni who are mayors of Kansas City –the one in Missouri and the one in Kansas – discuss Google, leadershipand the potential for regional greatness through cooperation.In a metropolitan area where it sometimes seems as if the Civil Warwas a recent occurrence, dialogue across the Missouri-Kansas borderis not always easy. It’s refreshing, then, to know that Sly James, ’80,and Joe Reardon, ’90, have each other’s phone number programmedinto their cell phones and are attempting to put civility back intopublic discourse.James has been the mayor of Kansas City, Mo., since May 1, 2011,and Reardon was elected to his first term as mayor/CEO of the UnifiedGovernment of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., in 2005.Both mayors took time to visit their alma mater last August for aforum titled “The Pursuit of Innovation Through a Civil Discourse,”co-sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.Google had recently announced that Kansas City, Kan., and KansasCity, Mo., would be the first cities to host its ultra high-speed Internetconnection, and the mayors had created a bi-state task force tomaximize opportunities surrounding this breakthrough. More than400 people attended the event in the Rockhurst University ConvocationCenter at a time when the rancor and divisiveness in Washington,D.C., made their message of cooperation especially welcome.Later, we visited each City Hall for further dialogue. Here are someof the comments from those discussions.Joe Reardon, ’90 (left), andSly James, ’80, participatedin a Mayors Forum on theRockhurst University campus.8 Rockhurst u winter 2012

Mayor Joe ReardonRockhurst Magazine: What does thepartnership between you and MayorJames mean on a practical level?Mayor Reardon: I think at the end ofthe day if we’re both successful, notonly will the region benefit but thecitizens themselves will perhaps bethe biggest beneficiaries because we’llbe creating opportunities for them inthe future. That would be thehope for both of us about thework we do today.Rockhurst Magazine: Whatpotential benefits do theGoogle partnership and bistateinnovations team havefor the region?Mayor Reardon: One of thegoals is a bi-state strategythat crosses city and stateboundaries. We will look athow we work together toget maximum benefit froma very unique installation– a unique infrastructurethat no two other citieswill have, at least not for aperiod of time.Rockhurst Magazine: What strengthsdoes Kansas City, Kan., bring tothe region?Mayor Reardon: Part of the reasonGoogle chose KCK and ultimately,Kansas City, Mo., is that we reflectthe country in so many ways, andJoe ReardonMayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte Countyand Kansas City, Kan.Political Science, ‘90Law School:University of Kansaswe’re fairly progressive in what we’redoing. Those two things are coupledtogether in a place where the workethic has remained very strong, ourproductivity is great, our cost of livingis fairly low and quality of life is veryhigh. These are strengths of KansasCity, Kan., and ultimately of theKansas City region.Rockhurst u winter 2012 9

Rockhurst Magazine: When did youstart to think of yourself as a leader?Mayor Reardon: I didn’t imaginewhen I was at Rockhurst that I wouldbe mayor of Kansas City, Kan., butI had a passion about trying to dosomething positive and not just havea career but to do something thatwould benefit others. I didn’t knowwhere that would necessarily lead me,but it was something I felt as part ofmy calling.Mayor Sly JamesRockhurst Magazine: What could theKansas City area accomplish througha strengthened partnership betweenthe two cities?Mayor James: This region is the 26thlargest economy in the country andone thing we could accomplish fromworking together is to move up to ahigher spot. The mere fact of doingthat would create more job opportunities,more economic development,more opportunities for the citizensof the entire region. The hatredbetween MU and KU and Kansasand Missouri is not fake in a lot ofpeople’s heads but what happenedyears ago has no relevance today. Thisis an economic reality. We learn toadapt to that economic reality or wewill not succeed relative to our peers.Rockhurst Magazine: What strengthsdoes Kansas City, Mo., bring to themetro area?(From left) The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S., president of Rockhurst University;Mayor Joe Reardon, ’90; Greg Graves, ’87 MBA, president and CEO of Burns andMcDonnell, who moderated the Mayors Forum; and Mayor Sly James, ‘8010 Rockhurst u winter 2012

Mayor James: Every suburbhas to be a suburbof somewhere. We arethe center of our region.Many of the amenitiesof this region are locatedin Kansas City, Mo. Thebarbecue sauce, the smell,the texture of the region,is located in Kansas City,Mo. The thing that I thinkKansas City brings morethan anything is a group ofpeople who remain friendly,outgoing and humbledespite the occasional slightby others, misapprehensionand misunderstandings.Sly JamesMayor of Kansas City, Mo.English, ’80Law School:University of MinnesotaRockhurst Magazine: Oncampus, you said thatmayors are elected to solvepeople’s problems and getthings done. As a leader,how do you balance thattactical necessity with astrategic approach in movingpeople forward?Mayor James: I don’t thinkyou go back and forth, it’swoven right in. This is anamazingly complex city. It is360 square miles. You can fiteight San Franciscos inside ofKansas City, Missouri’s city limits.When we plow snow, we plow theequivalent of two lanes of highwaythat would stretch from Boston toSan Diego and back. This is not aplace where the problems are littletiny things. So it’s never a system oflooking at anything in isolation. Youlook at things in systems. If you applya solution to a problem, you arelooking not only for a solution thatsolves that problem but that impactsother related issues around it.Rockhurst Magazine: When youthink back about your Rockhurstexperience, how did that shape yourthoughts on leadership?Mayor James: My experience wasdifferent. When I showed up at Rockhurst,I was older than most of theother on-campus students because I’dbeen in the Marine Corps four years.That taught me a lot about who Iwas and honed what skills I had.Rockhurst took what I learned aboutleadership and reshaped it moretoward service as opposed to simplyegotistical leading.Rockhurst UniversityMayors ForumTo see video clips and additionalphotos from the Mayors Forum heldon the Rockhurst University campus,visit www.rockhurst.edu/mayors.Rockhurst u winter 2012 11

