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inside this issue 

COVER STORY 

Leader, Leading, Leadership 

FEATURE 

Student Leadership: 

Representing Their Peers 

PERSPECTIVE 

“Ya Gotta Believe” 

DEPARTMENTS 

ADVANCING THE COLLEGE 3 

INSIDE LORAS 18 

SPORTS 28 

ALUMNI NEWS 32 

ALUMNI NOTES 42 

THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | VOL. 58 | NO. 1 | WINTER 2009

The Loras College 

Magazine 

WINTER 2009 VOLUME 58 | NO. 1 

PRESIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James E. Collins (’84) 

PROVOST AND ACADEMIC DEAN . . . . . . Cheryl Jacobsen, Ph.D. 

VICE PRESIDENT FOR 

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT . . . . . . . Jack Wertzberger (’75) 

VICE PRESIDENT FOR 

ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Lail Bunders, Ed.D. 

VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND 

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Schmall (’83) 

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR 

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arthur Sunleaf 

DEAN, CAMPUS SPIRITUAL LIFE . . . . . . . . .The Rev. John Haugen 

ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT . . . . . . . . .Valorie Woerdehoff (’82) 

PUBLISHER 

Lisa Lail Bunders, Ed.D. 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Angie FitzPatrick 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/EDITORS 

Chris Budzisz, Ph.D. Cheryl Jacobsen, Ph.D. 

Alana Caligiuri (’09) Helen Kennedy 

Mary Ellen Carroll, Ph.D. Stephanie (Burgmeir) Ludovissy (’05) 

Leah Corkery (’09) Twyla (McCabe) Marlow (’03) 

Sue (Bishop) Czeshinski (’87) Kate (Kenneally) McLenaghan (’95) 

Jon Denham (’02) Rajendra Thakurathi (’11) 

Bobbi Earles (’88) Andrew Tranel (’12) 

Sheila Germaine Kim Walsh 

Mike Gibson The Rev. Douglas Wathier, S.T.D. 

Sandra Gonzales (’05) Joyce Whelan 

Greg Gorton Valorie Woerdehoff (’82) 

PHOTOGRAPHY/ART 

Doug Donald 

Dave Eischeid (’67), Eischeid Photography 

Terry Grant 

David E. Jackson 

Chris Maiers, Memories Photography 

Mary Kay Mueller 

Daniel Randolph (’10) 

Rajendra Thakurathi (’11) 

The Loras Archives 

DESIGN 

Kelly Jo (Huntington) Fassbinder (Alumnus), Imagine That! 

Mary Kay Mueller 

PRINTING 

Woodward Printing Services 

NATIONAL ALUMNI BOARD 

Carl P. Adducci (’63) Western Springs, Ill. 

Michael Blouin (’66) Dubuque, Iowa 

Amy (Deluhery) Breitfelder (’92) Dubuque, Iowa 

William H. Callaghan, Jr. (’74) Midlothian, Ill. 

Jane (Noonan) Demmer (’76) Cedar Falls, Iowa 

Kendall Griffin (’94) Forest Park, Ill. 

Thomas J. Lowenberg (’60) Pine Springs, Minn. 

Audra (Gaiziunas) Marotta (’97) Hillsborough, N.C. 

Michael A. McCrea, Ph.D. (’88) Wauwatosa, Wis. 

Kelly (Stevens) Moshier (’97) Minneapolis, Minn. 

Eugene E. Murphy, Jr. (’84) Evanston. Ill. 

Thomas M. Onan (’57) Lake Forest, Ill. 

Autumn (Esch) Pino (’99) Maquoketa, Iowa 

Lori (Welsch) Thielen (’87) Dubuque, Iowa 

Luke Vandermillen (’88) West Des Moines, Iowa 

Kelly Walsh-Hunt, Ph.D. (’90) Rocky River, Ohio 

Todd T. Welu (’86) Naperville, Ill. 

The Loras College Magazine is published approximately twice a year for 

alumni, students, parents, faculty and friends of the College. The contents 

are selected to stimulate thought, opinion and discussion, to demonstrate the 

diverse interests and pursuits of the campus community, and to provide 

news about the College and its alumni. Worldwide circulation is 

approximately 23,000. 

EDITORIAL OFFICE ALUMNI OFFICE 

30 Keane Hall 200 Keane Hall 

1450 Alta Vista Street 1450 Alta Vista Street 

Dubuque, IA 52001 Dubuque, IA 52001 

Phone: (563) 588-7811 Phone: (563) 588-7170 

Fax: (563) 588-4941 Fax: (563) 588-4941 

E-mail: magazine@loras.edu E-mail: alumni@loras.edu 

EDITOR’S PAGE 

Letter from the Editor 

The last three issues of The Loras College Magazine, including this one, 

have focused on important aspects of the College’s distinct nature and 

strategic vision for the future: Catholic identity, experiential learning and 

now leadership. The way in which the community engages in each of these 

aspects is unique to Loras College and worth not only recognition, but celebration. 

Leadership invokes many images, references and traits in people’s minds. 

Some may think of politics, others of service. Some may think of successful 

business people while others reflect on the Church. Leadership encompasses 

all of these and more. In the cover story beginning on page 10, you will get 

a glimpse of some of the varying ways leadership is woven into the Loras 

experience. A closer look at the formal student leadership of Student Union 

follows in the feature story found on page 17. Finally, leadership takes many 

forms, as you will read about a courageous Loras alumna in the perspective 

on page 48. 

On another note, you will notice that the format of this magazine is somewhat 

different than in the past. In an effort to be good stewards of our resources, 

we have begun to take steps to reduce both the overall cost of the publication 

as well as the carbon footprint of its creation. In doing so, we have reduced 

the overall pages in this issue. Several articles provided here have been shortened 

to fit within the new page count, but are available in their entirety 

online. We have also changed the process in which the magazine is printed, 

which has increased efficiency and unexpectedly allowed us to bring you 

the publication in full color. Over the course of the next several issues, we 

will continue to explore ways to bring you this quality publication in more 

affordable and green ways. 

ANGIE FITZPATRICK, Managing Editor 

The Loras College Magazine encourages letters to the editor. Please send your letters to: 

Angie FitzPatrick, The Loras College Magazine, Loras College, 1450 Alta Vista Dr., Dubuque, 

IA 52001. You may also email your letters to magazine@loras.edu. All letters to the editor must 

include the author’s full name, class year, address and phone number. The Loras College 

Magazine staff reserves the right to edit letters and to omit letters for reasons of space and 

appropriateness. Letters not intended for publication should be clearly marked as such.

Faculty and Staff 

Recognitions 

The Rev. Robert Beck, D.Min. (’62), professor of religious studies, has authored a book 

titled, Sunday Homilies, which is a collection of homilies for 40 Sundays of Cycle B of the 

Liturgical Year. 

David Cochran, Ph.D., associate professor of politics and director, Kucera Center for 

Catholic Studies, performed a series of activities in the months leading up to the recent election 

based on his co-authored book, The Catholic Vote (Orbis, 2008). These included papers at 

the annual meetings of the American Political Science Association and the New England 

Political Science Association; campus lectures at The University of St. Thomas (Texas), Lewis 

University (Ill.) and Carroll College (Mont.); interviews with the Catholic News Service, Sirius 

Satellite Radio and local media; and approximately a dozen talks and workshops around 

Eastern Iowa. 

Gerald Eagleson, Ph.D., professor emeritus, was invited to be a member of the selection 

committee for the best poster or oral communication during the LARC meeting in Rouen, 

France, Oct. 16-19, 2008. LARC is a French Neuroscience group that encourages European 

graduate students to submit oral communications and posters explaining their recent significant 

findings as they progress toward their doctorate degrees. On Nov. 7, 2008, Eagleson gave 

an invited talk to the graduate and research faculty of the Brain Institute of Bremen University. 

The talk was entitled, “Studies on the Early Development of the Anterior Brain Areas of 

Xenopus laevis.” Upon recommendation of the dean of sciences at Raboud University 

Nijmegen, Eagleson was appointed as a member of the Doctoral Examination Board for Ms. 

A.H. Kidane’s doctoral defense entitled, “Regulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor 

(BDNF) in the neuroendocrine melanotrope cell of Xenopus laevis,” held at Raboud Center at 

the University of Nijmegen on Dec. 5, 2008. 

Matthew Garrett, Ph.D., associate professor of physical education and chair, division of 

physical education and sport studies, presented, “Religious Issues in Interscholastic Athletics,” 

at the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance state conference 

in November. 

Michael Gibson (MA ’91), director of the Center for Dubuque History/College archivist, 

submitted seven entries for the newly published Biographical Dictionary of Iowa, ed. by David 

Hudson, Marvin Bergman, and Loren Horton (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2008). 

Mary Johnson, Ph.D. (MA ’81), professor of psychology, has been elected chair of the 

Psychology Licensure Board for the state of Iowa. Membership on the board is by governor 

appointment and the board then elects their chair from among its members. The board oversees 

licensure and discipline processes for all Iowa licensed psychologists. 

Bob Schultz (MA ’94) Debra Sazama Kimberly Walsh Scott Scheuerell, Ph.D. (’95) 

advancing 

the college 

3

THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | ADVANCING 

4 

Kevin Koch, Ph.D. (’81), professor of English and 

chair, division of language and literature, had the article, 

“Is This Really Iowa?” published in The Telegraph 

Herald Tri-State Outdoors Magazine, November 2008. 

The article focused on the Driftless Area National 

Wildlife Refuge. 

Paul Kohl, Ph.D., associate professor of communication 

arts, delivered the paper, “‘When I get to the bottom 

I go back to the top…’: The Carnivalesque World 

of the Beatles,” at an international conference on the 

Beatles at the University of Lodz, Poland, June 2-3. 

Kohl was also elected to the executive board of the 

Midwest Popular Culture Association at their fall conference 

in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Kenneth McLaughlin, Ph.D., professor of physics 

and engineering, has co-authored a manuscript entitled, 

“Use of partial-wave decomposition to identify resonant 

interference effects in the photoionization-excitation 

of argon,” that was recently accepted for publication 

in an international journal dedicated to research in 

atomic and molecular physics (Journal of Physics B, 

Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol, UK). This 

paper will appear in an upcoming volume that will be 

devoted to current research into the process by which a 

particle of light can eject an electron from its previously 

bound atomic or molecular orbital. The first quantum 

description of this process was published by Albert 

Einstein for which he was later awarded a Nobel Prize. 

James Pollock, Ph.D., associate professor of English, 

published the following poems: “Prow,” “House,” 

“Grandmother’s Bible,” and “The Museum of Death,” 

The Fiddlehead, No. 238, Winter 2009; also “Radio,” 

Maisonneuve, Issue 27, Spring 2008. Pollock also published 

several critical review essays: “Hine 

Recollected,” Arc Poetry Magazine, No. 61, Winter 

2009; “Anne Carson and the Sublime,” Contemporary 

Poetry Review, August, 2008; and “Cursing with a 

Broken Art,” Canadian Notes & Queries, #72, 2008. 

Debra Sazama, assistant professor of physical education 

and sports studies, presented, “Talk to My 

Students…Are you Kidding?” at the Iowa Association 

for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 

state conference in November. 

Scott Scheuerell, Ph.D. (’95), assistant professor of 

education, had the article, “Gallup Poll: Using the 

Internet to Learn about the Influence of Public Opinion 

in Politics,” published in the July/August 2008 edition 

of The Social Studies. He also presented, “Integrating 

Technology and Local History: A Partnership 

Preparing Pre-Service Teachers,” at the 2008 NCSS 

(National Council for the Social Studies) annual conference 

in Houston, Texas. 

Bob Schultz (MA ’94), head coach, cross country and 

track and field, received the 2008 Father John 

Naumann Award. The award, presented by Loras 

College student government, is given to a faculty or 

staff member who demonstrates outstanding support 

for and involvement with Loras students. 

John Upstrom, M.B.A., professor of finance, made 

several presentations on personal finance topics this 

past fall for various groups. The first was a presentation 

for the Loras College Board of Regents Retreat on 

July 26 titled, “Planning and Investing for Retirement.” 

The second was for the Loras Club of Chicago on Sept. 

18 titled, “Life After Loras,” and the third was for the 

25 th Annual Women’s Awareness Day on Sept. 25 titled, 

“Smart Women Finish Rich,” held at Sinsinawa 

Mound. 

John Waldmeir, Ph.D., associate professor of religious 

studies, delivered a paper at the 31st Annual 

Global Studies Conference, held Oct. 2-4, 2008, at the 

University of Nebraska, Omaha. The paper, “Tracing 

an Inner Compass,” examined the poetry of contemporary 

Egyptian/American poet Pauline Kaldas. 

Kimberly Walsh, director of student life, will be presenting 

with Kristin Anderson-Bricker, Ph.D., associate 

professor of history, a talk titled, “Innovative 

Collaboration: Academic and Student Affairs 

Partnerships Improving the First-Year Experience,” at 

the National Association for Student Personnel 

Administrators conference in Seattle in March. Walsh 

also presented, “Supporting Students Successful 

Academic and Co-curricular Transition through an 

Experiential and Learning-based Orientation 

Program,” with Lisa Grinde Budzisz, Ph.D., associate 

professor of psychology, at the National First Year 

Experience Conference in Orlando, Fla., in February. 

Jack Wertzberger (’75), vice president for institutional 

advancement, has been appointed to the board of 

directors for the Dubuque Symphony and the Dubuque 

Museum of Art. 

The Rev. William Wilkie, Ph.D. (’50), professor 

emeritus, has been notified by The Cambridge 

University Press that his book, The Cardinal Protectors 

of England: Rome and the Tudors before the 

Reformation, has been reprinted.

Regents Thanked for Service, Named Emeriti 

BY VALORIE WOERDEHOFF (’82), ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT 

Thomas Giovingo (’78) Kevin Malone (’69) David Walsh (’71) 

Three members of the Loras College Board of Regents were honored in October for their years of service. Each of 

these individuals has served for nine years as a regent and is now retiring. All three were unanimously voted to emeritus 

status by the board at the February 2009 meeting. Leaving the board are Thomas Giovingo (’78), Kevin 

Malone (’69) and David Walsh (’71). 

Giovingo joined the Board of Regents in February 1999. He is senior vice president for business solutions at 

Fidelitone Logistics located in Wauconda, Ill. Giovingo is past-president of the Loras College National Alumni Board 

and past-president and founder of the Loras Alumni Club of Rockford. His wife Kathy is a member of the Loras class 

of 1976. They are also parents of 2006 graduate Thomas Giovingo, Jr. 

Malone also joined the Board of Regents in February 1999. He served as chair and a member of the Presidential 

Search Committee. Malone is the president and founder of Greenrock Research, LLC, located in Chicago, Ill. 

Walsh joined the Board of Regents in May 1999. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer for 

Amalgamated Life Insurance Company, located in New York City. He is a former Alaska insurance director and president 

for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). 

Loras College thanks these three individuals for their dedicated service on the board. 

U.S. News & World Report 

Ranks Loras 13th 

Loras College earned the 13 th spot in the Top Tier among Best Midwest Baccalaureate Colleges in the 2009 edition 

of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. 

Indicators of academic quality for Loras were noted in the increase over last year from 23% to 30% of freshman in 

the top 25% of their high school class, as well as the jump in the average alumni giving rate from 21% to 23%. Other 

areas within the rankings that improved for Loras include average freshman retention rate, student/faculty ratio, 

acceptance rate and percent of faculty who are full-time. 

The graduation rate ranking earned Loras a place on the separate list of the top five highest graduation rates in the 

Midwest Baccalaureate Colleges category. 

In discussing the rankings, Loras College President Jim Collins (’84) commented, “While I continue to be proud 

of how well we rank in what is clearly a highly competitive tier, I am more pleased to see our percentages improve. 

For the Loras College community, what is truly important is our continuing diligence at ever increasing quality, rigor 

and access for all of our students.” 

5 

WINTER 2009 | THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE


6 

Coach for a Day 

BY SANDRA GONZALES (’05), DIRECTOR OF THE LORAS FUND 

Loras College athletics has a long and proud history. 

Alumni have fond memories of their time competing 

for the purple and gold and many life-long friendships 

with teammates as well as coaches were forged on the 

practice field. Duhawks are also loyal fans and many 

remember carrying their team to victory with their 

cheers and chants. Being a part of the Duhawk culture, 

whether you competed or not, is something all alumni 

will forever cherish. 

The Loras College athletic department is excited to 

now offer all alumni a unique opportunity to participate 

in the excitement of game day once again. The Loras 

College Coach for a Day program allows Loras alumni 

to support their favorite team while getting the opportunity 

to experience game day like no one else. 