Loving thyneighborBy Estuardo Garcia(From left) Tiffany Kramer, Brittany Waybright, Tess Hart and Tim Dulle spent their fallbreak learning about their city and helping their neighbors in a new kind of service trip.Outside the little whitehouse near the corner of31st and Harrison streetsin Kansas City, Mo., the delicioussmell of something cooking fills theair. Inside, a group of 30 or so residentsfrom the neighborhood gatheraround to play dominos, sing songsand just catch up with one another.12 Rockhurst u winter 2012At exactly 6:30 p.m., the musicstops playing and the chatter diesdown. The guests leave the livingroom and walk outside and aroundthe porch to the side door as theyline up to eat. Four students fromRockhurst University get in theirplaces and get ready to greet andserve the hungry crowd that isgathering at Holy Family House.The students aren’t spendingan evening at a soup kitchen, butgetting the urban experience in awhole new kind of service trip rightat their back door.“You learn who you are helpingand you learn about them,” sophomoreBrittany Waybright said. “It’snot like I’m helping the poor, it’s likeI’m helping someone I know.”

Kramer, left, Hart and Dulle prepare food for the guests at Holy Family House.For the first time, the Center forService Learning and the Center forCommunity Relations and Outreachchose Kansas City as a location for aservice trip to give Rockhurst studentsa sense of community and connectionwith the town in which they live.Their goals were to help thesestudents see Kansas City in a newlight and to have them appreciate thediversity of neighborhoods and thepeople in those neighborhoods.To do this, the organizationsdevised a four-day immersion tripthrough the city during fall break.“It gave us the chance for a moreholistic approach that allowed studentsa real-time opportunity to servetheir community and time to reflectand to develop some relationshipswith each other and with people inthe community they met along theway,” said Alicia Douglas, director ofcommunity relations and outreach.“Students have a desire to connect totheir community, they just need thatavenue to do so. By experiencing thecommunity they can really understandit and make changes. Plus theyget to see what Kansas City really hasto offer.”To give them this experience,Rockhust partnered with Holy FamilyHouse, a Catholic Worker community.The school has had a long relationshipwith the house, but this wasthe first time students were invitedto stay the night and live the life of aCatholic Worker.“I’ve done some service work inCentral America, but there is alwaysthis disconnect with one’s service lifeand the rest of their life,” junior TimDulle said. “Not just doing service,but opening your home to the peopleyou serve is one of the best things I’veever heard.”For four days, Dulle, Waybrightand Douglas, along with junior TessHart, sophomore Tiffany Kramer andCenter for Service Learning DirectorJulia Vargas served the guests at HolyFamily House. This included makingbreakfast and dinner as well as helpingto sort out produce to give awayto area residents.Alicia Douglas, back left,and Julia Vargas join,from left, Kramer,Hart, Waybright andDulle in front of HolyFamily House.Beyond just filling the bellies oflocals, the residents of Holy FamilyHouse just want to help, whether itis by giving out a fresh pair of socks,bus passes or even visiting hospitalizedguests. As they like to think of it,they won’t open the door to someoneunless they are willing to help themas far as they can.“We just try to respond to needsas best we can,” Rachael Hoffmanfrom Holy Family House said. “Thedoorbell rings at any time of the dayor people come in when we are openand they ask for any normal thingyou might need. We try to give asbest we can in a fair and loving way.We are trying to open our hearts byopening our door.”Serving the guests at Holy FamilyHouse and staying overnight alsoallowed the Rockhurst students tobreak down their barriers.“A lot of people who don’t engage(the poor) believe in a certain stereotype,”Hart said. “The negativestereotype can be erased easily if youembrace their humanity. They are justlike us. They have the same interests,struggles and motivations for whatthey’re doing. If you engage them andtalk to them you will see that and itwill turn your world upside down.”Rockhurst u winter 2012 13

Waybright echoed Hart’s commentsby saying that she had to come out ofher shell before making a connectionwith the guests.“I found that it opened me to a lotof new experiences and not just newpeople,” she said. “I’m more comfortabletalking to people that I know, soserving strangers, then sitting downand starting to talk with them wasnew to me. They were so interestedin finding out about us and we wereso interested to learn about them.They’re very chatty and very open.”Kramer also agreed.“They were just happy to talk tous and see us,” she said. “We wouldjust sit there and talk. It was coolto be able to hear about their lives,their stories.”14 Rockhurst u winter 2012Kansas CityAs part of the immersion process intourban Kansas City, Vargas and Douglastook the students on a tour of thecity. This included taking a walkingtrip around 31st Street and TroostAvenue, near Holy Family House.Part of the local service trip included a walking tour of the neighborhood ofHoly Family House.The students enjoy the life-sized chess set on the rooftopterrace of the Kansas City Public Library.The two directors wanted thestudents to experience the everydaylife of the people who were comingto visit the house, which meantshopping where the locals shop andtaking the bus, which was a first forsome of the students.“It’s a very diverse neighborhoodand that is one of things we wantedto show them,” Vargas said. “It’s verycommercial and there are all types ofbusinesses, but as we walk throughthe neighborhood you can see theblight and you can see the areas withabandoned properties. But if youjust go two blocks you see reallylarge homes. There is this dualityof the city.”To better understand how thisneighborhood developed and howthat duality came to be, the studentswere given a Kansas City historylesson by the Rev. David PaisiusAltschul, who contributed researchto the “200 Years on Troost” exhibit.This was a welcomed event for thestudents who said they had noknowledge of the history of KansasCity. They also learned more aboutthe neighborhoods adjacent toRockhurst by speaking with communityand organization leaders suchas Roach Ellington from Voice ofthe People and Lynda Callon fromWestside CAN Center.

Our delegation of 11 Midwesthigher education administratorsexperienced eight full days of MiddleEastern hospitality. The trip included:exploring partnerships in highereducation; learning how this 63-yearoldnation has more companies onthe NASDAQ than any other nationin Europe; studying the prospects fora two-state solution for Israel; beingbriefed by officials in government, themilitary, and the press; and spendingreflective time at the holy sites.Visiting Yad Vashem (HolocaustMuseum), standing along the Seaof Galilee, climbing to the top ofMasada, floating in the Dead Sea,exploring Tagba (believed to bethe site of the multiplication of theloaves and fish), and conversing withthe new Israeli Ambassador to theVatican continue to provide mewith rich moments of reflection.However, I need to adhere to thepractice that I ask others to follow.And that is answering the question,“So, what was the highlight?” Ifrequently pose this question tostudents, colleagues and friends upontheir return from a trip. It’s only fairthat I answer the same question.The answer: there were two. Thefirst was the opportunity to pray atthe Kotel (Wailing Wall) in the oldcity of Jerusalem. The wall is believedto be the exterior wall for the TempleMount, which was constructed at theend of the Second Temple Period(515 BCE). It has been a site forprayer and pilgrims for centuries. It iscustomary to place prayer messagesand petitions in the crevices of thewall. Placing my written petitions inone of the cracks was one of the mosthumbling, consoling and movingexperiences of my life.The other highlight was visitingthe Weizmann Institute of Science. It’snamed for Chaim Azriel Weizmann,the first president of the state of Israel.There I met Professor Daniel Zajfman.He serves as the president of the institute,which, in my opinion, has nopeer in the world. Professor Zajfman’smessage of “science for the benefit ofhumanity” struck a chord with me.The Wailing Wallwas among the stopsFr. Curran madeduring his timein Jerusalem.A group of Midwest university presidents,including Fr. Curran, visited theWeizmann Institute of Science whilein Israel.I left with a greater determinationand commitment to scientific literacy.Nations must create a thoughtful andethical process to use science and allfields of study to make God’s goodworld better.Absent from the trip was directengagement with Palestinian Arabsand Christians. Nonetheless, I departedwith hopes and prayers for thefollowing: security and an end toviolence for the state of Israel; anend to Israeli occupation of WestBank and Gaza; the establishmentof an internationally recognized andviable Palestinian state; and religiousfreedom and ongoing access to theholy sites.“Next year in Jerusalem.” Thesewords are spoken at the conclusionof every Passover Seder. They reflect alonging for a peaceful Jerusalem witha restored Temple. As a Jesuit university,we seek to find God in all things.In many respects, this core value ofours can be explained as acknowledgingthat God dwells with us nowas living temples. Indeed, there isno place that I should like to see somuch as Jerusalem, fully restoredas the city of peace, the meaning ofJerusalem’s name.Rockhurst u winter 2012 17

2011 President’s Report“Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.” Satchel Paigeoffered this advice. Paige, who is buried just two miles from campus, wasthe first player to be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame from the NegroLeagues. While I think there is some merit to his caution, I also believe thereis some value in “glancing in the rear view mirror” occasionally. Lookingback stirs up gratitude for what has been accomplished and experienced.It also positions one to embrace what lies ahead. So, as I look back on thepast year, here are a few things for which I am grateful:• Rockhurst’s citation by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching with its CommunityEngagement classification. This distinction is held by fewer than 10 percent of all colleges and universitiesin the United States. Rockhurst is the only institution in Kansas City to have earned this distinction.• Completing construction of a mixed-use facility on Troost Avenue. This “green project” will provide423 parking spaces as well as 12,000 square feet of commercial space. Included in this will be ahealth care clinic to provide medical treatment for our students and the surrounding community.• Providing more than 25,000 hours of community service. Service learning is an integral part of ourcurriculum and Jesuit way of proceeding. More than 80 percent of our students participate in serviceduring their Rockhurst education. In addition to the service, the process involves reflection upon theinjustices and using one’s gifts to help transform the world.• Athletic achievements, including Coach Tony Tocco’s 600th victory in men’s soccer, the men’s tennisand soccer teams reaching the Elite Eight of NCAA II National Championship, women’s basketballfinishing 13th in the nation with a team GPA of 3.51, and 162 (68 percent) of our student athletesachieving a GPA of 3.0 or higher• Working with Research College of Nursing, our partner, to design and begin construction of theBlessed Seelos Simulation Lab. It’s scheduled to open in Spring 2012.So, what’s ahead?• Preparing for our next five-year plan (2012-17), which will include the design and construction of anew academic building to replace Sedgwick Hall. This 96-year-old structure will become the centerfor our administrative and alumni efforts and then Massman Hall can become a student center.• Pursuing affirmation of our accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) ofthe North Central Association for another 10 years. Our self study will be submitted this spring inpreparation for our site visit in October 2012.As a Jesuit institution of higher learning, Rockhurst University focuses its attention upon six corevalues. In the current year, we decided to be very intentional about the value of Finding God in All Things.This involves engagement (experience), reflection and action. Simply put, we are unafraid to look backor ahead. Instead, we see all as gift. This is the essence of finding God in all things.Thank you for your support in the past. With your continued support and engagement, what liesahead promises to be just as rewarding as what we have already experienced.Sincerely,Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S.President18 Rockhurst u winter 2012