“Alumni support is invaluable to the Loras athletic 

department,” said Brad Soderberg, interim director 

of athletics. “The presence of our alumni at sporting 

events helps our student-athletes better understand the 

pride, spirit and tradition that is Duhawk athletics. The 

goal of our athletic department is to establish ourselves 

as one of the finest sports programs in the country. 

Many factors will contribute to the accomplishment of 

this goal, but none bigger than the financial support of 

our alumni and friends.” 

Supporting the Coach for a Day program not only benefits 

the athletic department, but also the team of your 

choice. A gift of $500 allows any alumni to experience 

being a Coach for a Day. 

This fall during Homecoming weekend, Dan Lekki 

(’96) took part in the program, helping to “coach” the 

men’s soccer team. He attended the team’s pre-game 

meeting, helped run the warm-up drills and shared the 

bench with the team during the game. 

“Loras provided me with an opportunity that will 

always be very special to me. I think it is important to 

give back and to provide those opportunities to as many 

student-athletes as possible,” Lekki reflected. 

The Coach for a Day program also offers student-athletes 

a unique opportunity to get to know alumni better. Head 

Soccer Coach Dan Rothert (’96) stated, “Having Dan 

Lekki as Coach for a Day was a lot of fun for everyone 

involved. Personally, I think it was great for our guys. Dan 

spoke with them and told them about his experiences at 

Loras and told the team how he and all alumni were so 

proud of what the team had accomplished.” 

Lekki has already signed up to participate again and 

said, “My favorite experience was being able to give 

the team a pre-game speech. The overall experience 

was fantastic.” 

Please contact Sandra Gonzales (’05), director of the 

Loras Fund, at (563) 588-7328 or at sandra.gonzales@loras.edu 

for more information on the Coach for a 

Day program. 

Dan Lekki (’96) served as Coach for a Day for the men’s 

soccer team during Homecoming weekend.

President, Provost Appointed to National 

and Regional Posts 

Jim Collins (’84) Cheryl Jacobsen, Ph.D. 

Loras College President Jim Collins (’84) has been 

appointed to the Association of Catholic Colleges and 

Universities (ACCU) board of directors. He joins 17 other 

Catholic college presidents in serving on the board, 

including the Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the 

University of Notre Dame; Mary Lyons, Ph.D., president 

of the University of San Diego; and Sr. Margaret Carney, 

O.S.F., S.T.D., president of St. Bonaventure University. 

They represent over 220 Catholic colleges and universities 

across the United States. 

“I am delighted to welcome President Jim Collins to the 

board of directors of the Association of Catholic 

Colleges and Universities,” said Richard A. Yanikoski, 

Ph.D., president and CEO of ACCU. “He brings enthu- 

Loras Recognized for 

Exemplary Fundraising 

Loras College was selected by the Council for Advancement and Support 

of Education (CASE) to receive a WealthEngine award for overall 

improvement in educational fundraising. 

siasm for Catholic higher education, experience as an 

accomplished campus president and a commitment to 

enrich collaboration between Catholic higher education 

and other Catholic ministries. ACCU and its member 

institutions are very fortunate to have him serving on the 

board of directors as we face a future that is both challenging 

and promising.” 

Cheryl Jacobsen, Ph.D., provost and academic dean 

for Loras College, has been appointed to the 

Institutional Actions Council for the Higher Learning 

Commission where she will serve a four-year term. 

The 26-member Institutional Actions Council is made 

up of 20 peer-reviewers who are recognized for their 

knowledge, experience and understanding of the accreditation 

process. The council reviews recommendations 

and related materials that pertain to the affiliation status 

of institutions. 

The Higher Learning Commission, which is part of the 

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 

oversees the accreditation of degree-granting colleges 

and universities in 19 Midwestern and South-Central 

states. 

The award, which is a component of CASE’s Circle of Excellence program, 

recognizes superior fundraising programs nationally. Loras was chosen to receive the award based on a threeyear 

analysis of fundraising data, which had been submitted through the Council for Aid to Education’s annual 

Voluntary Support of Education survey. 

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a nonprofit organization that serves professionals in the 

fields of alumni relations, communications, marketing and development. Established in 1974, the international organization 

serves nearly 3,400 colleges, universities, independent elementary and secondary schools and educational 

associates in 60 countries around the world. 

7 



8 

Donors Help Students with 

Their Loras College Education 

BY SHEILA GERMAINE, SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT 

More than 200 donors and Loras College students 

attended the annual Scholarship Luncheon on Sunday, 

Oct. 5, 2008. This event provides students an opportunity 

to interact with donors and share their experiences 

about receiving a Loras College education, thanks to 

the generous support from benefactors. As Kyle Haase 

(’12) (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) noted in his blessing before 

the meal, “We… recognize that without the support of 

the benefactors here today, many students would find 

it difficult, or impossible, to receive the kind of education 

that Loras College can offer.” 

This year’s luncheon recognized two exceptional people 

in Helen Molo and Charles Weepie (’53). Molo, 

who established the Robert E. Molo Scholarship named 

after her late husband, a 1952 Loras graduate, generously 

sponsored this year’s luncheon. Weepie and his 

wife, Tina, were recognized and honored as longtime 

friends of the College whose generous support to Loras 

has recently exceeded $1 million. Weepie addressed the 

students and donors who were present at the luncheon 

with a challenge to continue to enhance financial assistance 

to future Loras College students in the form of 

scholarships. The Charles Weepie Family Scholarship, 

which was established by Charles and Tina Weepie, has 

assisted more than 20 students since 2004. 

The annual Scholarship Luncheon is a means by which 

students can come together and reflect on the importance 

of the generosity of others who are helping them walk the 

path to their future. It also affords an opportunity for 

donors to intermingle with the students they are supporting 

on a personal level. Elizabeth Brannon (’12) (La 

Crosse, Wis.) summarized it well in her remarks, “The 

alumni of Loras College are one of the reasons that I 

chose Loras. They make this school...they are this school, 

and for them I am truly grateful.” 

Student recipients of the Charles Weepie Family Scholarship were 

able to spend time with Weepie at the 2008 Scholarship Luncheon. 

Pictured are (l to r) Megan Beer (’12) (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Ryan 

Collins (’12) (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Kyle Haase (’12) (Cedar Rapids, 

Iowa), Charles Weepie (’53),Allison Dayton (’12) (Marion, Iowa) and 

Jordan Harrelson (’12) (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).

Loras Welcomes Czeshinski as 

Director of Communication 

Sue (Bishop) 

Czeshinski (’87) 

Sue (Bishop) Czeshinski (’87) joined Loras College in December as director of communication. 

In this newly created role she is managing the messaging and branding of the 

College, as well as overseeing the marketing and public relations functions. 

Czeshinski most recently served as director of the Dubuque Convention and Visitor’s 

Bureau at the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce where she developed and implemented 

plans to promote the Dubuque area as a convention and tourist destination. She also 

served as president of the Tri-State Tourism Council and Eastern Iowa Tourism 

Association and received the Governor’s Award for Volunteerism for her service in these 

roles in 2008. 

“Loras is blessed to have the opportunity to work with a wonderful professional from 

Dubuque,” stated President Jim Collins (’84). “We are confident that Sue will assist the 

College by telling our story to constituents in Dubuque and beyond. We’re thrilled to have 

Sue join the Loras community.” 

Nursing Program Agreement Signed 

Loras College has signed a collaborative agreement with 

Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa, enabling qualified 

Loras students the opportunity to complete a bachelor of 

science (BS) degree in biology or general science at 

Loras College, then enter Allen College’s accelerated 

nursing program, earning a bachelor of science in nursing 

(BSN) degree as well. 

Allen College’s accelerated program collapses the fouryear 

nursing coursework into 15 months of intensive 

study (two summers and one academic year). All general 

education requirements for the nursing program 

will be fulfilled during the student’s coursework at 

Loras. 

“In the past students could and did transfer to nursing 

programs, but did not have the dual degree option and 

did not have any guarantees,” said David Speckhard, 

Ph.D., professor of chemistry and chair, Division of 

Molecular and Life Sciences. “The dual degree also 

gives students more options in the future since the BS 

is general preparation for many careers, while the BSN 

is preparation for a specific licensed career. We already 

have current and prospective students inquiring about 

the program.” 

Jerry D. Durham, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., chancellor of Allen 

College, and James E. Collins (’84), president of Loras 

College, signed an agreement whereby Loras graduates can 

enter an accelerated BSN program at Allen College. 

9 


cover story 

10 

Leader, Leading, Leadership 

BY CHERYL JACOBSEN, PH.D., PROVOST AND ACADEMIC DEAN 

“Leadership”—as embodied in a person, an experience or as a concept—is much on the minds of 

Americans since we’ve recently inaugurated a new president. For Loras students, political leadership 

has been an academic study, beginning with a January Term in 2008, taught by Associate 

Professor Chris Budzsiz, Ph.D., that focused on the Iowa caucus system. As you will read later, 

Budzsiz’s perspective on leadership and politics includes two important observations. One is that 

the greatest leaders “help shape the future” while the second is that leadership can be exercised by 

those who share similar characteristics of foresight, integrity and commitment. Recently, a second 

January Term taught by Professor MaryLynn Neuhaus, J.D., considered the qualities, priorities 

and style of President Obama. As part of the class, students attended the inauguration in 

Washington, D.C., to experience the orderly transition of power that marks the change in national 

leadership and priorities. 

These two recent experiences with presidential leadership reflect common approaches to leadership: 

namely that it may be centered on an individual with identifiable qualities and skills, that it 

may be a focus on process—gathering information, communicating, deciding on a course of 

action, or that it may be a concept—an idea, with a history of development and application to the 

concerns or culture of a particular time. 

On the Loras campus, leadership is emerging as a focus for study and development in several 

areas and in ways that are unique to the tasks and values of the College. Students, faculty and 

staff occupy both formal and informal positions of leadership—in student organizations, as division 

chairs or curriculum innovators, in mentoring and tutoring roles, in activism and service both 

on and off campus. You will be introduced to some of them in the articles that follow, but the writers 

capture only a portion of the breadth of opportunities that exist at Loras. 

Our conversations about the concept, person or experience of leadership is part of a long intellectual 

and practical tradition of studying leaders and what they do that distinguishes them from nonleaders. 

There have been several models of leadership, often tied to a particular period of history or 

culture, that provide the groundwork for contemporary theory and analysis. The “great man” concept 

of leadership emerged prior to 1900. As a means to explaining individuals such as Napoleon, 

George Washington or Gandhi, the thesis was that particular men could shape or change history 

because of their dominant, authoritative and assertive characteristics. It took some time, and a few 

major social movements, before a “great woman” leadership model emerged. When it did, it also 

identified intrinsic qualities that made women “fit” for leadership. Depending on the historical period, 

women’s leadership might stem from qualities distinct from those of men: cooperative or collaborative 

and self-effacing. At other times, women leaders might be indistinguishable from their 

male counterparts in their self-confidence, assertiveness or ambition. Gender, and whether women 

really do lead differently than men, remains a complicating element of the leadership discussion. 

Among Loras students, it may be a timely discussion since all but one of the Student Union officers 

this year are women, a point Alyssa Hauser (’09) (Bolingbrook, Ill.), student union president, 

made at a recent Student Union and College Administrative team joint meeting. 

The “great man” idea of leadership was gradually modified to focus on traits and skills that all 

leaders bring to a task. The identification of traits often depended on psychological measures, 

while the emphasis on skills and behaviors introduced the assumption that leadership could be 

learned or developed. At their base, most leadership programs build on the emphasis of learning 

skills and developing successful approaches to involving others and accomplishing goals.

As cultural and social pressures increased 

through the 1960s-70s, theory turned to 

the “transformational” aspects of leadership, 

especially as leaders considered the 

ethical implications of their actions. 

Having vision and charisma also often 

identified the transformational leader. The 

servant-leader model is one refinement 

that emphasizes ethical responsibilities 

and service to followers, stakeholders or 

society. Many of the leadership studies 

and activities at Loras share this sense of 

the leader’s role in changing self and 

society for the better. Kim Walsh, director 

of student life, provides a discussion 

of the Lead 4 Loras student leadership 

program based on a social change model. 

As a variant on transformational or servant-leadership 

concepts, the social 

change model includes identification of 

one’s values and commitments as elements 

of leadership. In other ways, students 

who assume responsibilities as peer 

assistants, supplemental instructors or 

writing consults for fellow students are 

exhibiting elements of the servant-leader 

model. They have skills and personal traits 

that make them successful in tutoring their 

peers and working with faculty as assistants 

in the learning process. They frequently 

understand their roles as service to 

a greater good—at least on a case-by-case 

educational basis—as they work on transition 

to college, physics, chemistry, writing 

or math issues with their peers. 

At other levels within Loras, the transformational 

or servant-leader model is 

embedded in the curriculum and co-curriculum. 

Mary Ellen Carroll, Ph.D., 

associate vice president for academic 

affairs and dean of experiential learning, 

speaks to faculty leadership in curriculum 

development, especially as faculty integrate 

Catholic Social Teaching themes, 

community-based pedagogies and disciplinary 

content. Greg Gorton sees his leadership 

role as head basketball coach in 

terms of developing trust in one’s abilities—but 

not just for the basketball court. 

The Rev. Doug Wathier, S.T.D., professor 

of theology, offers the theoretical background 

to the Breitbach Catholic Thinkers 

and Leaders program at Loras. The program’s 

curriculum resonates with some 

aspects of the “great person” Catholic 

intellectual, but ties this older tradition to 

that of the servant-leader with its emphasis 

on ethics and commitment to community. 

political 

Not surprisingly, current ways of understanding 

leadership are more complex 

than previous models. Contemporary 

theory takes into account the context, 

skills, attitudes, values, behaviors, relationships 

and processes necessary for 

realizing shared goals. Nonetheless, 

most contemporary theorists share two 

fundamental assumptions: leadership is 

a complex phenomenon; leadership can 

be developed—i.e. it can be learned. 

Given what we know about leaders, 

leading and leadership, Loras College 

has identified this as a potential focus in 

our most recent strategic plan, 

“Educating Leaders for a Complex 

Future.” Recently, a faculty committee 

(John Waldmeir, Ph.D., religious 

studies, chair; David Cochran, Ph.D., 

politics; Fred Schnee, Ph.D., biology; 

Karen Sturm, C.P.A., business 

administration, and the Rev. Doug 

Wathier, S.T.D., religious studies) has 

suggested that a leadership institute at 

Loras could be developed. It might 

include classes, speakers, mentors, certificate 

programs, problem-focused 

projects and other academic and experiential 

opportunities. When a leadership 

institute eventually becomes a reality, it 

will develop and sustain leaders, leading, 

and leadership—building on what is 

already in place at Loras College. 

Political Leadership: Shaping the Future 

BY CHRISTOPHER BUDZISZ, PH.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICS 

Great political leaders tend to share common characteristics: an ability to recognize opportunity (requiring an understanding of people, 

time and place), an ability to clearly and convincingly articulate a message regarding ends to be pursued, the knowledge and skill 

to give rise to a common purpose or identity necessary to achieve the desired end, the insight and fortitude to know when to accept 

or reject conventional wisdom, to solicit advice, and to even revise or reject one’s own plans. Through their actions these leaders do 

not simply react to circumstances. They help shape their circumstances and in the cases of the greatest leaders, they help shape the 

future. 

When people discuss leadership in politics they most often discuss presidential politics, and there is a tendency to populate the pantheon 

of great American political leaders with presidents. Scholarly rankings of the “great presidents” are often equated to a list of 

the greatest political leaders, those figures whose actions and insights moved people in important ways. These scholarly rankings also 

reveal who is perceived to provide examples of failed leadership, or perhaps more accurately, a lack of leadership. Presidents 

Washington, Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt stand atop such rankings, with Presidents Pierce, Harding and Buchanan at the bottom. 

The first three presidents are rightly remembered for exhibiting the characteristics of leadership described above. However, there is 

more to political leadership than the presidency.

Political Leadership, continued... 

Most Americans view the president as the titular position 

in American politics and the president as leader. 

This may be because people tend to view individuals 

as the central form of a leader. However, political 

leadership can be exerted by individuals, parties, 

institutions or groups. Individuals outside of elected 

office have served as political leaders, as have institutions 

other than government branches and agencies. 

From activists to interest groups, think tanks to civic 

associations, American politics and political history is 

full of examples of political leadership from those 

other than elected officials. 

“ “ 

” ” 

Beyond politics, leadership can similarly be exercised 

by individuals, groups and institutions. What makes 

for good political leadership is largely the same as 

leadership in other areas. People, groups or institutions 

that recognize opportunity, articulate a clear and 

convincing message, give rise to a unity of purpose 

and identity, choose the correct path regardless of 

pressures, gather information and remain open to revision 

and change, will be leaders in any area. Whether 

politics or education, science or industry, successful 

leaders will exhibit many of these same traits and 

qualities. 

Students in the January Term course “Presidential Inauguration Seminar” traveled to Washington, 

D.C., to take part in the ceremonies, traditions and rituals surrounding the inauguration and transfer of 

leadership to the newly elected President. The following are some of their thoughts on the experience: 

Standing in a sea of people and listening to 

one of the most inspiring speeches to the 

American public in our nation’s history was 

the best experience I’ve ever had at Loras 

College, hands down. 

— Brian Davis (’09) (Charles City, Iowa) 

“ 

” 

“ 

Watching the change of leadership was an incredible thing to be a part of on so many levels. Obama 

has inspired so many people and to see him do this first-hand meant so much more to me than just 

watching it on television. Since being back in Iowa I have had many ask me, ‘Why was it so cool? Was 

it really worth it?’ My response every time is that of course it was. Being able to see 

” 

history unfold 

right before my eyes with millions of others watching was an incredible feeling. The trip to 

Washington, D.C., was one of the best opportunities that Loras College has offered me. 

— Peter Kloberdanz (’09) (Charles City, Iowa) 

America’s core resides in D.C. and I felt privileged to 

be a part of such a patriotic experience. It was truly a 

life-altering experience! Going to Washington, D.C., 

has ultimately inspired me to apply for an internship 

in the political arena. 

— Lindsay Dunkirk (’10) (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 

To have had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to 

witness the historical commencement, be a part of the official 

ceremonies and to meet so many of the millions of people who 

traveled from all over our country to do the same is truly an 

inconceivable memory that I will carry with me for the rest of 

my life. 

— Nichole Hayden (’10) (Minneapolis, Minn.)

servant 

Forming Servant Leaders 

BY MARY ELLEN CARROLL, PH.D., ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT 

FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND DEAN OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING 

At Loras, students are being transformed into leaders in 

ways that often go unnoticed. One of the most subtle 

forms of leadership development taking place on the 

Loras campus occurs every day through coursework. 

While there are many dimensions of the curriculum 

worthy of being highlighted, this article features six 

faculty who were awarded grants to redesign courses in 

their discipline. Collaboratively sponsored by the 

Center for Experiential Learning and the Kucera Center 

for Catholic Studies, the redesigned courses integrate 

profile: Nancy 

profile: 

disciplinary content with themes of Catholic Social 

Teaching and utilize the community as a surrogate 

classroom. None of the courses were designed to promote 

student leadership, but it is clear that one of the 

unintended benefits emerging from these courses is the 

increased opportunity for students to gain skills associated 

with servant leadership. 

Susan Stone, Ph.D., associate professor of English 

COURSE: African-American Literature 

This course surveys “African American literature, education and culture from the nineteenth 

century to the present” and examines how elements of Catholic Social Teaching 

emerge in and have impacted the lives and literature of the authors under study. One of 

the redesigned components of the course required students to volunteer at the Multi- 

Cultural Family Center in downtown Dubuque.When asked how this course might help 

enrolled students to be responsible contributors in the future, Stone replied: 

“This course makes diversity and difference real and immediate to students in ways that compliment 

the traditional readings and writing assignments. It also encourages them to explore 

principles of Catholic Social Teaching and to take them to heart and use their gifts, strengths 

and resources to help others and improve the world around them.… [Through this experience] 

all felt that they better understood and had compassion for people of color and some 

of the historical and social issues that continuously face them.” 

Zachar Fett, L.M.S.W. (’90), associate professor of social work 

COURSE: Human Behavior in the Social Environment 

This course examines social and behavioral theories that relate to all phases of human life and 

addresses different ways in which these theories can be applied. This course was redesigned to 

achieve these same outcomes, but more explicitly emphasize the human dignity and uniqueness of 

all people.A specific component of the course redesign was to require students to visit with an eld- 

erly partner each week to apply and integrate perspectives from classroom discussion.When asked 

how this course experience prepares future social workers to be leaders in their profession, Fett 

responded: 

“One of the added benefits in relation to social work is students learning how to start and begin a ‘required’ 

relationship. Some are easy and the conversation flows very naturally while others are much more of a struggle 

and students must prepare more to engage the partner and help them to feel comfortable in the relationship. 

Both of these experiences are a reality in the world of social work. Finding someone who is very 

much like you in your thinking and behaviors can make for a good working relationship, but many will take 

more than just a smile to open up and share their lives with us. Learning how to develop a genuine and trusting 

connection requires skill and practice. Students gain a different perspective outside of their own world 

paradigm and begin early to understand the art and skill of relationship building.”

profile: 

Dedra Tentis, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice 

COURSE: Introduction to Criminal Justice 

This course is “designed to give students an academic and applied understanding of the criminal justice 

system.This includes a heavy emphasis on the recruitment, training, socialization and discretionary decisions 

of criminal justice professionals at all levels in law enforcement, courts and corrections.” Through 

the course redesign, new readings were introduced that integrated themes of Catholic Social Teaching 

and specific Bishop encyclicals that address crime in society.These readings provided an overall framework 

and point of departure for the site visits, structured reflection, guest speakers and classroom discussions 

and brought a “very humanistic approach” to all of the course content.When asked to compare 

the site visits in the redesigned course to those made when taught under the old design,Tentis stated: 

“First, students went in with a social justice foundation. Being created in the likeness and image of God, everyone 

has human dignity, value and worth.This not only challenged many of their existing mental models on the death 

penalty, mandatory sentencing, immigration, etc., but it provided a framework for questioning how things are 

done.… Second the conversations that took place with the criminal justice professionals seemed to be more twoway. 

In the past, students took the role of a complete observer.After this redesign, students became participantsas-observers. 

Some wore a bullet proof vest, carried a radio, ran radar, conducted license plate checks, followed 

the officer up to the car that was stopped, were present during the handling of a domestic dispute, etc.… 

Students reported being outside their comfort zones often with these experiences and this is where learning 

became even more evident.… Students also questioned whether meaningful work (for every offender) exists in 

prison, which is what Catholic Bishops call for.Walking through the prison courtyard in the presence of hundreds 

of offenders who don’t have a job in prison had a profound impact on students. Several students commented on 

these experiences being life-changing.” 

Servant leadership is a concept first articulated by 

Robert Greenleaf in 1970 when he took inspiration from 

Christ’s teaching and witness to describe a leadership 

style that was “other centered” and intentionally 

designed to build community. [Greenleaf, 1982] The 

commonly identified skills and characteristics of a servant 

leader include: • Listening • Empathy • Healing 

• Awareness • Persuasion • Conceptualization • 

Foresight • Stewardship • Commitment to the Growth 

of People • Building Community [Spears, 2005] 

Scott Scheuerell, Ph.D. (’95), assistant professor of education 

COURSE: Multicultural Education 

“The goal of the class is for pre-service teachers to develop an awareness of diversity 

issues, learn effective classroom strategies to help all students succeed and to 

become advocates for multicultural education.” The course integrates the Catholic 

Social Teachings associated with the diversity issues addressed in the course 

(racism, poverty, immigration, dignity, et al.). “The culminating project in [the] 

course requires students to investigate multicultural issues in the city of Dubuque 

and produce a digital video on their findings.” Since incorporating Catholic Social 

Teaching themes into this course Scheuerell has also integrated them into other 

courses he teaches. He believes, “The community service component of the course has 

given students the opportunity to learn things which would be impossible to replicate from 

the textbook or any lecture.” 

profile: 

Each of the snapshots described offers a glimpse of how 

these six redesigned courses provide students with 

excellent opportunities to grow as servant leaders. The 

direct quotes originate from the grant applications and 

direct correspondence with the faculty members.

profile: 

profile: 

Kristin Anderson-Bricker, Ph.D., associate professor 

of history 

COURSE: Catholic Social Teaching in Action: United States History since 1945 

“In the new incarnation of this course, I want to place emphasis on reform movements 

and social change since 1945.This would focus the course content on changing values 

around a range of issues including the dynamic dialogue around race, class, gender, sexuality 

and the environment.” Students will have the opportunity to interview individuals 

active in efforts to promote social change and will participate in a Dubuque-area 

service project.Anderson-Bricker is teaching this course during the spring 2009 semester 

and when asked what motivated her to redesign this course, she stated: 

“By focusing the study of American history since 1945 through social movements, it enables 

our class to explore the dialogue over values and meaning at the heart of the American experience. 

Catholic Social Teaching supplies a lens through which to examine the belief systems 

articulated by the social movements and their opponents. By interacting with Dubuque-area 

reformers and engaging in a service project, students will see the American way of life and culture 

changes as a result of the activism of individuals and groups. I hope that they see that 

their generation has the same ability to transform America as the actors of the past.” 

The course redesigns described above demonstrate how faculty 

have created learning environments that closely align with a 

leadership model that affirms the College’s Catholic identity 

and commitment to engaged learning. While these courses are 

integrated into the College curricula and do not constitute a 

specific leadership thread in the curriculum, there impact is no 

less profound. Students from across the College will encounter 

these courses (and others that these inspire) and deepen their 

abilities to listen, to see, to empathize, to persuade and to honor 

the dignity and value of each person. Though subtle in their 

association with leadership, these courses are forming the servant 

leaders of tomorrow. 

Paul Kohl, Ph.D., associate professor of communication arts 

COURSE: City as Text – Dublin Study Abroad Course 

“City as Text is a course required by students studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland.The course seeks to foster 

a deeper understanding of Irish culture through a variety of methods, including classroom lectures 

and readings. But the heart of the course is experiential, consisting of community-based research 

through ethnographic methods of the broad scope of Irish culture. The doctrines of Catholic Social 

Teaching provide a way of illuminating the most crucial discussions of any culture, how that culture treats 

its poor, its marginalized and its natural environment. Adding service learning and Catholic Social 

Teaching to the City as Text course will give students a first-hand experience of these most essential 

moral issues of our time and how they are being addressed.” Kohl redesigned the course “to introduce 

students to the concept of analyzing everyday structures and practices for their deeper meaning. Part of this is 

the recognition of what is not present or what is not available to a portion of the population. Many of our citizens 

are underserved by the community and most of them are unseen.This prompted the idea of using a portion 

of the course to look at the stories and issues of those who are generally hidden from everyday view.” He 

believes that the students’ broader perspectives will outlast their experience in Ireland. “Hopefully many of our 

students, having learned of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and having experienced some of those principles 

in practice will continue in some capacity to continue working to ease the burdens of the poor and marginalized 

in society. From my experience so far, I believe that will be the case.” 

Greenleaf, Robert K. (1982). The Servant as Leader. Indianapolis, 

Indiana: The Greenleaf Center. 

Spears, Larry (2005, August). The Understanding and Practice of 

Servant Leadership. Servant Leadership Research Roundtable, from 

http://www.regent.edu/acad/sls/publications/conference_proceedings/servant_leadership_roundtable/2005/pdf/spears_practice.pdf

citizen 

THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | COVER STORY 

16 

Citizen Leaders: Engaged in 

Service to the Common Good 

BY KIM WALSH, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT LIFE 

The Student Life Office has developed a leadership 

program based on The Social Change Model of leadership. 

The model was developed in the mid 1990s by a 

variety of college and university professionals. The 

core belief of the model is that “leadership is regarded 

as the ability to effect positive change for the betterment 

of others, the community and society. Leadership 

is not done alone but involves collaborative relationships 

that lead to collective action grounded in the 

shared values of the people who work together to effect 

positive change” (Higher Education Research Institute, 

University of California, 1996). 

The model has two primary goals for leadership development. 

First, leadership development programs 

should enhance student learning and development by 

helping students develop greater self knowledge and 

leadership competence. Students need to understand 

themselves, as well as their beliefs, gifts and talents so 

they can better empower others to serve and work collaboratively. 

Second, leadership development programs 

should help students learn how to facilitate positive 

social change in their community. In other words, 

leaders work to make their community function more 

effectively and humanely. 

In looking at achieving these two goals, the model examines 

leadership development from three different 

domains or levels. In each domain there are several skills 

we want students to achieve. Because each of these skills 

begins with the letter C, the creators dubbed it as the “7 

Cs” of leadership development for social change. 

The first domain is “The Individual.” In this domain students 

learn about themselves. Students examine and 

develop personal skills needed to be effective leaders. 

The three primary skills needed in this domain are consciousness 

of self, congruence and commitment. 

Consciousness of self means awareness of one’s beliefs, 

values, attitudes and emotions and how those motivate 

one to take action. Congruence means that students 

think, feel and behave with consistency, genuineness, 

authenticity and honesty toward others. Commitment is 

the intrinsic motivation of an individual that drives them 

to work toward the collective effort. 

The second domain is “The Group.” In this domain students 

learn about the relationship between themselves 

and others. Students examine and develop skills needed 

to work with others. The three primary skills need- 

ed in this domain are collaboration, common purpose 

and controversy with civility. Collaboration is the ability 

to work with others in a common effort. Common 

purpose is best achieved when all members of the 

group share the same vision and articulate the purpose 

and goals of the group and actively work to achieve 

those goals. Controversy with civility is the ability to 

recognize differences in viewpoints and work through 

those differences in an open and civil manner. 

The third and final domain is “The Community/Society.” 

In this domain students learn how to connect themselves 

to their environment and to the greater community. The 

primary skill in this domain is citizenship. Citizenship is 

the process where students recognize the importance of 

working toward positive change on behalf of others and 

that their group’s common purpose must include a sense 

of concern for the rights and welfare of all those who 

might be affected by the group’s efforts. 

Change then is the underlying value which gives meaning 

and purpose to the 7 Cs. In other words, the ultimate 

goal of the leadership process is to make positive 

change for self and others. Leaders have an obligation 

to make their group/organization/community/society 

better for themselves and others. 1 

Based on the Social Change Model of Leadership, 

Student Life has developed a leadership program, Lead 

4 Loras. The Lead 4 Loras program is a four-tiered 

leadership program designed to allow students to continue 

enhancing their leadership development and 

understanding through their years at Loras College. 

Each tier focuses on a different domain of the Social 

Change Model of Leadership: Individual Skills, Group 

Skills, and Community/Societal Skills. Through active 

participation and completion of all the tiers, students 

have a better understanding of leadership, their own 

values and abilities and will be committed to a life of 

involvement and citizenship. 

The first tier, Lead 4 Learning, focuses on enhancing 

the individual. Participants learn more about their personal 

values and leadership style. Students take the 

Myers-Briggs personality indicator and the Leadership 

Styles Inventory. They examine their personal values 

and see how those values relate to their decision making. 

Furthermore, participants are encouraged to investigate 

groups/projects/organizations that are in sync 

with their passions and fundamental beliefs.

The second tier, Lead 4 Exploring, focuses on group 

dynamics and values. Students explore how to effectively 

work with others. They participate in an overnight 

retreat focused on group development. During the 

retreat, students complete a ropes course and various 

other team-building activities. In addition, students are 

expected to participate in a service project in order to 

help them understand and actively pursue creative solutions 

to community problems. 

The third tier, Lead 4 Applying, focuses on service and 

commitment to community and society. Participants 

plan and execute a campus-wide service and philanthropic 

project. Participation will prepare students to 

participate fully as citizen leaders, engaged in service to 

the common good within a diverse and complex world. 

Students accomplish this by participating in the planning 

and implementation of the Loras Dance Marathon. 

Dance Marathon is a philanthropic program that raises 

money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Through 

their involvement in the Dance Marathon, students gain 

knowledge about the organization, interact with children 

and families who have received services from 

Children’s Miracle Network and learn about the importance 

of philanthropy. Last year the students raised 

$47,000 and hope to raise $50,000 this year. 

Finally, the fourth tier, Lead 4 Dedicating, focuses on 

promoting social change. Participants utilize the skills 

and knowledge they have gained in previous tiers and 

select a cause to focus on throughout the semester. Once 

the cause is determined, participants explore key issues 

surrounding the program or service to gain a complete 

understanding of it. Furthermore, participants develop 

an action plan that positively impacts the program or 

service. In years past, participants have worked to 

change the hours in the post office on campus, developed 

a plan for the College to fund and install wireless 

technology in the residence halls and proposed a new 

meal plan for students on campus. Through these experiences, 

participants discover the importance of social 

change and gain an appreciation for civic responsibility. 