2010-11 Financials2010-11 Expenses2010-11 Revenues, Gains & Other Support37%Student Aid10%InstitutionalSupport3%InterestExpense7%AuxiliaryEnterprises7%StudentServices8%InvestmentReturn7%Private Gifts3%OtherIncome10%AuxiliaryEnterprises72%Student Tuition& Fees18%Instructional7%AcademicSupport11%Plant Operations& Depreciation2010-11 Gift Sources*Foundation $2,790,116Other Friends $1,283,072Alumni $1,136,922Bequests $1,067,112Corporations $274,794Parents $66,539Religious Organizations $49,000Total $6,667,5552010-11 Fundraising ActivityFunds Received $4,323,360(Less pledge payments on previous pledges)New Pledges $1,367,091Total $5,690,45124%New Pledges76%Funds Received1%4% ParentsCorporations.75%ReligiousOrganizations16%Bequests17%Alumni19.25%OtherFriends42%Foundations’07’08’09’10’112007-11 Gifts Received*(in millions, as of June 30, 2011)$4.6$5.1$4.9$6.3$6.6*Includes payments received on pledges outstanding from previous fiscal years.Rockhurst u winter 2012 19

Hawk TalkCoach ToccoNotches His600th CareerVictoryRockhurst’s Tony Tocco became the third men’ssoccer coach in intercollegiate history to win600 games as the Hawks advanced to thequarterfinals in the 2011 NCAA Division IIMen’s Soccer Championships.Tocco’s milestone victory was a 2-0 victory over conferencerival Northern Kentucky in the second round of theNCAA Championships at Rockhurst’s Bourke Field onNov 13, 2011. His players celebrated the win by showeringTocco with a bucket of water on the field right afterthe game.“It doesn’t seem like 600. I never kept track of mywins,” said Tocco, who has spent his entire 41 years incoaching at Rockhurst while compiling a 600-168-57record. “The only thing I worry about is my next game.Right now, I’m thinking about next year.”The future looks bright for the Hawks, who finishedthe 2011 season with a 17-2-3 record and had the toprankedscoring defense in the country. Rockhurst willreturn 10 of its 11 starters next season, highlighted byAll-Americans Ryan Bass (goalkeeper), junior, and MarkMagee (forward), sophomore.Tocco started coaching at Rockhurst in 1970. Hisfourth team finished second in the NAIA national tournamentin 1973. The Hawks were a perennial power inthe NAIA under Tocco, who was named to the NAIA Hallof Fame in 2007. Rockhurst played in 17 NAIA nationaltournaments and advanced to the Final Four 10 times.“We have great student-athletes at Rockhurst. You can’twin at this level without them,” said Tocco, who holds aPh.D. in accounting and is a full-time professor and headof the accounting department in Rockhurst’s HelzbergSchool of Management.Since becoming a member of the NCAA in 1998, theHawks have posted a 163-72-29 record and advanced tothe NCAA Championships five times. The Hawks rose tofourth in the nation in 2008 and were ranked as high asNo. 6 in 2011.“My whole life has been teaching and coaching. I’venever had trouble balancing being a teacher and a coach,”added Tocco, who played soccer at Saint Louis University.20 Rockhurst u winter 2012

Rockhurst Inducts 2011 Athletics Hall of Fame ClassFour outstandingathletes wereinducted into theRockhurst UniversityAthletics Hall of FameSept. 23. Kevin Koetters(men’s soccer, 1986-89),Kristie Morgan (women’ssoccer, 1994-97), JessicaShepler (volleyball, 2000-03) and Davin Winkley(men’s basketball, 1997-2002) comprise the 2011Hall of Fame Class.Koetters, a two-timeNAIA All-American in 1988and ’89, ranks as one of themost outstanding defendersin Rockhurst’s storiedsoccer history. He led theHawks to a 69-13-6 recordand two NAIA nationaltournament semifinalfinishes. He played professionalsoccer for 12 years,including stints with theKansas City Attack, KansasCity Wiz and Kansas CityComets.Morgan is one of the topgoalkeepers in school history.She was a third teamNAIA All-American in hersenior season as the Hawksfinished with a 19-4-1record in 1997. She rankedseventh in the nation ingoals against average (0.71)while posting 11 shutouts.In her junior year, theHawks won 17 games asMorgan collected 14 shutoutsand 108 saves.Shepler led the Hawks toa 140-25 record in her fourseasons. She earned AmericanVolleyball CoachesAssociation Division IIAll-American honors in hersenior season while collecting767 kills and 535 digs.In her sophomore season,she received AVCA DivisionII National Player of theWeek honors. She finishedwith 2,301 kills and1,543 digs in her career.Winkley is one of onlythree Hawks to scoremore than 2,000 careerpoints while leadingRockhurst to 74 winsover four seasons. In hissenior year, he led theHawks to a 24-6 recordand a Sweet 16 finish inthe 2002 NCAA DivisionII tournament. Heis tied for second in scoring(2,063 points) andranks fifth in rebounding(939) on the all-timeRockhurst charts.Rockhurst Ranks 26th in NCSA Collegiate Power RankingsRockhurst University ranked 26th among NCAADivision II universities in the Ninth Annual NCSAAthletic Recruiting’s Collegiate Power Rankings,which assess the academic and athletics standards of allNCAA athletic programs across the country.“The Power Rankings are an objective tool to empowerstudent athletes to find the right fit in a college or university,not only for its athletics, but academics as well,” saidChris Krause, CEO and founder of NCSA Athletic Recruiting.“Our hope is to educate these student athletes andtheir parents on the importance of evaluating schoolsthat will provide the education for an enriched, successfulcareer after college, in addition to athletic success.”The Collegiate Power Rankings are calculated for eachDivision I, II and III college and university by averagingstudent-athlete graduation rates, academic rankingsprovided by U.S. News & World Report, and the strengthof athletic departments as determined by the LearfieldSports Directors’ Cup.Nine of Rockhurst’s athletic programs finished witha team GPA of 3.20 or higher in 2010-11. The women’ssoccer team finished tied for ninth among all collegiatewomen’s soccer programs with a 3.61 team GPA. RU’ssoftball and women’s basketball teams were ranked in thetop 20 for Division II schools in team GPA.Caroline Brandt, freshman, plays forward for the women’ssoccer team, which tied for ninth highest team GPA (3.61)among women’s soccer programs in 2010-11.Rockhurst u winter 2012 21