Lead 4 Loras is a relatively new program on campus. 

However, because of the positive impact of the program 

on students and on the campus, the Student Life Office 

hopes to grow and expand the program in the upcoming 

years. 

Higher Education Research Institute, University of California. (1996). 

A Social Change Model of Leadership Development Guidebook 

Version III. Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute. 

1 The information given about the Social Change Model of Leadership 

comes directly from A Social Change Model of Leadership 

Development: Guidebook III 

17 


catholic 

The Catholic Thinker and Leader 

BY THE REV. DOUGLAS WATHIER, S.T.D., PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES AND 

ENDOWED PROFESSOR, BREITBACH CATHOLIC THINKERS AND LEADERS PROGRAM 

Thanks to the generosity of J. Paul (’60) and Frances 

Breitbach, Loras College has launched its Breitbach 

Catholic Thinkers and Leaders Program. Two cohorts of 

15 students are exploring what can be learned about 

leadership from the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. The 

program situates itself in an ethics of return based on the 

exhortation of Jesus, “what you have received as gift, 

give as gift.” The Catholic Leader is first of all one who 

has been touched by the grace of Christ. The vocation of 

the Catholic Thinker and Leader is “contributing with 

the light of the Gospel to the building of a more human 

world, a world fully in harmony with God’s plan” (John 

Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 39). 

The first course of the Breitbach Catholic Thinkers and 

Leaders program is a Modes of Inquiry course on character 

and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Students 

read St. Augustine, Cardinal Newman and Thomas 

Merton to gain a deeper understanding of good character. 

Through these authors, the students are asked to 

reflect critically on key components for effective 

Catholic leadership in our world. 

From St. Augustine, one of the greatest thinkers in the 

history of Christianity, we recognize the value of humility 

for the leader. In The Confessions, he asserts, 

“Unhappy is anyone who knows all things but does not 

know you [Lord God of truth], whereas one who knows 

you is blessed, even if ignorant of other things.” 

Augustine confronts the reader with the need for a humble, 

lifelong pursuit of meaning. In the beautiful opening 

of The Confessions he places a challenge for the grounding 

of all Catholic leaders, “You arouse us so that praising 

you [O Lord] may bring us joy, because you have 

made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is 

unquiet until it rests in you.” 

Cardinal Newman summons the leader to recognize the 

need for accountability. For Newman, a main point of 

education is to form an organic vision of reality, that “all 

knowledge forms one whole.” This vision, in Newman’s 

estimation, carries with it the claim that there is no such 

thing as a value-free fact. The educated person then 

must be an ethical decision-maker and this is even more 

so the case for a leader. For Newman, education provides 

a person with “a conscious view of his/her own 

opinions and judgments, a truth in developing them, an 

eloquence in expressing them, and a force in urging 

them” (The Idea of a University). According to 

Newman, the liberally educated leader is prophetic from 

a knowledge of history, is heart-searching from a knowledge 

of human nature; is charitable from a freedom from 

littleness and prejudice; and appreciates beauty and harmony 

because of a connection with the eternal order of 

things. 

Thomas Merton helps a leader grasp the importance of 

thinking communally. He gives this advice to the leader, 

“Do not depend on the hope of results. … As you start 

to concentrate less on the results, and more on the value, 

the rightness, the truth of the work itself, you will gradually 

struggle less and less for an idea and more and 

more for specific people. In the end, it is the reality of 

personal relationship that saves everything.” Ultimately, 

Merton understands the leader’s commitment to community 

as a consequence of the Incarnation: “it is a glorious 

destiny to be a member of the human race, though 

it is a race dedicated to many absurdities and one which 

makes terrible mistakes; yet, with all that, God himself 

gloried in becoming a member of the human race.” 

In reflecting on the character and traits of a Catholic 

Leader, first year student Kevin Earleywine (’12) 

(Brodhead, Wis.) notes, “I guess to put it simply, to be a 

Catholic leader is to live a life of love; a true and deep, 

joy-filled, peace-filled and fulfilling love for all people, 

and for the entire world that only comes from a deep, 

intimate relationship with God.… Through this love, 

leaders rejoice in the opportunity to build relationships 

with other people and share their journey of life with 

them through all the discoveries, failures, burdens, sorrows 

and joys. … It is this love that makes a Catholic 

leader, it is with this love that a Catholic leader will 

change the world, setting it on fire with God’s love.”

Meredith Patt (’12) (Saint Paul, Minn.) corroborates 

this point of view, “…we have found a deep sense of 

responsibility to live out our faith as an example for our 

peers. Through the Breitbach Catholic Thinkers and 

Leaders Program, we are given the ability to develop 

personally through growing together in a love of Christ 

and learning how we may share this love with others.… 

We are given the tools and guidance to develop our leadership 

skills and spread them to others.… Overall, we 

feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of 

such a program and are anxious to witness the amazing 

things that will come of it in our future.” 

Following a course on human dignity and human rights, 

sophomore Kevin O’Brien (’11) (Davenport, Iowa) 

observed, “In order to be ethical decision-makers, we 

must seek the counsel of the Church and not be alone in 

our plights or our follies. We are a community, no one of 

us is separate from another. As children of God, the divisions 

of race, sex, class, education, politics, religion, age 

and physicality are ridiculously self-depriving. It is only 

in our unity that we can become a force powerful 

enough to make the bad become good and the good 

become great. Human dignity is a grace given by God 

that transcends fences and walls as well as borders and 

oceans.” 

Saint Thomas Aquinas coined a phrase that expresses 

well the goal of the Breitbach Catholic Thinkers and 

Leaders program: contemplata aliis tradere, to hand on to 

others what we ourselves have contemplated. Our best 

proclamation, our best witness, our best leadership has its 

foundation in the Word that has taken root in our hearts. 

What you have received as a gift, give as a gift. The life 

of the Catholic Thinker and Leader is marked by the 

rhythm of reception and donation, acceptance and gift. 

19 


studentathlete 

THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | COVER STORY 

20 

Coach and Student-Athlete, 

Leaders Both 

BY GREG GORTON, HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH 

Of course the comparisons are inevitable. Two men, separated 

by 148 years, place their left hands over the very 

same velvet-covered Bible while their right hand is held 

high. The same nation in turmoil listens intently to every 

word of their inaugural addresses hoping to hear words 

that will inspire and, most importantly, lead the country. 

As I write this, and watch President Obama, I find 

myself realizing the enormous significance of this 20th day of January, 2009. Equally evident to me is the difficulty 

one would have in finding a person who has had 

more written about their firm grasp of leadership than 

our sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln. 

I do not propose to hold a unique perspective or to 

claim any formal knowledge of the subject of leadership. 

All I can say is when my feet hit the floor every 

morning I’m delighted to participate in a profession 

that, as Lincoln once said, allows me “to unite, to guide 

and to inspire.” As a coach, we are asked to do these 

things on a daily basis and at a moment’s notice. Most 

would consider that leading. 

I have student-athletes who get up every day believing 

they need to prove to themselves they are capable. 

Their progress is that of a roller coaster with equal 

highs and lows. Others have a self-directed belief in 

their ability and grow closer to mastery of their skills in 

a stair-step approach of limitless height. What makes 

one student-athlete different from the other? 

The greatest leaders I have ever coached hold a few 

common traits. They have a firm knowledge of themselves 

that has been determined not by what others 

have stated, but out of self-invention and experience. 

True leaders trust their instincts but can only do so after 

they believe their opinion has been reached through 

experience and knowledge. In essence, the leaders I’ve 

coached learn from others but are not made by others. 

Confidence cannot be generated through smoke and 

mirrors and can only be present when a student-athlete 

trusts their instincts. I once worked for a sales manager 

by the name of Bob Solfelt who said to me, “Greg, until 

you TRUST that your audience NEEDS to hear something 

you have to say, you cannot deliver your message 

with enough conviction to be believable.” 

My coaching style, as it was when I was part of the corporate 

world, is to persuade my team to trust their 

instincts and let the self emerge. I want my teams to 

educate themselves and develop conclusions on their 

own without me dominating that process. Only then 

will future self-direction be possible and, most importantly, 

sustainable. I agree with Warren Bennis in his 

book, On Becoming a Leader, that, “the greatest leaders 

of them all are the ones whose followers don’t realize 

they are following.” I want my players to trust in 

my experience as a coach, which hopefully allows me 

to keep a pretty clear vision of what’s coming in the 

future. I tell my players it’s not where the ball is now; 

the key is to understand where it will go next. 

One of the roles I take very seriously is the education we 

as coaches provide our student-athletes outside the classroom. 

Throughout every season, every game, every practice 

our players face adversity in one form or another. 

There are few environments such as these where immediate 

results are measured. Some people look at college and 

the process of education as continually learning new ideas 

and gathering facts. I believe the process of developing 

leaders has more to do with unlearning. 

Students-athletes are taught by their parents, teachers 

and peers how to quantify success both inside and outside 

the classroom. I believe true leaders tend to dismantle 

these standards and cultivate their own measure 

of success…to forge their own path. The point is to 

understand yourself and utilize all your gifts completely. 

In my opinion, leadership is a by-product of a life 

filled with the pursuit of that end. 

HENRY JAMES WROTE IN HIS NOTEBOOKS, 

I have only to let myself go! So I have said to myself all my 

life – so I said to myself in the far-off days of my fermenting 

and passionate youth. Yet I have never fully done it. The sense 

of it – of the need of it – rolls over me at times with commanding 

force: it seems the formula of my salvation, of what 

remains to me of a future. I am in full possession of accumulated 

resources – I have only to use them, it insists, to persist, 

to do something more – to do much more than I have done. 

The way to do it – to affirm one’s self – is to strike as many 

notes, deep, full and rapid, as one can. All life is – at my age, 

with all one’s artistic soul the record of it – in one’s pocket, as 

it were. Go on, my boy, and strike hard…..Try everything, do 

everything, render everything – be an artist, be distinguished 

to the last. 

Henry James, Notebooks of Henry James, edited by F.O. Matthiessen 

and Kenneth B. Murdock, Oxford University Press (1961).

Student Leadership: 

Representing their Peers 

BY LEAH CORKERY (’09) 

Senior Alyssa Hauser (’09) (Bolingbrook, Ill.) knows a thing or two about leadership; she 

spends most of her time volunteering within the community, working at the Community 

Foundation of Greater Dubuque and staying involved with Campus Ministry. On top of that, she 

currently serves as the president of the Loras College Student Union. 

Student Union comprises three organizations: Residence Hall Association (RHA), College 

Activities Board (CAB) and Student Senate. “Each of these branches plays a different role on 

campus, all with the intent to better the experience of Loras College students,” said Hauser. 

RHA focuses specifically on the experience of students in the residence halls and helps to set 

policies, organize programming and address concerns of residents. CAB is responsible for bringing 

entertainment and positive weekend programming to campus, including musical artists, 

speakers, comedians and magicians. CAB also helps to plan larger campus events such as 

Homecoming and Family Weekend. 

The third branch of Student Union is Student Senate, which is made up of seven representatives 

from each class: president, vice president, treasurer and four senators. Hauser is especially familiar 

with this branch as she has played a role within the organization for three years. Now as a senior, 

Hauser is the president of Student Union. “Ultimately, Student Union allows for the three 

organizations to work together and have open communication,” she said. To ensure just that, the 

executive board of Student Union meets each week with College representatives from Student 

Life and each month with members of the College’s administration. 

The members of Student Senate speak to and serve their peers. “The senate has the responsibility 

to voice student concerns and be the means of communication between the administration and the 

student body,” said Hauser. It is also responsible for leading projects. This year those include hosting 

an open forum for student ideas on improving campus, organizing a book swap and approving 

new student organizations. Senate has also provided appropriations for a number of organizations 

and individuals to fund such activities as attending conferences, purchasing supplies and equipment 

and organizing events. 

The responsibilities and roles of Student Senate and Student Union have not changed much over 

the years; they continue to serve as the voice of the students and a liaison with the administration. 

When asked to identify any changes she has witnessed in her four years, Hauser commented, 

“There is a much stronger female presence now!” One look at the Student Union executive 

board photograph will tell you she’s right. 

The Student Union Executive Board members 

are (front row, l to r) Ray Werner (’11) 

(Dysart, Iowa), RHA president; Megan 

Hauber (’09) (Ridgeway, Iowa), vice president; 

Megan Stralow (’09) (Dubuque, Iowa), 

CAB president; (back row, l to r) Caitlin 

Niggemeyer (’09) (Maynard, Iowa), director 

of finance; Casey Driscoll (’09) (West Allis, 

Wis.), procedural chair; Beth Jenn (’09) 

(Coralville, Iowa), director of communication; 

and Alyssa Hauser (’09) (Bolingbrook, 

Ill.), president. 

feature story 21

inside loras 

22 

Cross Country Teams Aid 

Cedar Rapids Flood Victims 

BY ALANA CALIGIURI (’09) 

This summer most of downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was under more than 10 feet of water. A 

railroad bridge had collapsed, thousands of homes were without power or had been evacuated and 

hundreds of people resided in Red Cross shelters. 

In concert with the mission of Loras College, 42 students participating in men’s and 

women’s cross country, along with three coaches, visited Cedar Rapids on Aug. 19-20, to 

help flood victims repair their homes and local churches. 

The teams helped with the demolition of a house by removing dry wall and aiding in yard work. 

At St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, students helped remove and haul limestone, placing the rock 

into five-gallon buckets and passing it along an extensive human chain. They also helped pour 

new cement in the basement. 

It was head coach Bob Schultz (MA ’94) who presented the idea of helping the Cedar Rapids 

flood victims to the team captains. Traditionally, a week before school starts, the team takes an 

overnight trip to a scout camp where they focus on team building and bonding. This year the team 

decided that helping the flood victims would enhance team bonding more than ever while, at the 

same time, allowing them to donate their time to a great cause and to those in need. 

“This year our team gained more camaraderie than any year I have been at Loras and we did it 

in a way that not only benefited us, but a whole parish of people who were also looking for unity,” 

noted team captain Tyler Meyer (’10) (Asbury, Iowa). 

Schultz added, “We did a wonderful job of getting closer and coming together as a group. It was 

an awesome service project.” 

Members of the men’s and women’s cross country teams aided St.Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar 

Rapids, Iowa, clean up after a devastating flood this summer.They hauled the pile of rocks and rubble by 

hand from the basement of the church.

Performances Provide Perspective 

BY RAJENDRA THAKURATHI (’11) 

Common Time on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2008, had no lectures 

or presentations from speakers. Students, faculty 

and staff jam-packed in the Marie Graber ballroom had 

something special to applaud for, the Culture Fest 2008. 

International students clad in colorful garments danced 

and sang traditional songs that revolved around folklore 

from their countries. Songs and dances from Colombia, 

Mexico, Nepal, Peru and Pakistan kept the audience in 

their seats until the very end. 

The songs chosen mostly had ethnic and traditional 

meanings. The Nepali songs portrayed guys trying to 

woo girls. The Colombian songs, typically from the 

Caribbean region, had movements representing the 

sound of the waves in the ocean. 

“I wanted to share belly dancing with the audience, and 

it made me happy to know they enjoyed it,” said Luisa 

Jimenez (’12) (Cundinamarca, Colombia), who 

amazed the audience with her dance. 

Organized by the Loras Intercultural Student Association 

(LISA), the event is not the first of its kind. 

Similar events were held in the past in honor of “Culture 

Night.” 

“We decided to try Common Time and found it to be a 

huge success,” said Cindy Behnke, office coordinator 

for Intercultural Programs. “This exceeded our expectations 

and we were proud to hear that some students felt 

that it was the best Common Time event they had been 

to so far.” 

The Intercultural Office has been invited by Provost 

Cheryl Jacobsen, Ph.D., to make this event an annual 

Common Time occurrence. 

President Jim Collins (’84), who was among the 

audience, said, “It was one of the proudest moments I 

have experienced in all my years at Loras. It was evident 

that a packed ballroom of students, staff and faculty 

were engaged, informed and connected. The education 

provided in the forms of dance, song, humor, narratives 

and instruments made for greater understanding, appreciation 

and enjoyment.” 

The event amazed some of the students. Nicholas 

Spike (’12) (West Des Moines, Iowa) stated that “the 

native dances made me want to learn more about their 

cultures.” With a wide smile, he added, “I think I’m in 

love with all that funky music.” 