Love for Belize InspiresStudent SupportFor Tom Hastings, ’81, fresh off the premedicinestudy track at Rockhurst University,graduation offered a much-needed break fromacademic stress.So rather than immediately applying for medicalschool, he chose a different path – one of service.Based on the advice of the Rev. James D. Wheeler, S.J.,professor of chemistry, Hastings traveled to BelizeCity, Belize, shortly after graduation to teach chemistryat St. John’s College, a Jesuit school. It was a timethat would both crystallize his career aspirations andchange the way he viewed the world.Hastings saw first-hand abject poverty, and taughtstudents committed to learning despite limited meansand opportunities – an experience that left a desire toserve. He returned to the United States and eventuallybecame an internist in St. Louis. Dr. Hastings’ wife,Dr. Mary Vatterott Hastings, a family medicine physician,shares his commitment to service, with a specialpassion for education, which she views as key to thedevelopment of one’s faith. The couple and theirfamily participate in foreign medical missions andalso provide support for Rockhurst junior and BelizeSharingOurGiftsnative, Hero Balani. For both doctors, these opportunitiesto help others are extremely rewarding.“I had always heard that compassion and servingwere not just about being there for others, but aboutwalking in someone else’s shoes,” Dr. Tom Hastingssays now. “My experiences in Belize gave me thatopportunity.”In addition to the Hastings, the late Bob Miller, ’49,Carol Miller, and Marty Flaherty, ’62, support the fundfor Belize students.A gift from several donors makes it possible for Hero Balani,a junior from Belize City, Belize, to study at Rockhurst.New Building Will Enrich Academic ExperienceMost Rockhurst University students becomeintimately familiar with the walls ofSedgwick Hall over the course of theireducation. The first building on campus,opened in 1914, it is an iconic symbol of the University,and has for years housed the University’s core curriculum.Yet while its legacy and meaningfulness to the Universitywill never change, it is time to change its purpose.The Rockhurst master plan calls for a new academicbuilding, a state-of-the-art learning facility that willlargely replace the teaching facilities of Sedgwick. Andin turn, Sedgwick will be renovated and repurposed foradministrative use.Contingent on fundraising success, plans are to breakground in 2013 on the new academic building, which willbe constructed just south of the bell tower on the currentparking lot. The new building will be a modern academicspace that enhances learning and the rich classroominteraction for which Rockhurst is known. Phase I ofthe project, completing the academic portions of thebuilding, will cost $25 million. The final phase, addinga theater and other art spaces, will cost an additional$8 million.“The projects are being supported wholly by fundingfrom our donors,” said Amy Drouin, director of foundationand corporate relations. “We’ve been fortunate in thegenerosity of our University alumni and other supportersand have raised about $16 million to date.”For more information about the master plan, visitwww.rockhurst.edu/masterplan. For information aboutsupporting the effort financially, contact Amy Drouin atamy.drouin@rockhurst.edu or 816-501-4628. Sponsorshipand naming opportunities are available at variouslevels of giving.Rockhurst u winter 2012 23

For AlumniEvents Remind Students of theImportance of Giving BackDid you know that tuition covers only 62 percentof what it actually costs for a student to attendRockhurst University? Alumni and friends of theUniversity fund the remaining 38 percent through generousdonations. Without these gifts, Rockhurst would notbe able to offer its high-quality educational experienceand would either have to dramatically raise tuition or endthe school year in February.In celebration of Rockhurst’s donors, the StudentAlumni Association (SAA) will host a weeklong eventcalled Rockhurst Made Possible, from Monday, Feb. 13 –Thursday, Feb. 16. The organization wants to help educatestudents on the importance of giving back while showingRockhurst donors how their gifts have an impact on currentstudents.Events will include a celebration for the birthday ofHenry J. Massman Sr., for whom Massman Hall is named.This year’s Student Alumni Association is planning events inFebruary to thank Rockhurst University donors.The week will conclude with a Meet and Greet eventwhere alumni are invited back to campus to have a casualmeal while connecting with students.SAA leaders say they hope students will not only say“thanks” to those who make their college experiencepossible, but will also begin a lifelong practice of givingback to their University.Rockhurst University Alumni, Unite!When Rockhurst University alumni get together,good things happen. That was the spiritof the recent fall gatherings of graduates andparents in New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlantaand Houston.(From left) Patty and Steve Valentino, ’88 (RockhurstTrustee), Fr. Curran and guest speaker Fr. James Martin, S.J.The event was hosted by the Valentinos at the New YorkAthletic Club on Oct. 11, 2011.“These events are a great way to get together withother Rockhurst graduates, catch up on what’s happeningwith the school and share Rockhurst stories,” said MaryLanders, Rockhurst director of alumni and constituentrelations. “It’s wonderful to see our grads reconnect anddiscover how many Rockhurst connections they have intheir area.”The Atlanta event – the first in several years – was heldin late September and hosted by Rockhurst alumnus LarryDrake, ’90 EMBA. Nearly 20 alumni attended the reception.The Big Apple event, held at the New York AthleticClub, drew 30 alumni, nearly double the attendance ofthe last event. Trustee Steve Valentino, ’88, hosted theevent, which featured speaker the Rev. Jim Martin, S.J. TheD.C. reception, hosted by Cliff Alexander, ’66, featuredWalter McCormick Jr., a Rockhurst trustee, as the guestspeaker. The Houston event, hosted by trustee ChuckDunlap, ’65, welcomed 18 attendees.“We feel like the events were very successful and thegroups are already looking for opportunities to meetin between our formal events. It’s great to build strongregional communities,” said Landers.For information on how to host an alumni event inyour area, contact Mary Landers at 816-501-4199 ormary.landers@rockhurst.edu.24 Rockhurst u winter 2012

Alumni LeadersMastering the Balancein Life and CareerFinding the right balance in life can bea difficult choice, or as Larry Drake,’90 EMBA, discovered, it can alsobecome a necessity.It was 1988, and Drake’s life was pulledin many directions. He was a successfulsenior executive with The Coca-Cola Company,enrolled in the Executive Fellows MBAprogram, and married with two youngchildren, one of whom faced a chronicmedical condition.Larry Drake, ’90 EMBA“It was a period of transition for me, avery difficult time,” Drake says now. “I spentmany nights at Children’s Mercy Hospital despite having anotherchild at home. Additionally, my job and the MBA program were timeconsumingand challenging. Finding a way to balance all that becamea necessity.”Over the years, Drake has experienced success on many fronts,serving as Coca-Cola’s president and chief executive officer for Nigeriaand Equatorial Africa, an executive at PepsiCo’s then KFC division,and ultimately an entrepreneur. But it was that frantic point in his lifethat led to many of his most valued lessons on priorities. And since his2007 retirement, he has focused on helping others learn those lessonsthrough the Atlanta-based HOPE 360 Inc., a company he co-foundedthat specializes in corporate organizational development, executivecoaching and career/ life management consulting services. In short,Drake now helps other leaders find solutions to balancing life andcareer, an endeavor that is his own way of living the Rockhurst creedof service.“HOPE stands for helping other people excel,” he explains.“Our objective is to share what we’ve learned in the corporate andentrepreneurial world to help others find ways to use balance as ameans to improve what they do and how they do it, personallyand professionally. “And in helping others, Drake finds a deeper fulfillment than at anyother point in his career.“We don’t consider it work,” he said. “Our reward comes when wesee our clients improve their career performance while simultaneouslyimproving the quality of their life.”Chat Cowherd toReceive RockhurstScience Hall ofFame AwardChatton Cowherd, Ph.D., ’60,is having the time of hiscareer. Just a year after beingnamed among seven national finalistsfor R&D Magazine’s 2010 Scientist ofthe Year, Cowherd is receiving anotherscience achievement award – theRockhurst Science Hall of Fame Award.The honor is awarded to a Rockhurstgraduate who has demonstratedexceptional excellence in the fieldof science. There have been only13 recipients of the award since itsinception in 1996.Cowherd serves as principal advisorfor engineering at Midwest ResearchInstitute (MRI Global) and the founderof the company’s Center of Excellencein Non-Point Emission Sources andControls. He is an internationally recognizedexpert on open source emissions,developing testing methods to measureair pollutants resulting from events suchas dust storms and brush fires.“Dr. Cowherd has had a tremendousimpact on his field and isextremely well-deserving of theRockhurst Science Award,” said MaryLanders, Rockhurst director of alumniand constituent relations. “Graduatesof his caliber are a recognition ofthe academic excellence for whichRockhurst is known and it’s only fittingthat the University honors him.”Cowherd, who also recentlycelebrated his 50th reunion, earningmembership in the Golden HawksSociety, will be officially honoredby the University at a reception inMarch 2012.Rockhurst u winter 2012 25