Priyanka Parajuli (’11) (Kathmandu, Nepal), who 

performed a typical Nepali dance, was approached by 

some students asking for dance lessons. “What could 

be more exciting than this?” she asked. “I’m glad that 

the performances had a huge impact on people. They 

really got an opportunity to view the world from a different 

perspective.” 

The event ended with the emcees of the show, 

Abhishek Agarwal (’11) (Kathmandu, Nepal) and 

Jime González (’09) (Bogotá, Colombia), asking 

questions of the audience to promote viewing the world 

from a different perspective. Meanwhile, students joined 

the performers on stage to dance along to a funky Hindi 

song. 

Sandra Anaya (’12) (Chicago, Ill.) 

performs a traditional Mexican folk 

dance during Culture Fest. 

23 


You Interned WHERE?! 


As a senior and soon-to-be graduate of Loras College, I’m quite proud of the opportunities Loras has continued to 

provide to its students. More, I am constantly impressed by the initiative demonstrated by Loras College students 

to enrich their undergraduate lives and create opportunities for themselves. 

When I returned to campus at the start of fall semester I was thoroughly impressed with the internships my peers 

had just begun, were continuing or had just completed. Their own drive had taken them across the state, across the 

nation and even across the borders of our country. Here are the experiences of three individuals who participated 

in particularly exceptional internships. 

Jake Oeth (’09) 

MAJORS: Political Science and Politics 

HOMETOWN: Ogden, Iowa 

On campus, Jake Oeth may be known for his skill on 

the basketball court – after all, he’s played on the men’s 

basketball team all four of his years at Loras. But Jake 

isn’t known simply as “the basketball guy.” Most of 

Jake’s peers know of his passion for politics as well. 

That passion led him straight to the heart of American 

government and our nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C. 

With the help of a scholarship from the Loras College 

Center of Experiential Learning, Jake spent the summer 

of 2008 interning in the Washington, D.C., office 

of Senator Tom Harkin. 

“It was an amazing experience,” said Jake. While 

interning at Senator Harkin’s office, Jake had the 

opportunity to attend hearings and committee meetings 

as well as give tours of the Capitol to constituents. “My 

favorite part,” said Jake, “was meeting other Iowans in 

Washington, D.C.” Mid-tour, Jake discovered he 

shared a mutual friend with a visitor from his home 

state. “It was incredible to realize how closely connected 

people are in the State of Iowa.” 

Though Jake professed he found a “second home” in 

the Capitol building where he so often gave tours, he 

was also able to spend some time as a tourist. Strolling 

among the monuments in Washington, D.C., is on the 

to-do list of most tourists to the area, and Jake was no 

different. “My favorite monument was the Franklin 

Delano Roosevelt Memorial, especially when the 

waterfalls were backlit in the evening.” 

Aesthetics aside, the historical significance of his summer 

home was not lost on Jake, a politics and political 

science major. “It’s so interesting to recall what seems 

like a long history of our country, which is fairly young 

compared to others.” 

So what does an intern at the senator’s office do when 

he’s not giving tours of buildings steeped in history, or 

meandering through monuments in his free time? “I 

drafted a lot of memos,” Jake laughed. For the experience, 

I’d call that an even trade. So would Jake, who 

strongly encourages everyone to pursue an internship 

experience, “You can’t put a price tag on an internship; 

the experience is priceless.” 

Maria Camila Andrade (’09) 

MAJORS: Marketing and Public Relations 

HOMETOWN: Cali, Colombia 

Maria Camila Andrade didn’t want just any internship 

– she dreamed of an internship more than 4,500 miles 

from Loras College in Barcelona, Spain. In the summer 

of 2008 she was able to realize that dream as a marketing 

intern at MCI Barcelona. Camila’s internship was 

organized through the University of Dreams, an organization 

she had heard about in 2006. Unable to afford 

the program at the time, a year later she resolved to 

actively pursue the Barcelona Program for the coming 

summer. Camila received the Buntz Family 

Scholarship, awarded to only one individual each year, 

which covered tuition making the program much more 

affordable. 

Jake Oeth (’09)

Scholarship in hand, it was only a few more months 

until Camila found herself in Barcelona, living at the 

University of Barcelona in Bellaterra with other students 

involved in the University of Dreams program. “There 

were 83 other students from all over the U.S., and one 

from Canada, who participated in the program with me.” 

Camila completed her internship at MCI Barcelona, a 

global business and residential communications company 

that operates in more than 65 countries. Camila’s 

internship awarded her the opportunity to work as a 

marketing intern for the company, where she gathered 

information for project proposals, Web site content 

design and the company newsletter. She also researched 

potential markets for the company in Scandinavia, 

Portugal, Italy and Greece. 

The location of her internship and the planned activities 

of the University of Dreams internship program provided 

Camila the opportunity to travel to other parts of 

Spain as well as other countries on the weekends, 

including France and Italy. Though the thousands of 

photographs she took span many European cities, 

Camila points to Barcelona as the location she was most 

grateful to have spent her time abroad, and acknowledges 

the relationships formed there. “My favorite part 

of this summer was having the opportunity to immerse 

myself in a vibrant city, interact with individuals from 

all over the world and establish relationships with 

friends who I still remain in touch with to this day.” 

Marcus Soukup (’09) 

MAJOR: Media Studies 

HOMETOWN: Fairfax, Iowa 

In September of 2008, Marcus Soukup received a rather 

exciting phone call. A representative from ABC News 

NOW called to offer him an internship position as a production 

assistant for the television show Good Morning 

America NOW. After making the necessary arrangements 

with his professors and the Communication Arts 

Department, he accepted the position. The next week, he 

had packed his bags and was on a plane to New York City. 

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” he said before he left in 

September. As a production assistant intern, Marcus 

helped produce the program both off-site and on-location, 

which included coordinating delivery of production materials 

between ABC buildings and aiding guests at the studio 

of the show, among many other responsibilities. 

Marcus’s favorite aspect of his internship was producing 

his own segment about Warren Miller’s film Children of 

Winter. “I brought the idea to the team about doing a ski 

segment – they loved the idea, and let me produce it! So 

I booked the segment and got Olympic gold-medalist 

snowboarder Seth Wescott and freeskiing champion 

Lynsey Dyer to come onto the show.” Both Wescott and 

Dyer were featured in the film and discussed its release 

with anchor Jeremy Hubbard during the segment. 

Having completed his internship in December, Marcus 

has returned from the bustle of Times Square and is back 

in Dubuque. “New York City was incredible, but I’m 

glad to be back on campus for my last semester at Loras. 

And a bit of advice: don’t fall asleep on the subway!” 

Ah, the life lessons we learn. 

In a mere three months, Jake, Maria and Marcus will 

don caps and gowns with the rest of the May 2009 graduates, 

shake the hand of President Collins and cross the 

stage. If the enterprises of these three students in the last 

nine months have been any indication of their future 

success, I suspect they’ll be well prepared. 

Maria Camila Andrade (’09) 

Marcus Soukup (’09) 

25 


THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | INSIDE LORAS 

26 

Rachel Gunderson 

Kate Flattery 

Many other Loras students have had 

incredible internship experiences. 

Here are a few snapshots of their work. 


Graduation year: 2009 

Major(s): Spanish and Public Relations; International Studies Minor 

Hometown: Buffalo Grove, Ill. 

Internship: Development Intern with Ronald McDonald House 

Charities, Upper Midwest 

“As the development intern at the Ronald McDonald House my main 

responsibilities included planning The Classic, an annual golf and tennis 

tournament. I have had a lot of experience in event planning previously, 

but this internship helped me to hone my skills, and increase my knowledge, 

especially of nonprofit donor management and database management. 

In addition to logistical planning for the classic, I also got to take 

part in writing some materials for the annual newsletter and the day-today 

activities at the house.” 

Kate Flattery 


Major(s): Social Work and Spanish 

Hometown: Lincoln, Neb. 

Internship:World Relief Summer Program Intern courtesy of the Valder 

Memorial Scholarship through Campus Ministry and the Fr. Ray Herman 

Peace and Justice 

“World Relief - Chicago runs The Pambazuka Project, a six-week summer 

learning program, to help recently arrived refugee children and 

youth adapt successfully to the city of Chicago and the school system 

that they are now in. Students participate in community exploration 

(learning about the police station, fire department and other helping entities), 

recreational events (swimming, bowling and soccer) and field trips 

(museum, zoo and parks) all while practicing English and learning new 

social norms. 

I was a summer learning program intern at World Relief and helped to 

research, plan and implement each day’s activities. I assisted staff with 

various activities and administrative tasks on a daily basis, led a small 

group of students through each day’s activities, assisted with escorting 

students to and from program sites and aided teachers and staff with 

activities and field trips. I was also in the position to act as a positive role 

model for refugee youth, helping with post-program evaluations and 

feedback, and providing general support to the Youth Program staff.”

Erin Brady 


Major(s): International Studies and Spanish 

Hometown: Alpha, Ill. 

Internship: Student Advisor with World Study Educação 

Intercultural-Vitória, Brazil 

“World Study Educação Intercultural is a Brazilian company that 

organizes study, work, volunteer and training abroad opportunities 

for Brazilian and foreign students and adults. I assisted in translating 

business documents and preparing program participants for their 

time abroad by conducting interviews, career fairs with international 

employers and orientation meetings. Also, I was able to gain pertinent 

knowledge on working in an international organization abroad, 

improve my Portuguese language skills and experience the Brazilian 

cultural and work environment through my host family and colleagues. 

Alejandra Monroy 


Major(s): Integrated Visual Arts and Media Studies 

Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia 

Internship: Creative Intern with Bagby and Company 

“During my internship I worked in the creative department of an 

advertising agency in downtown Chicago. I was able to sit in on 

meetings with designers, art directors and clients. I was also able to 

pitch ideas for print ads and for holiday cards. The other intern and I 

had a final project for which we had to design a direct mail piece for 

a new product and then present it in front of the account executives 

and the creative directors. I also got a chance to go to a recording studio 

to see the recording of a radio commercial for TAG Heuer and to 

go visit the facilities of a TV studio. I rotated among the other departments 

like the account and production departments doing competitive 

reviews for some of their clients. It was a great experience to be 

able to see how an advertising agency works, which helped me clarify 

what I want to do after I graduate.” 

Erin Brady 

27 


Daniel Randolph 


Major: Media Studies 

Hometown: Perry, Iowa 

Internship: Post Production Intern with Screenscape Studios 

“Screenscape Studios in West Des Moines, Iowa, is a high-quality production 

company that has grown from the original three-man operation to one 

that employs more than 20 people and a host of talented freelancers. 

Screenscape develops videos using the latest technology in production 

and post production. I worked in the post production department that has 

three full-time Avid editors, a duplication coordinator, an art director 

specializing in After Effects, and another motion artist that specializes in 

3D and After Effects. I worked with everyone in the department from 

dubbing tapes in the machine room to spending a lot of time working 

with art director Scott Just on a varity of projects using After Effects. I 

worked with clients from Wells Fargo and Principal Financial to 

Winnebago and iWireless, developing the graphic look of their commercials 

and corporate videos. 

The highlight of my internship was developing the graphics for three 

iWireless commercials completely on my own and getting to see them 

air on television for over a month and having my friends and family get 

to see them. It was great to see people watching my work. 

The staff at Screenscape are the best in their fields and I learned more 

than I could have ever imagined in post production and motion graphics.” 

Kelly Krapfl 


Major(s): Marketing and Public Relations 

Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa 

Internship: Public Relations Intern with The Integer Group-Midwest 

“I had the opportunity to work closely with advertising and public relations 

professionals in a fast-paced, challenging and fun environment. I 

learned and accomplished a lot by working directly with the media. I was 

able to work on projects for a variety of clients including Pella Windows 

& Doors®, The Iowa Department of Economic Development, Holmes 

Murphy and Embrace Iowa. 

Some of my main responsibilities included drafting news releases, feature 

stories and online articles; conducting media relations; successful 

media pitching and coordinating placements; managing and maintaining 

client relationships; and assisting with project and promotional event 

coordination.”

Diana C. Pena 


Major(s): Finance and International Studies; Minor in Politics 

Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia 

Internship: Business Analyst Intern with Prudential Financial 

“I work within the Business Intelligence Department. My role involves 

designing strategies to manage projects that involve the development of 

Prudential’s retirement sector. I also create or improve tracking systems 

for investment transactions that are tracked in their databases. Finally, I 

also provide cost-efficiency and financial analyses about different projects 

on a monthly basis.” 

Katrina Berning 


Major(s): Media Studies and Integrated Visual Arts 

Hometown: Sinsinawa,Wis. 

Internship: Multimedia Reporter with the Telegraph Herald 

“Basically, I shoot, write and edit news packages for THonline. I am the 

first person they have ever hired for the position, which means I have a 

lot of freedom with the job. We are learning how to navigate the online 

world together. They know newspapers; I know video; the two come 

together on the web. I use my freedom to be creative with the videos I 

post. I don’t have to shape and mold each story into the TV formats that 

are used in the nightly news. Instead, I put them together in the way that 

I feel best conveys the moment and emotions. I love the fact that my job 

is different every day; that I never know what is going to happen when I 

walk through the door. I get to meet a lot of people and hear a lot of fascinating 

stories, all while working with new media technology.” 

Meghan Saxine 


Major(s): Psychology and Sociology; Minor in Gender Studies 

Hometown: Oak Park, Ill. 

Internship: Intern, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at the Center of 

Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University 

“The research that I took part in was aimed at understanding alcohol and 

other drugs that affect cognition with the ultimate goal of advancing the 

treatment of addictive behaviors. Throughout my time working in the 

lab, I was responsible for running a ratings study, which was designed to 

see how people generally perceive the alcohol and drug-related pictures. 

The other purpose was to see whether the way the participants perceived 

pictures and their alcohol and drug use patterns are related. I was also 

responsible for entering data for multiple studies.” 


29 



30 

National Television Series Highlights Loras 

as “Hidden Gem” 

Eye on America, an innovative television series that 

educates viewers on a variety of current topics, trends 

and issues, featured Loras College in a segment which 

aired nationally on the Fox Business Network and the 

Travel Channel. The segment was part of the show’s 

series, Hidden Gems of Higher Learning, Spirituality, 

and Education for the 21st Century. 

The show, hosted by Loras alumnus Greg Gumbel 

(’67), highlighted four members of the Loras community: 

President Jim Collins (’84), the Rev. Douglas 

Wathier, S.T.D., associate professor of religious studies 

and coordinator of the Breitbach Catholic Thinkers 

and Leaders Program, as well as students Nathaniel 

Gee (’09) (Aurora, Ill.) and Lauren Squires (’08) 

(Germantown, Tenn.). 

Eye on America, which airs during the day on wellknown 

news networks throughout the country, consists 

of various five-minute segments brought together by a 

common theme. It covers a broad spectrum of subjects 

which allow viewers to gain insight on opportunities 

for their families, business, lifestyle and financial 

future. The Loras segment also aired 18 times regionally 

on CNN Headline News and other regional news 

networks. 

Watch Loras’s Eye on America segment at: 

http://depts.loras.edu/FeatureStories/ 

AcademicExcellence.html. 

Loras Welcomes Alta Vista Research 

Group to Campus 

For nearly 25 years companies and organizations have turned to the Loras College Center for Business and Social 

Research (CBSR) to help fulfill their research needs. Now the torch has been passed, so to speak. While the legacy 

of conducting solid, actionable research continues, it has now evolved into a new and exciting partnership. 

Alta Vista Research Group, a private, for-profit, independent research firm headed by President Bob Woodward 

III (’04), has opened with an office located in Keane Hall. The new full-service research firm will replace the CBSR 

at Loras College, which was founded in 1985. CBSR, under the direction of Leonard Decker, Ph.D., professor 

of criminal justice, has assisted various organizations by conducting descriptive research to meet their needs. Alta 

Vista Research Group will take the original center to the next level by combining the expertise of a team of research 

professionals with the academic rigor of Loras College. 

“Loras College has appreciated the work done by our Center for Business and Social Research for the past 24 years. 

Loras now welcomes Alta Vista Research Group to campus as a partner in continuing to provide and enhance the 

critical, quality research needs for current and future clients. This will be a great addition to the Loras and Dubuque 

communities,” said Loras College President Jim Collins (’84). 

Alta Vista Research Group’s business model allows for flexibility to provide clients with high-level research and 

actionable items at a reasonable cost. For each project, a dynamic team of experts will be assembled to provide customized 

research based on the needs of the client. Alta Vista Research Group will conduct research projects for consumer, 

business-to-business, community, healthcare, financial and other related clients. 

“I am very excited to be able to work with a team of seasoned professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and 

experience to the table,” said Woodward. “Our clients will benefit from the advanced research and broad-based 

background our company provides.”

A Unique Theatrical Experience 


The Loras Players were hard at work performing two 

full-length productions at the same time; learning twice 

the amount of lines, twice the amount of blocking and 

putting in twice the amount of rehearsing to get the two 

shows, Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are 

Dead, to come together in time. Erin Horst (’09) 

(Vinton, Iowa) notes, “It was quite the challenge, but I 

enjoyed every minute of it.” 

The Loras Players started with a performance of 

Shakespeare’s Hamlet on Thursday, Oct. 30. The next 

night, they performed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern 

Are Dead. The shows were performed two weekends in 

a row with four alternating performances of each show. 

The goal of this unique structure of performances is for 

the audience to see both shows, as one play is based on 

the other. Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous 

tragedies. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a 

spinoff where the same story is told from the perspective 

of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters 

in Hamlet. 

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a portrait of 

what the audience does not see happening in Hamlet, or 

an example of what is going on when those two are not 

onstage. The difference between the two performances 

is that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is written 

in a modern language by playwright Tom Stoppard 

and is a comedy. This balanced nicely with Hamlet as 

the audience could experience a tragedy one night and 

comedy the next. Doug Donald, associate professor of 

communication arts and director of both performances 

said, “Since I first saw a production of Rosencrantz and 

Guildenstern Are Dead in 1970, I have dreamed of 

doing these two productions at the same time, with the 

same cast. I felt they fit perfectly together and the experience 

of seeing one production would be enhanced and 

further informed by seeing the other one.” 

Another unique component of this production was the 

collaboration of the Loras Players and Fly-By-Night 

Productions, which allowed everyone to play a character 

their own age. Fly-By-Night is a Dubuque community 

theatre run by Donald’s wife and artistic director, 

Lenore Howard. Donald notes that many audience 

members’ experience with each play was enhanced and 

heightened by seeing the same actor play the same character 

in each show. The King, Queen, and Polonius were 

played by Fly-By-Night actors. Jean Merrill, assistant 

professor of English, helped with the dramaturge. 

Since then, Donald has been amazed at how things fell 

into place. He was able to work with a professional fight 

choreographer from New York City, found a fantastic 

costume designer from Fly-By-Night Productions, gathered 

a dedicated and talented cast, and was awarded an 

art grant from the City of Dubuque. Horst concludes, “I 

feel more than blessed to have been able to share the 

stage with such an amazing cast of actors for this very 

unique theatrical experience.” 

Kevin Grady (’09) (Marshalltown, Iowa), as Hamlet, and Erin 

Horst (’09) (Vinton, Iowa), as Ophelia, perform Shakespeare’s 

classic tragedy Hamlet.


32 

LCTV Goes Live for Election Day Broadcast 

ALANA CALIGIURI (’09) 

The students of Loras College Television (LCTV) recognized 

a need in their community and decided to fulfill 

it in an unprecedented way. On Nov. 4, Election 

Day, the students put together a continuous, live, threehour 

localized broadcast for both Loras College, on 

LCTV Channel 13, and the entire Dubuque community, 

on Mediacom Channel 17. 

Three students, Morgan Finke (’11) (Oak Creek, 

Wis.), Jordan Rasmussen (’09) (West Des Moines, 

Iowa) and Megan Stralow (’09) (Dubuque, Iowa), 

reported live from the LCTV newsroom and remote 

locations at the local Democratic Party headquarters 

and the Dubuque County Courthouse. Nick Helten 

(’10) (Garwin, Iowa) and Andrew Huck (’09) (Mc 

Henry, Ill.) served as anchors. Huck was also a coexecutive 

producer with Dan Randolph (’10) (Perry, 

Iowa). A large team of media studies students took part 

in basic crew positions while Craig Schaefer (’89), 

professor of communication arts, Jill (Olson) Specht 

(’01), coordinator of media operations, and Paul Kohl, 

Ph.D., associate professor of communication arts, 

advised the media studies students throughout the 

entire process. 

Huck, majoring in both media studies and political science, 

and Randolph, majoring in media studies and 

minoring in political science, came up with the idea to 

broadcast live. Randolph said, “When you’re a student 

in college, the presidential election only happens once 

so it’s something we felt that we had to do; something 

really important to journalism.” Huck adds, “Just the 

fact that we’re the only television media outlet in 

Dubuque, we couldn’t not be doing something.” 

To put together the broadcast, media studies students 

worked with the Dubuque county auditor’s office, 

Dubuque county Republican Party and Dubuque county 

Democratic Party. They also worked with political 

science professors Christopher Budzisz, Ph.D., 

David Cochran, Ph.D., and Chadwick DeWaard, 

Ph.D., who gave political advice and great insight. On 

the day of the broadcast, the entire media studies 

department conducted exit polling, guided by Budzisz. 

On the night of the broadcast, the political science professors 

appeared as on-set guests in the LCTV newsroom 

to speak about their area of expertise. Cochran 

talked about Catholic voters, DeWaard discussed foreign 

policy and issues the next president may have to 

face while Budzisz, the main analyst and political commentator, 

answered questions from the anchors 

throughout the night. 

Along with the broadcast, viewers could keep up-todate 

on results by checking out LCTV’s Web site at 

LCTV13.com. The Web site had a live blog in which 

students from Budzisz’s Campaigns and Elections class 

participated. All the coverage, including live results, 

was posted and updated throughout the night. 

Both Randolph and Huck agreed that the broadcast was 

an excellent learning experience because it involved 

planning over an extended period of time and required 

assistance from several people. It was interesting for 

the students to see how much time it takes to put 

together a three-hour broadcast. Huck remarked that 

learning how to produce a show, coming up with the 

concept and content and delegating roles and assignments 

to make the broadcast successful, was a great 

learning experience. 

The broadcast received feedback from a large number 

of Loras students, faculty and staff who were impressed 

with the students’ ability and what they accomplished. 

Randolph said that the community members outside of 

Loras who knew about LCTV’s broadcast showed 

interest beforehand and were extremely impressed.

hind 

sight 

More than 600 Loras students demonstrated a strong commitment to 

service and leadership as they assisted in sandbag efforts in Dubuque 

during the flood of 1965 when the Mississippi River crested on April 

26 at 26.8 feet. Students worked tirelessly in shifts around the clock 

for several weeks to help save downtown Dubuque prior to the floodwall 

being erected in 1973. 

Photo contributed by the Loras College Archives. The archives, as 

well as the Loras College Center for Dubuque History, are interested 

in collecting Loras College and Dubuque memorabilia including 

photographs, postcards, letters, diaries, etc. Contact Mike Gibson, 

archivist at Loras College, 1450 Alta Vista St., Dubuque, Iowa, 

52001, or call (563) 588-7163, or e-mail michael.gibson@loras.edu. 

Your leadership and support of the Loras Fund provides 

students with educational opportunities and life-changing experiences 

which are preparing them to be tomorrow’s leaders. 

YOUR INVESTMENT SUPPORTS: 

Financial Aid 

Challenging Curriculum 

Student Government 

Lead 4 Loras 

Student/Faculty Research Partnerships 

Campus Ministry 

Service Trips 

Study Abroad Opportunities 

Division III Athletics 

Sandra Gonzales (’05) 

Director of the Loras Fund 

563.588.7328 

sandra.gonzales@loras.edu 

www.loras.edu | Click on “Give to Loras.”


34 

A Lot of Planning and a Little Coincidence: 

Loras Adopts Holocaust Theme for 2008-09 Academic Year 


“Our experience ultimately went far beyond learning about the Holocaust.” 

-CRAIG SCHAEFER, PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION ARTS 

Holocaust survivor Inge 

Auerbacher spoke to the 

Loras College community 

in September. 

The decision of the 

Loras College Arts & 

Culture Series to adopt 

a focus on the 

Holocaust for their 

2008-09 event calendar 

served as the catalyst 

for the rest of campus. 

Some campus events 

and initiatives were 

reshaped to complement 

the theme while 

others by mere coincidence 

found their plans 

already did. It took 

months of planning, but the result is a theme for the 

2008-09 academic year that addresses global human 

rights and discusses the history and impact of the 

Holocaust. 

The fall semester began with the reading of Elie 

Wiesel’s Night, selected by the First Year Experience 

Committee, chaired by Lisa Grinde, Ph.D., associate 

professor of psychology. A series of small group discussions 

of the work were hosted by the Loras Literary 

Society. The autobiographical novel, which won the 

1986 Nobel Peace prize, is acclaimed as the most pivotal 

writing of the post-World War II period and is 

based on Wiesel’s own experience as a Holocaust survivor. 

In September, Loras was fortunate enough to welcome 

Inge Auerbacher, a Holocaust survivor and human 

rights activist, to speak on campus. As a child, 

Auerbacher spent three years imprisoned in a Nazi concentration 

camp in Czechoslovakia, from which only 

one percent of 15,000 children survived. During her 

presentation, Auerbacher discussed life before and after 

the Holocaust and provided visualization by showing 

slides of her experience, including photos of her village, 

the village of her grandparents and the camp 

where she was held. She also detailed her return trip as 

an adult to the Terezin concentration camp and related 

stories of friends and family during the struggle, 

including losing her grandmother. 

“It’s not very often you get the chance to hear about 

these things from people who experienced it firsthand,” 

said Liz Ball (’09) (Marion, Iowa), who attended 

the event. “It’s great that Loras students were able to 

hear her story and connect it to things we already knew 

and read about the Holocaust. Hearing someone speak 

about it is so much different than reading about it in a 

textbook.” 

Two courses added to the curriculum certainly 

approached the subject of the Holocaust in a different 

manner as well. Degenerate Art, an art history course 

taught in the fall by Jennifer Walker, adjunct faculty 

of communication arts, discussed the role of art in 

Hitler’s regime and the ethics of its use to propagandize. 

“It was a really interesting course,” said Lauren 

Lehenbauer (’09) (Davenport, Iowa), an integrated 

visual arts and sport management double-major. “It’s 

hard to believe how far Hitler and the Nazi’s went to 

silence the Jews and anyone else they didn’t like.” 

The second course, Documenting the Holocaust, fit 

into the academic year’s Holocaust theme rather 

serendipitously. Craig Schaefer (’89), professor of 

communication arts, had planned for the January-Term 

course independently and was pleasantly surprised to 

find others on campus had recognized the same rich 

opportunity for learning. Schaefer and his 12 students 

traveled to Germany to film a documentary and were 

able to visit many locations important to the Holocaust 

and its history, including a number of concentration 

camps and the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. 

They also conducted a number of interviews with 

German adults and high school students about their 

perception of the Holocaust, personalizing the historical 

event. Schaefer explained that there are two experiences 

when making a documentary film, “You must 

approach the subject objectively and at a distance, but 

yet you want to take in the full emotion of the experience. 

So for our students, it’s about as complete a learning 

opportunity as you will find.” The film is scheduled 

to be presented to the Loras community sometime during 

the spring semester.

Months after the initial steps toward planning, the 

Holocaust theme will end with those who instigated its 

start: the Loras College Arts & Culture Series. In April, 

the Arts & Culture Series will present two events. The 

first, a day-long event, To Do Justice, will feature a 

showing of the film, “Voices from the Holocaust,” followed 

by presentations by the filmmaker, Joshua 

Greene, and Douglas Bates III, son of the chief defense 

counsel of the Dachau War Crime Trial. Chase 

Gruszka (’09) (Streamwood, Ill.) and John Healey 

(’10) (Neenah, Wis.), members of the Loras Mock Trial 

Team, will re-enact the actual closing arguments given 

by both sides in this historic war trial. The second event 

will include welcoming a speaker to campus to discuss 

human rights since the Holocaust. 

Ball applauded the theme choice for not taking the form 

of a flat history lesson, but rather a lesson on upholding 

global human rights. “The Holocaust might seem like 

something that happened a long time ago, but by continuing 

to discuss it we’re reminded of what can happen 

when human rights are ignored.” 

This is Only a Test... 

Loras students spent January Term creating a documentary 

about the Holocaust, traveling to Germany and interviewing 

adults and high school students. 

Loras Implements New Emergency Notification System 

Loras College has implemented a new emergency notification system 

which can be used to alert students, faculty and staff within minutes of a 

situation or incident. The rapid, multi-modal Connect-ED® communication 

service from Blackboard Connect Inc., was successfully tested campus-wide 

in early February. 

The system allows campus administrators and security professionals the 

ability to reach the Loras community with information and updates during 

unforeseen events or emergencies through phone calls, e-mails and/or text 

messages. 

“Being able to communicate essential information in a variety of ways to 

our campus community is very important to us,” said Arthur Sunleaf, 

associate vice president for student development and dean of students. “We 

are pleased to have our first test of the emergency notification system work 

successfully. Of course, it is something we hope we don’t need to use often, 

but Loras has implemented a best practice for sharing emergency communication.” 

Students, faculty and staff have been encouraged to enter multiple points 

of contact into the Connect-Ed database to ensure they receive these important 

alerts. They also have the ability to enter family members’ contact 

numbers so they can be made aware in the case of an emergency as well. 

35 


loras sports 

36 

Hall of Fame Inductees 2008 

The following people were inducted into the Loras College Varsity Athletics Hall of Fame on 

Sept. 6, 2008: 

Leo Costello (’92) was a member of the first Loras College wrestling team to finish in the top 

ten at the NCAA Championships (8th) in his junior season and helped the Duhawks jump two 

spots (up to third) in the IIAC and one spot in the NCAA (7th) as a senior. Individually, his top 

performance came during his junior season when he posted a career high in wins (33), finished 

second in the IIAC and was runner up at the NCAA Championships at 167 pounds. He followed 

with another dominant season in 1991-92 (also at 167 pounds), his final campaign with the 

Duhawks, going 32-6 and finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships. His two finishes at the 

NCAA Championships earned him two-time All-American status. 

Costello was a member of the IIAC’s All-Academic team and an Academic All-American during 

his wrestling career. His academic success, service to the community and leadership also vaulted 

him onto the “National Outstanding Leaders” list in Who’s Who among Students in American 

Universities and Colleges in 1992. Under Dan Neff and Larry Reynolds, Costello compiled a 

95-35-2 career record on the wrestling mat. 

Al McGuire (’85) began setting records immediately as a Duhawk during the 1981-82 season. 

Under head coach Pete Ross and diving coach Bob Wren, McGuire landed a spot at the 

NAIA National Swim Meet as a freshman while becoming the first Loras College athlete to 

qualify for nationals as a diver. 

In total, McGuire qualified four times for the NAIA National Swim Meet on the 1-meter springboard 

and three times on the 3-meter springboard. He earned All-American honors twice in the 

1-meter competition and once, his senior season, in the 3-meter competition. He was also a 

champion at the Iowa Small College State Meet at both heights and a captain of the men’s team 

in three of his four seasons. 

McGuire currently holds every Loras College men’s diving record. His career best and recordholding 

marks, which were each set during his senior season, are: 1-meter, six dives, 266.6; 

1-meter, 11 dives, 457.9; 3-meter, six dives, 297.45; 3-meter, 11 dives, 489.3. 

Barry Harris (’89) rewrote the sprint records during his senior season with the Loras College track 

and field team on his way to becoming a three-time national champion. His first national championship 

came during the indoor season of his senior year. Harris posted a 0:06.39 in the 55 Meter 

Dash to win the championship. He also set the Loras record in the 55 Meter Dash with a 0:06.38. 

Varsity Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees (l to r) Al McGuire (’85), Barry Harris (’89), Leo Costello (’92) and 

Bob Lutgen (’54). Not pictured: M.S.“Bill” Howie, Ph.D. (’55).

When the outdoor season rolled around, Harris was 

primed to set the 100 Meter and 200 Meter records in his 

final season on the heels of his record setting winter season. 

Not only did he break those records, but he also won 

his second and third national championships that spring at 

the 1989 NCAA III Championships. For 19 seasons, 

Harris has held the records in those events. His 0:10.54 in 

the 100 Meter Dash and 0:21.39 in the 200 Meter Dash 

remain Loras records. 

Harris also won eight Iowa Conference Championships. 

He won the 100 Meter Dash three consecutive times 

(1987-1989), the 200 Meter Dash in back-to-back years 

(1988-1989), and the 400 Meter race in his senior season 

(1989). He was also a member of two conference 

champion relay teams. Under the direction of Loras 

College Hall of Fame head coach Robert Tucker, 

Ed.D, the Duhawks won three Iowa Conference outdoor 

track and field team titles during Harris’ career. 