Class Notes’’66Tom McDonnell, CEO of DSTSystems Inc., was honored as a“Visionary of the Modern Era”in the mutual fund industry byStrategic Inc. In October 2011,McDonnell was named by KansasCity, Mo., Mayor Sly James,’80, as co-chair of a new advisorygroup to develop a long-termeconomic strategy for the city.’70Jim Killackey recently retiredfrom The Daily Oklahomannewspaper in Oklahoma City.During a long career he earnedthe most honors and awards forany journalist in state history(61 honors). He currently is amember of the state Councilon Aging, which helps overseeOklahoma nursing homes.’77Craig Gaffney, ’86 MBA, hasjoined the board of trustees forthe Catholic Charities Foundation.Gaffney is also presidentfor the Western region of CountryClub Bank and was previouslythe regional president for WyandotteCounty with UMB Bank.’80Paul I. Carden Jr. moved toWashington, D.C., to accept theposition of director of emergencyand international serviceswith the National Capital AreaRegional Chapter of the RedCross beginning June 27, 2011.He is responsible for directingRed Cross disaster, militaryand international servicesfor Montgomery and PrinceGeorge’s Counties in Maryland,the District of Columbia andLoudon, Fairfax, Arlington,Alexandria and Prince Williamcounties in Virginia.Phil Hess, of the law firm Larsen,Feist & Hess P.C., was electedpresident of the MissouriAssociation of Trial Attorneys.’82Michael Hill receivedordination as a permanentdeacon in the Archdiocese ofKansas City in Kansas onSaturday, April 9, 2011. DeaconMichael is assigned to St. PaulParish in Olathe, Kan.Members of the classes of 1983 and 1984 gather for a reunionat Table Rock Lake in September 2011. In attendance were:John Esser, ’83; Maureen Ebeling Heitmann, ’84; Glenn Heitmann,’83; Rick Behm, ’83; Jim Wheeler, ’83; Carol Fecht Westerman,’84; Rick Heinrichs, ’83; Jim Karl, ’83; Diane Karl, ’84; TrishBehm, ’84; Ann Mansfield Petersen, ’84; Jody Defferding Moorman,’84; Mike Butz, ’83; Ken Moorman, ’83; Tom Petersen, ’84.’83Keith Wenzel has joinedSpencer Fane Britt and BrowneL.L.P., where he will representclients before the Departmentof Economic Development, theDepartment of Natural Resources,the Office of Administration andother state agencies.’87Robert W. Healy was appointedto the executive position of chiefcredit risk assessment officer atCountry Club Bank. He servesas the principal liaison betweenthe bank, the board of directorsaudit committee and regulatoryagencies, and is responsible foroversight of loan portfolio riskmanagement and ensuring adherencewith banking regulations.’87 MBAPaul Thompson was promotedto chairman of the board at thePlatte Valley Bank.’90Gary Dierks was elected in May2011 to the board of directors ofArsenal Credit Union, located inSt. Louis. Also, Dierks was promotedto the position of directorof demand management atAnchor Packaging June 1. Inthis newly created role he willassume responsibility for orderfulfillment, forecasting, pricing,order revenue management,trade management and customer-facingdata management.Matt Stasa, ’92 MBA, hasjoined Gershman Mortgage asa commercial loan analyst. Hespecializes in processing andunderwriting loans for multifamilyproperties, includingapartments, assisted living andskilled nursing facilities.’92Paul and Tamatha Leuschen,’95, were winners of the FitKC Challenge, a 12-weeknutritional/fitness makeover.Daughters Rebecca, age 12, andAllysa, age 4, also participatedin the challenge.’95 MBAMadeline Romious, vice presidentof external affairs at AT&Tin Kansas City, was named byMayor Sly James, ’80, as co-chairof a new advisory group todevelop a long-term economicstrategy for the city.’97Bob Parks, director of humanresources and North Americatraining and developing atGrundfos Pump Corp., wasnamed to the Ingram’s “40Under 40” list in April 2011.’00Dr. Christopher E. Bauer joinedPatients First Health Care andSSM Heart Institute on August 1.He is a cardiac electrophysiologist.’01Melissa Rieke has openedMelissa Rieke Photography indowntown Bonner Springs,Kan., which specializes inphotographs of newborns.‘03Kristoffer Barikmo was recognizedas a National Board CertifiedTeacher by the NationalBoard for Professional TeachingStandards in November 2011.Through a rigorous process ofreflection, content knowledgetests, and submission of a professionalportfolio of studentwork and videos of instruction,he was one of 93 teachers inthe state of Colorado to receivethis honor.’04 MBATom Carignan was appointedby Gov. Sam Brownback to TheKansas Hispanic and LatinoAmerican Affairs Commission(KHLAAC). The KHLAAC is aseven-member body that servesas a liaison for the KansasHispanic and Latino communityand the Office of the Governorand addresses public policy concernsprimarily in areas related toeducation, health and business.26 Rockhurst u winter 2012

Lyssa Surface is the co-ownerof LillyBit and the creator of theUptown Diaper Clutch.’04 MPTAllison (Epp) Widener hasjoined the St. Rose RehabServices staff in Great Bend,Kan. She specializes in backand neck pain, especially forpregnant women.’05 MBAErika Ramirez has beenpromoted to the position ofmanager and diversity andinclusion coordinator for theFederal Reserve Bank of KansasCity. Ramirez has been workingfor the bank since 2007 andnow will have the opportunityto coordinate efforts throughoutthe bank that support diversity.’06Charlie Schloegel was hired bySchloegel Design Remodel tohead up the handyman servicesdivision of Schloegel PropertySolutions. He will be tasked withexpanding into contracted lifestyleservices to homeowners as well.’07Evan Thomas Beasley iscurrently a full-time fatherand long-distance driver forQuick-n-Tasty. He is completinghis education in Missouri.Liana Wages-Nichols receivedher doctorate of veterinarymedicine from the Universityof Missouri on May 13, 2011.She is working as a veterinarianat Plaza Animal Clinic inKansas City, Mo.’08 MBAMax Irsik has joined the AgGroup as an associate. He hasmore than five years of experiencein banking, financial managementand public accounting.’10Mary Bruno was selected as thenew volleyball coach at KansasCity, Kan., Community College.Marriages’01Brent Michael Lindsley marriedAshley Elizabeth McElreath onJuly 10, 2010. Brent is a thirdyearmedical student at TouroUniversity College of OsteopathicMedicine in Henderson,Nev., where he expects to receivea doctor of osteopathic medicinedegree in 2013. The coupleresides in Las Vegas, Nev.’06Kenny Byrd and Kelly (Hagan)Byrd ‘09 were married onOct. 15, 2011, in Wichita, Kan.’07Liana Wages-Nichols marriedAdam Nichols on May 28, 2011,at The Stone Church in Independence,Mo. After a honeymoonin Hawaii, the couple residesin Independence.’11Reece Clark was awarded theDelta Sigma Pi South CentralProvince Collegian of the Year bythe national fraternity.Connect with Rockhurst Universitythrough your favorite social network.Submit aClass NoteBirths’94Jeff Bush, ’96 MBA and Katie(Hanna) Bush ’96 welcomedtheir fourth child, Henry ChristianBush on Sept. 8, 2011.Henry joins his siblings Hanna,Ellie and Dunavan. The familyrecently relocated from KansasCity to Louisiana.’98Matthew P. Clune and KatieFischer Clune, Ph.D., welcomedthe birth of their son, DylanPatrick, on Sept. 3, 2011. Dylanjoins big sister, Bridget.GoHawks!Be sure to visitwww.rockhurst.edu/athleticsfor complete sports news,rosters, schedules and more.We’d love to hear from you.Submit a class note online atwww.rockhurst.edu/classnotes.’98Matt Hall, ’07 MBA, and Katie(Laurent) Hall, ’01, ’11 MBA,welcomed their first child, BridgetMarie Hall, Jan. 8, 2011.Rebecca (Abeyta) McKeon andDevin McKeon, ’99, announcethe birth of their first child,Liam McKeon, on Aug. 16, 2011.’02Marybeth (Mall) Lightfoot andher husband, RJ, welcomed anew daughter, Blake MeredithLightfoot, on June 29, 2011.Blake is also welcomed by herbrother, Luke, who’s happy tohave a new buddy.’07Matthew Wengert and Bridget(Hiegel) Wengert welcomedAdelaide Elizabeth, who wasborn April 27, 2011.Rockhurst u winter 2012 27