M.S. “Bill” Howie, Ph.D. (’55), arrived at Loras 

College in 1951 and embarked on a four-year baseball 

career that few have matched. As a freshman on the 1952 

squad, Howie helped the team to its first pennant when 

they amassed a record of 7-0 in the northern division of 

the Iowa Conference. That year he established himself as 

a high percentage hitter under head coach Vince Dowd, 

notching 15 hits in 38 total at bats (.395 batting average). 

Howie never hit below .309 in a season and topped out at 

.451 in 1954 when the team compiled an 11-3 record. He 

had a team high 23 hits that year. Howie was essentially a 

singles machine from his middle infield positions over the 

course of his career, but also managed two homeruns during 

his senior season when the team went 14-4. For his 

career, he hit .387 and scored at least ten runs in every 

season. In the four seasons Howie lettered with the baseball 

squad the Duhawks went 37-13. 

Bob Lutgen’s (’54) Loras College career as a studentathlete 

typically began in late August and ran clear 

through until the middle of March. A two-sport star for 

the Duhawks in the early 1950s, Lutgen was regarded 

for his offense and defense both on the football field and 

the basketball floor. He also earned a reputation for lategame 

contributions in both sports. 

Lutgen began his football career (without any prior formal 

experience) as a linebacker, but was converted to the fullback 

position for his final two seasons. He averaged 4.5 

yards per rush in his senior season and found the end zone 

five times. Lutgen helped the Duhawks claim the Victory 

Bell during the 1953 season on the football field with a 

fourth-quarter touchdown against St. Ambrose. 

In basketball he was a force in the backcourt, widely 

regarded for his playmaking abilities on offense, relentless 

defense and efforts rebounding the basketball. He 

was one of three freshmen on the 23-7 hoops squad that 

made the trip to Albany, N.Y., for the National Catholic 

Invitational Tournament. 

Nominations for next year’s Varsity Athletics Hall of Fame 

inductions are being accepted. Go to http://depts.loras.edu/ 

sports/hof/ to fill out the online nomination form. 

Soderberg Joins College as Interim Director of Athletics 

BY JON DENHAM (’02), SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR 

Brad Soderberg 

Brad Soderberg has joined the College as interim director of athletics. Soderberg 

was the head men’s basketball coach at Loras from 1987-1993 where he amassed a 

79-45 record in five seasons in his first head coaching position. He rejoined the Loras 

staff in this new position in July. 

Most recently Soderberg worked with the Saint Louis University Billikens in Saint Louis, 

Mo., where he went 80-74 from 2002-2007. He also had successful stops at the University 

of Wisconsin and South Dakota State University. As a head coach, the Wisconsin native had 

winning records at each institution and boasted a 100 percent graduation rate. 

President Jim Collins (’84) notes that Soderberg “has genuine regard for Loras 

and a strong willingness to assist us at this juncture. I believe his passion, integrity, 

skill-set and knowledge of Loras and intercollegiate athletics will serve us well.” 

Soderberg was equally excited about his return to Loras College and Dubuque, Iowa. “Both my family and I are 

thrilled to be back in Dubuque,” he commented. “I’ve always had a warm spot in my heart for Loras because they 

gave me the chance to be a head basketball coach at 26 years old.” 

“I just have so much respect for the institution, its mission and the Catholic identity we promote to our students,” 

Soderberg stated. “I am excited to be back at Loras in this capacity.” 

37 


THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | LORAS SPORTS 

38 

wraps 

INSIDE SPORTS 

fall 

The Loras College Department of Athletics enjoyed a 

memorable fall season in 2008. The volleyball, men’s 

soccer and women’s soccer teams each qualified for 

NCAA Division III Championships – and men’s soccer 

once again finished as a semifinalist at the Final Four 

and the #4 ranked team in the country. The volleyball 

team moved into their new home and promptly went 6- 

0 in the Athletic and Wellness Center. Loras won Iowa 

Conference team titles in volleyball and men’s soccer. 

Four student-athletes earned Most Valuable Player honors 

out of eight fall sports. Video webcasts made their 

debut over the Loras athletics web page. The Duhawks 

are second in the IIAC All-Sports Trophy standings 

through the first eight sports. The football team 

improved four games overall and four slots in the 

standings after going 6-4. All of these things occurred 

under the guidance of Interim Director of Athletics 

Brad Soderberg, who took over the position late in 

the summer 2008. 

Members of the men’s soccer team celebrate with fans in the 

Rock Bowl after their Nov. 22 double overtime win over 

Augsburg. 

The football team was 6-4 in Steve Osterberger’s 

third season, a season which was highlighted by the 

running abilities of Alex McGrew (’09) (Van Horne, 

Iowa). The senior ran for a school record 20 touchdowns 

and posted the second best all-purpose yardage 

in all of NCAA Division III on his way to Iowa 

Conference MVP honors. Six other Duhawks were 

named to the All-IIAC squad, including wide receiver 

Ben McMahon (’10) (Waterloo, Iowa) who tied for 

the league lead in touchdown catches. They also won 

the inaugural “Rivalry by the River” game against the 

University of Dubuque, 42-6. 

The women’s tennis team finished seventh in the Iowa 

Conference in 2008, and was much improved in their 

matches across the board. Lindsay Dunkirk (’10) 

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa) won six matches in the #1 singles 

slot. Breann Billiet (’10) (Decorah, Iowa) and 

Alejandra Ruales (’12) (Bogotá, Colombia) proved to 

be the Duhawks best doubles tandem for head coach 

Karl Stubben. The season’s wins all came in a midseason 

winning streak over Dubuque, Morningside, Buena 

Vista and Beloit. The core of the team returns in 2009 

and will push for a spot in the IIAC team tournament. 

The men’s and women’s cross country teams provided 

plenty of top level results this fall. Each was in the 

top 40 teams in the final USTFCCCA Poll. The teams 

finished second (men) and third (women) at the IIAC 

Championships. John Fry (’11) (Elmhurst, Ill.) and 

Mary Bridget Corken (’09) (Dubuque, Iowa) led 

the Duhawks to the finish line on that day and 

throughout the season. The teams parlayed their success 

on the conference level to regionals with a pair of 

top-six finishes in Grinnell, Iowa, on Nov. 15. Corken 

was fourth at the NCAA Division III Regionals and 

sixteenth at nationals. She set the school record during 

her senior season as well, posting a time of 21:12 

in winning the Iowa Conference Championship and 

MVP honors.

IIAC FALL 2008 IIAC MVPS 

Alex McGrew ('09) 

(Van Horne, Iowa) 

Mary Bridget Corken ('09) 

(Dubuque, Iowa) 

The volleyball squad made history in head coach 

Teresa Kehe’s third season. Since rejoining the NCAA 

and the Iowa Conference in 1986, the Duhawks had 

never won the Iowa Conference title or qualified for the 

NCAA Division III Championships—but 2008 was that 

year. Loras went 8-0 in the league, dropping just five 

sets and winning 24. They hosted the Iowa Conference 

tournament after claiming the regular season title on the 

road against Simpson College in a five-set thriller. They 

won both games in the Athletic and Wellness Center in 

front of significant home crowds during the tournament 

and punched their ticket to the Championships in the 

process. Another thrilling five-set match followed, but 

the Duhawks could not snag the win. A number of players 

were named all-conference, including MVP Jenny 

Dziubla (’09) (Bartlett, Ill.). Head coach Kehe was 

voted Coach of the Year by her peers. 

The women’s golf team finished sixth at the four-round 

Iowa Conference Championships this fall. Jackie 

Kieffer (’09) (Spencer, Iowa) led the way for Loras in 

her senior season, finishing as a medalist in ninth place 

and shooting a final round 79. Brittney Boffeli (’09) 

(Cascade, Iowa) also finished in the top 20 (18), and 

posted three rounds in the 80s. Loras finished fourth in 

the annual Fall Invitational at Lacoma Golf Club. Their 

season continues with a handful of events scheduled for 

the spring. 

The soccer teams once again put their stamp on the Iowa 

Conference in 2008. The men’s team won the Iowa 

Conference for the third straight year and the women 

returned to the NCAA Division III Championships with a 

shootout win in the IIAC Tournament Championship 

Miguel Bonilla ('11) 

(Cali, Colombia) 

Jenny Dziubla ('09) (Bartlett, Ill.) 

The volleyball team celebrates their Iowa Conference title in 

Indianola, Iowa, after defeating Simpson 3-2 to go 8-0.They went 

on to earn their first berth to the NCAA Championships. 

game. They each followed with wins in the NCAA tournament. 

The men marched all the way to the national 

semifinals for the second consecutive season. On their 

way to the NCAA semifinals, they hosted four games in 

the Rock Bowl and outscored their opponents 9-2. The 

teams combined for 16 All-IIAC athletes, three All- 

Region, and Santiago Mejia (’10) (Cali, Colombia) 

repeated as an All-American. Miguel Bonilla (’11) (Cali, 

Colombia) was voted the Iowa Conference men’s MVP. 

Mejia and women’s goalkeeper Torey Murray (’09) 

(Des Moines, Iowa) each planted themselves in the record 

books. Murray leaves with the most career shutouts and 

Mejia, through three seasons, owns the assists record. 

39 


alumni news 

40 

National Alumni Board Welcomes 

Two New Members 

BY BOBBI EARLES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AND COMMUNICATIONS 

Amy (Deluhery) Breitfelder (’92) Jane (Noonan) Demmer (’76) 

The National Alumni Board welcomed two new members to the board on Oct. 3, 2008. Amy 

(Deluhery) Breitfelder (’92) and Jane (Noonan) Demmer (’76) have been elected to fouryear 

terms. Loras College and fellow board members wish to thank Jim Brems (’71) and 

Richard Kenney (’63) who completed their second four-year terms in October. 

Breitfelder is a senior vice president with U.S. Bank, leading the retail side of banking for 

Northeast Iowa for six years. She currently volunteers with the Junior Board of the Visiting 

Nurses Association and Junior Achievement of the Heartland. Breitfelder recently completed her 

term as president of the Loras Alumni Club of Dubuque and is currently finishing up her tenure 

on the board. She is married to Tim (’91) and they have one son, Andrew, who is in 5th grade. 

Demmer graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1976. Following her education at Loras she 

received an M.B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa. After working three years for Ford 

Motor Company in Detroit, Mich., Demmer accepted a position with John Deere, where she has 

worked for 29 years. Most of that time has been spent in Information Technology supporting 

Engineering. Demmer is currently the manager of Product Delivery Systems for John Deere 

Power Systems Division in Waterloo/Cedar Falls. For the last three years, she has served as the 

secretary/treasurer on the board of directors for a user group affiliated with engineering software 

and is also involved with the Coaching Program and WomenREACH organizations at John 

Deere. Demmer and her husband John have two children, Molly (’04) and Matt. 

MISSION STATEMENT: 

The National Alumni Board was formed in 1989 under the direction of the Loras College 

Office of Alumni Relations. The board serves to develop and promote support of alumni and 

friends through a variety of programs, events and communication in an effort to strengthen the 

College. 

In support of the priorities of Loras College, the National Alumni Board of directors created a scholarship 

in 2006. Tara Kilburg (’11) was the first recipient and Andrew Tranel (’12) received the second award. The 

$2,500 scholarship will be given to Kilburg and Tranel each of the four years they attend Loras contingent 

on the financial and academic requirements. In addition, the National Alumni Board plans to expand the 

scholarship and award to another student for the 2009-10 year. The board continues to raise funds for the 

scholarship and you can be part of this effort. Learn more by logging on to http://alumni.loras.edu.

Andrew Tranel (’12) 

My name is Andrew Tranel and I am honored 

to have been chosen as the second recipient of 

the National Alumni Scholarship. I would like 

to share with you a little bit about myself, why 

I chose Loras and the importance of this 

scholarship to me. 

I grew up on a 100-cow organic dairy farm in 

rural Cuba City, Wis., and graduated with 

honors from Wahlert Catholic High School. 

While at Wahlert I participated in golf, baseball, debate and was fortunate enough to win a state 

championship in basketball on a last-second three-pointer. 

My first semester at Loras College went very well. The transition in the beginning of the year 

was a little difficult; however, after I got settled in everything seemed to go smoothly. I love 

every part of Loras College. My favorite part has to be the people and the friendships that I have 

made. While at Loras I have been involved in the Breitbach Catholic Thinkers and Leaders program. 

This program has introduced me to some incredible students and faculty. 

Often times I am asked why I chose Loras College. I knew that I wanted to stay close to home. 

Automatically that narrowed my colleges down to four. I visited Loras and fell in love with the 

campus, the people and the overall atmosphere. I knew that I wanted a faith-based school and the 

overall feeling of faith that is present at Loras overwhelmed me and made my decision very easy. 

I would like to thank the National Alumni Board for making this scholarship possible and for the 

generosity that they have shown me. Thank you! 

Andrew Tranel (’12) 

National Alumni 

Scholarship Recipient 

41 


THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | ALUMNI NEWS 

42 

Knobbe Family Counts Blessings, 

Including Loras 


One of the many blessings in life is being able to share 

memories with the ones you love. Whether it is creating 

new memories, or revisiting the old ones, both are 

meaningful. This summer, Joe (’49) and Jan Knobbe 

took approximately 30 family members on a charter 

bus trip to visit a handful of significant places in their 

lives, one of them being the campus of Loras College. 

The family drove the bus eight hours west on June 6 to 

share memories with their children, grandchildren, 

great grandchildren and assorted spouses. 

The purpose for visiting Loras, which was the first stop 

on a visit across Iowa, was to begin visiting the family’s 

roots. The first stop on campus was Christ the King 

Chapel, which was built while Knobbe was a student. 

After touring the chapel, the family visited with the 

Rev. John Haugen, dean of campus spiritual life, to 

reminisce about staff members and students from 

Knobbe’s era. 

The next stop was a tour of Keane Hall where Knobbe 

resided while attending Loras. A visit to the Office of 

Alumni Relations resulted in looking at pictures of 

Knobbe in Purgolds and reminiscing about staff members 

and classmates during his time at Loras. 

When asked what the family received from their experience 

of visiting Loras, Joe Knobbe Jr. stated, “It was 

a wonderful opportunity for all the grandchildren and 

great-grandchildren to see where their grandfather went 

to college and to learn more about who he was before 

he married their grandmother.” 

This summer, Joe (’49) and Jan Knobbe took approximately 30 family members on a charter-bus trip to visit a handful of 

significant places in their lives, one of them being the campus of Loras College.

Summer Alumni Gatherings 

For more than 30 years the Loras Club of Dubuque has held a 

Scholarship Golf Outing to raise funds for area students attending 

Loras. The tradition continued on Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, at Thunder 

Hills Country Club in Peosta, Iowa. Nearly 300 alumni and community 

members participated in the event which raised more than $20,000. 

Many thanks to the grand prize sponsors: Conlon Construction, 

Diamond Jo and Travel Headquarters, and all the Loras Club of 

Dubuque Scholarship sponsors. Pictured (l to r) are Rick Ackley, Bob 

Hoefer, Steve Chapman and Randy Skemp (’78). 

The Loras Club of Cedar Rapids/Iowa City started the 

summer with their annual scholarship golf outing and 

dinner at Hunters Ridge Golf Course on June 9, 2008. 

Alumni and friends showed their support of the College 

by golfing during the day and enjoying the dinner, auction 

and raffle that night. Each year, the Loras Club of 

Cedar Rapids/Iowa City gives out 10 scholarships to 

local students attending Loras. 

The summer stayed busy with four All Sports Camp 

receptions. The Loras College Alumni Relations and 

Admission offices teamed up to welcome families as 

they dropped off their children at camp. The hospitality 

receptions were held on June 15, June 22, July 6 and 

July 13, 2008. Alumni and friends enjoyed tours of the 

new Athletic and Wellness Center and refreshments 

before they hit the road. 

Alumni and families participated in the Loras Club of 

La Crosse Golf Outing on Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, at the 

La Crosse Country Club in Onalaska, Wis. The event 

proceeds combined with other donations allowed the 

club to help six students from the La Crosse area currently 

attending Loras College. 

Young alumni in Chicago gathered to enjoy a presentation entitled, 

“Life after Loras,” facilitated by John Upstrom, M.B.A., professor of 

finance.The Loras Club of Chicago hosted the event at the Schoolyard 

Tavern and Grille in Southport, Ill. on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. Pictured 

(l to r) are: Mary McDonnell (’04), Erin White (’01), Liz John (’04), 

Liz Furth (’04) and Katie Sullivan (’03). 