Class NotesIn MemoriamEdward J. Hund, ’41 – Sept. 23Cornelius A. Henderson Jr., ’43 – June 13Carl J. Cordes Jr., ’46 – June 1Richard M. Kempster, ’47 – Aug. 26Carl S. Tripp, ’47 – June 21Frank J. Wagner Jr., Ph.D., ’47 – June 10Gustave Oxler Jr., ’49 – Aug. 26Thomas A. Sweeny, ’49 – May 25S. Frederick Bruns, ’50 – Aug. 16Frederick J. Collins, ’51 – July 30William F. Rudolph, ’51 – Oct. 8Richard J. Aylward, ’52 – Sept. 6Paul J. Rauch, ’52 – Sept. 1John P. Kehoe, ’53 – July 23John F. DeGraw Jr., ’56 – May 8Norman Mendenhall, ’56 – May 2Dr. John M. Boles, ’57 – Oct. 7James R. Sitlington, ’57 – Sept. 2Michael C. Mittelstadt, Ph.D., ’59 – March 4Edward D. Shine, ’59 – Oct. 13Leo F. Powell, ’62 – Sept. 25Leo V. Gerstner, ’63 – Oct. 6Charles L. House, ’64 – Sept. 1Thomas W. Lisson, ’64 – March 9Edward R. Ascheman Jr., ’67 – June 12Mark A. Older, ’67 – Feb. 28Richard A. Harden, ’68 – Sept. 14Cletus R. Sheehan, ’68 – Oct. 5William J. Gunter, ’69 – Oct. 30James M. Cass, ’70 – May 19Dr. Christopher S. Murray, ’72 – Oct. 20Robert F. Breheny Jr., ’73 – May 23James R. Trussell, ’74 – June 4Edgar S. Alderson, ’75 – July 5Julie Earhart, ’76 – May 2Michael J. Kelly, ’79 – Oct. 26Julia A. Shaw, ’80 – June 7Adam D. Torres, ’80 – July 8Louise (Brenneman) Fisher, ’85 – Aug. 17Norman B. Kahn, ’85 – June 13Kathleen T. Gorman, ’87 – Oct. 29Bonnie Souder, ’87 – Oct. 28Douglas A. Chapman, ’88 – Aug. 28John D. Gulick, ’91 – Aug. 5Jeffrey R. Clark, ’94 – July 20Kathleen D. (Gustafson) Garayalde, ’94 – Oct. 23Gerard T. Gleissner, ’95 – May 26Angela K. (Sexton) Kohls, ’95 – May 18Thaddeus W. Boney, ’98 – July 6Stephen M. West, ’11 – June 1328 Rockhurst u winter 2012

Your gift helps us moveto the top of the class.When you give to The Rockhurst Fund, you are a part of a special group – the 11 percent of our alumniwho contribute to the success of the next generation of leaders. Alumni participation influences the numberand quality of opportunities we can offer students. You can help! No matter the size, your gift every yearmakes a difference every day at Rockhurst University.Make your gift online today at www.rockhurst.edu/giving.20%CreightonUniversity16%Universityof Missouri13%Saint LouisUniversity11%RockhurstUniversityThe average percentage of Jesuit university alumni contributing to their schools in2010-11 was 16 percent, according to AJCU Facts, published by the Association ofJesuit Colleges and Universities.Figures are based on findings reported in the 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report.Rockhurst u winter 2012 29

1100 Rockhurst RoadKansas City, MO 64110Upcoming EventsMonday–Thursday, Feb. 13-16Rockhurst Made Possibleevents to celebrate all thatour donors provide.Wednesday, February 22Visiting Scholar Lecture bysocial critic and essayist PeterSacks in the Mabee TheaterMonday, March 19Visiting Scholar Lecture byMelissa Harris-Perry, Ph.D.,in the Mabee TheaterTuesday, April 3APO Easter Egg HuntWednesday, April 11Library Guild CritiqueSunday, May 6Visiting Scholar Lectureby the Rev. JosephTetlow, S.J., Ph.D., inthe Mabee TheaterFriday, May 11Baccalaureate Mass atSt. Francis Xavier ChurchSaturday, May 12Commencement