The Loras Club of Quad Cities held a Mass and picnic 

on Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Scott County Park in Lone 

Tree, Iowa. The Rev. Msgr. Francis Friedl (’39) celebrated 

the Mass and alumni and families brought food 

to share. 

Alumni hit the links at Irv Warren Memorial Golf 

Course on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, as the Loras Club 

of Waterloo/Cedar Falls hosted its annual outing. Two 

area students, Will McIntee (’11) and Dustin 

Newhoff (’12), were awarded scholarships at the dinner 

held following the event. 

The Loras Club of Northeast Iowa celebrated the end of 

summer on Friday, Aug. 15, 2008, with a picnic for new 

and returning students along with alumni and their families. 

Joe (’76) and Mary Beth Bouska, parents of current 

student Daniel Bouska (’11), hosted the event at 

their home in Decorah, Iowa. 

The Loras Club of Des Moines hosted an event during 

an I-Cubs game on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008. More than 

two dozen alumni of all ages enjoyed the game at 

Principal Park with their families. 

43 


THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | ALUMNI NEWS 

44 

Fall Alumni Gatherings 

The Loras Club of Cedar Rapids/Iowa City hosted a tailgate prior 

to the football game against Coe College on Saturday, Sept. 27, 

2008. Alumni, friends and parents of players, as well as Tom 

Shey (’88) and family (pictured), enjoyed the reception at 

Xavier’s in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

President Jim Collins (’84) traveled to Huntington 

Beach, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, with the Rev. 

Msgr. Charles Lang (’61) to meet with alumni. Jim 

(’56) and Audrey Smith opened up their home for the 

gathering. 

The Loras College soccer teams were treated with 

alumni hospitality on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, while 

competing on the road. National Alumni Board member 

Kelly (Stevens) Moshier (’97) and her husband 

Mark hosted a luncheon for alumni and student-athletes 

in their home in Plymouth, Minn. 

The final Loras Club of Dubuque Duhawk Den was 

held on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, in front of the 

Fieldhouse. The Loras Duhawks took on the 

University of Dubuque Spartans defeating them 42-6. 

Following the game, alumni and their families who 

currently have children attending Loras gathered for 

the Legacy Reception in Wahlert Hall with President 

Jim Collins (’84). 

The Loras Club of Chicago finished out the month of 

October with their annual fall meeting on Tuesday, 

Oct. 28, 2008. Prior to their board meeting, members 

met with Loras students currently enrolled in internships 

through the Chicago Center. 

During Homecoming Weekend in October, Loras hockey alumni gathered at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque for an alumni 

match. Participating were (standing, l to r) Aaron Seehusen (’07; 4 assists), Joe O’Connell, Ryan Small (’08; 2 goals, 1 assist), Brian 

Steuer, Nick Zimmerman (’89; 1 goal, 1 assist), Drew Arensdorf (1 goal, 1 assist), Derek Chemers (’04; 5 goals, 7 assists), (kneeling, 

l to r) Pat “Larry” Flaherty (’93; 1 assist), Kyle Calvert (’08; 10 saves),Tim Althaus (’93; 3 goals), Rick Callahan (’05; 2 goals) 

and Jason Calvi (’04; 1 goal). Not pictured is Steve “Hippie” Vlcek (’90).

Winter Alumni Gatherings 

Archdiocesan priests from Dubuque gathered on campus for 

the annual Retired Priests Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 

10, 2008.The Rev. John Haugen, dean of campus spiritual life, 

held a prayer service prior to dinner in the Alumni Campus 

Center. During the evening President Jim Collins (’84) provided 

the group with a College update followed by a trolley 

ride through Murphy Park to enjoy the light displays. Pictured 

(l to r) are: the Rev. Tom Rhomberg (’48), the Rev. John 

Haugen and the Rev. Msgr. David Wheeler (’49). 

Wrestling alumni gathered for the 35th Annual Loras 

Alumni Wrestling Meet on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. Pat 

“Flash” Flanagan (’63) served as coach for the alumni 

squad. The day was filled with alumni matches and 

scrimmage matches between current student-athletes. A 

social with Loras Wrestling Coach Randy Steward and 

alumni rounded out the day. 

The Loras Club of Rockford welcomed alumni and 

friends to their annual scholarship luncheon on 

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008. Cheryl Jacobsen, Ph.D., 

provost and academic dean, was the featured speaker 

and shared thoughts on educating leaders for a complex 

future. First year student Chris Busker (’12) received 

the 2008-09 Loras Club of Rockford Scholarship and 

was recognized along with his parents at the luncheon. 

The Loras Club of Dubuque board members welcomed 

alumni and fans to the Athletic and Wellness Center on 

Jan. 7, 2009, for the women’s and men’s basketball games 

against cross-town rival, the University of Dubuque. 

Coaches Greg Gorton and Justin Heinzen spoke to 

the group about their respective programs. 

Students and alumni gathered in Washington, D.C., on 

Jan. 21, 2009, for a reception at the newly constructed 

Capitol Visitors Center. Loras College professors 

David Salvaterra, Ph.D., and Mary Lynn 

Neuhaus, J.D., traveled there with students for a Jterm 

experience. 

The annual $125 Dinner hosted by the Loras Club of 

Cedar Rapids/Iowa City was held on Sunday, Jan. 25, 

2009, at A Touch of Class. This event helps raise money 

for scholarships for area students attending Loras. 

Alumni Office 

Goes Green 

In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, 

the Office of Alumni Relations is communicating 

information about alumni gatherings 

and events through e-mail when possible. 

To stay up-to-date on events coming to an 

area near you, please send your e-mail 

address to alumni@loras.edu! 

45 


Homecoming 2008 

Class of 1958 

2009 

Homecoming 

September 25-27 

For more information on the weekend’s 

events, continue to check for updates at 

http://alumni.loras.edu 

You can also contact the Office of 

Alumni Relations at 563.588.7170 

Homecoming Weekend kicked off on 

Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. Thousands of alumni 

and their families returned to campus to 

celebrate special reunions and receptions 

including the class of 1958 which celebrated 

its Golden Jubilarian and the class of 

1983 celebrating its Silver Jubilarian. 

Class of 1983 

To see more photos from Homecoming 

Weekend, visit: http://alumni.loras.edu 

and click on the Photo Albums.


Class of 1978 

Class of 1968 

Class of 1963 

Class of 1973 

47 


THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | ALUMNI NOTES Homecoming 

48 

2008 

Class of 1988 

Class of 1998 

Class of 1993 

Class of 2003


2008 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients 

Loras College and the National Alumni Board recognized five individuals with distinguished alumni awards during 

the Homecoming Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. 

Pictured (l to r) are Distinguished Alumni Award recipients Joseph Schaefer, Ph.D. 

(’62),Thomas Green (’63), Michael Blouin (’66) and Jim Theisen (’56). 

Michael T. Blouin (’66) was honored with 

Contributions Made as a Public Servant for his work as 

an elected official and vision for growing Iowa. Shortly 

after graduating from Loras College, Blouin began his 

political career serving in roles that ranged from an Iowa 

Senator to U.S. House Representative, eventually being 

appointed by Governor Tom Vilsack to the Iowa 

Department of Economic Development. In 2007, Blouin 

returned to Dubuque becoming the president of the 

Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. 

The Rev. John C. Friedell, Ph.D. (’51), received an 

award for Contributions Made as a Staff, Faculty or 

Administrative Member. Friedell attended Loras 

Academy and then received his bachelor’s degree from 

Loras College with majors in philosophy and mathematics. 

After studying theology for four years in Rome at 

the North American College, he obtained an S.T.L. 

degree from Gregorian University. His service has 

included being a parish priest to college professor. 

Despite his retirement from Loras, he continues to mentor 

and help students on campus. 

Thomas Green (’63) graduated from Loras College 

with a degree in business. After working for JCPenny for 

several years, Green found his true calling at the Basilica 

of St. Mary in Minneapolis. His focus was on increasing 

the parish’s outreach to the poor and disadvantaged. 

Green received the Contributions Made in Christian 

The Rev. John C. Friedell, Ph.D. (’51), 

Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, is congratulated 

by President Jim Collins (’84). 

Service and Volunteer Service award and credits his 

mother for creating in him a desire to serve others and 

being committed to making the world a better place. He 

also notes that his Catholic education impressed upon him 

the importance of community service and integrity. 

From rural Iowa to NASA, Joseph A. Schaefer, Ph.D. 

(’62), has had an impact both at Loras College and 

beyond. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in 

physics, Schaefer went on to receive his Ph.D. from 

Northwestern University. He was a member of the faculty 

of Loras College from 1964 through 1999 and is 

currently a senior lecturer in the Department of 

Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University. 

Schaefer was honored with a Contributions Made as a 

Staff, Faculty or Administrative Member award. 

The impact Jim Theisen (’56) has had at Loras will be 

felt long into the future. Over the years, Theisen has 

been supportive of scholarships, building maintenance, 

new construction projects and annual needs of the 

College. As a member of the Board of Regents he serves 

on the Development Committee. He has also been 

involved with the Boys and Girls Club, Hospice and 

numerous other community groups. Theisen was honored 

with the award for Professional Achievements and 

Contributions Made to Loras. Loras College is grateful 

for the many ways in which Theisen and his wife Marita 

have selflessly given of their time, talent and treasure. 

We welcome your nominations for 2009. Log on to http://alumni.loras.edu and click on the Distinguished Alumni Awards link. 

49 


scrapbook 

A GROWING FAMILY 

A growing Loras family with lots of future Duhawks celebrated Christmas together. 

Pictured are (Row 1, l to r): Lillian Feltes, Linden Feltes, Carson Hammer and Caleb 

Spires. (Row 2): Johnny Freund, Mary Feltes,Tom Feltes (’71) and Ethan Spires. (Row 3): 

Sara Freund and Mary Freund. (Row 4): Walter Freund, Amy (Feltes) Freund (’98), 

Kathy (Feltes) Linden (’95), Sarah (Feltes) Spires (’99), Charlie Hammer, John Freund 

(’00), Duncan Freund and Jane (Feltes) Hammer (’01). (Row 5): Todd Feltes (’95), Ryan 

Spires (’98) and Doug Hammer 

. 

FUTURE DUHAWK CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS 

Buddies and future Duhawk cross country runners Connor Tierney Sands and Clara 

Anne Saros are showing their school pride with their Loras apparel. Connor is the 

son of Katy (Tierney) (’01) and Jim Sands and Clara is the daughter of Laura 

(Hillebrand) (’01) and Kyle Saros. 

LORAS COLLEGE MOCK TRIAL AT UCI 

Art Cook (’58) and his wife Pat met up with MaryLynn Neuhaus, J.D., professor of 

communication arts and director of the mock trial program, and Loras mock trial students 

when they competed at University of California Irvine. 

IRIS AND ROSE CASES 

Iris Cases sports her Duhawk t-shirt while playing in the leaves with her sister Rose. 

They are the daughters of Lynn (Portz) Cases (’97). 

Future Cross Country Runners 

Mock Trial 

Playing in the leaves

Future Duhawks 

Alaska Tour 

FUTURE DUHAWKS AT HOMECOMING 

These future Duhawks decided to join in the festivities of Homecoming 2008. 

Pictured (l to r) are: Elli Wulfekuhle, Hunter Weyant, Ella Klein, Ethan Klein and 

Jared Wulfekuhle.They are the children of Loras roommates Jeremy Wulfekuhle 

(’98), Chris Klein (’98) and Scott Weyant (’98). 

ALASKA-LORAS GRADS 

Frank Strathman (’65) took an Alaskan tour in June 2008 with his wife, and was 

surprised to notice the Crew Chief of the tour boat drinking from a Loras 

College coffee mug… and even more surprised to discover he was Tom Callahan 

(’65), a fellow 1965 graduate! The two posed for a photo with the mug and four 

more touring Duhawks (pictured l to r): Susan Croatt (’92), Roger Hingtgen (’66), 

Twila Hingtgen (’89), Frank Strathman (’65), Tom Callahan (’65) and Barbara 

Strathman (MA ’96). 

ALUMNI NOTES 

1940s 

The Rev. Msgr. Paul Steimel (’48) has written a book 

of reflections, We Can – Letters from Fr. Paul Steimel, with 

the intent to help young people grow in their faith. All 

proceeds go to Columbus High School in Waterloo, 

Iowa, where Steimel is chaplain for the football team. 

1950s 

Richard Kunnert (’58) received the Rockford Register 

Star’s Exalibur Award for his dedication to the needs of 

the mentally ill. 

Thomas Schmitz, M.D. (’58) will serve as medical 

director of the Order of Malta Oakland Health Clinic in 

Oakland, Calif.The clinic is free and was opened as part 

of the Cathedral of Christ the Light’s outreach ministry. 

1960s 

Joseph Thomas Babbo (’60) has authored a book of 

poetry, Collected Poems: A Life’s Work,Vol. 1. 

Michael Mihm (’64) was recently named to the Board 

of Directors of the U.S. Russia Foundation for Economic 

Advancement and Rule of Law, based on a recommendation 

of the U.S. State Department and has been 

named chair of the Rule of Law Advisory Committee of 

the Board. He has been actively involved in international 

rule of law activities in Russia and many other countries 

since 1993. 

Richard Lamm (’66) and his wife Becky recently 

donated two manuscripts to Chicago’s Newberry 

Library. The first was the personal letters of Dr. Frank 

Siebert whose American collection was the largest held 

by an individual.The second was a codex of 17th century 

Spanish letters documenting the life of Ferdinand III, 

King of Castile. These letters supported his canonization 

in 1671. Lamm is a trustee of the Manuscript 

Society and serves as chair of the Finance Committee. 

Mike Connolly (’67) has retired after 30 years as an 

Iowa legislator. Connolly served 10 years in the Iowa 

House of Representatives and was named head of the 

transportation and economic development committees 

after his fourth year of service. Connolly was then 

elected to the Iowa Senate, where he served for 20 

years. 

Albert Ruffalo (’69) was honored by Junior 

Achievement of Eastern Iowa as one of the three 2008 

Junior Achievement East Central Iowa Business Hall of 

Fame Laureates.This honor acknowledges the outstanding 

business and community achievements of the honorees. 

1970s 

Scott Keener (’74) was recently promoted chief master 

sergeant of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, the 

ninth and highest noncommissioned rank in the service.

THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | ALUMNI NOTES 

52 

Robert Holz (’64) has been 

recognized by Best Lawyers 

in America® 2007. He is a 

shareholder of the Davis 

Brown Law Firm in Des 

Moines, Iowa, practicing in 

the Business Division. 

James Phillips (’76) was appointed 

chief operating officer of VGM Group, 

Inc. 

John Galo (’78) was announced as 

stage manager of the play Little House 

on the Prairie, performed at the Guthrie 

Theatre in Minneapolis, Minn. 

1980s 

James Quigley (’81) has recently 

become the sole owner of Avante 

LLC, a sheet-fed commercial printer in 

Addison, Ill. 

Richard Brimeyer (’82) has 

authored the book Every Hundred 

Years… or so: A Typical Cubs Fan 

Chronicles an Atypical Season. Proceeds 

of the project will be donated to 

Brimeyer’s brother-in-law, Phil Doll, 

who is battling multiple myeloma. 

Amy Stark (’86) was recently published 

in Inside Indiana Business with the 

article, “Indiana Not-For-Profits Must 

Not Let Fear Dictate Their Use of 

Social Media.” 

Sue (Bishop) Czeshinski (’87) 

received a 2008 Governor’s Volunteer 

Award for her work on behalf of the 

Eastern Iowa Tourism Association. 

The Rev. Mark Stoll (’88) has been 

appointed pastor of St. Michael 

Catholic Church in Kingsley, Iowa, in 

addition to his positions as pastor of 

Immaculate Conception Catholic 

Church in Moville, Iowa, and vice-chancellor 

of the Diocese of Sioux City. 

Bill Finn (’80) is being inducted 

into the National Junior 

College Athletic Association 

(NJCAA) Men’s Basketball 

Coaches Association Hall of 

Fame for his remarkable 

coaching accomplishments. 

Marvin Oakes (’68), former 

senior vice-president 

and general manager of 

Wilton Products, Inc., has 

been promoted to President 

of Wilton Enterprises. 

1990s 

Amy Blouin (’91) has been named as 

one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 

Under 40 award winners for 2008 for 

her work at the nonprofit Missouri 

Budget Project. 

Jennifer (LoBianco) Pillard (’91) 

has earned her Life and Health License 

for the State of Iowa. She is an account 

executive in the group benefits department 

of TRICOR Insurance & Financial 

Services. 

Tiffany (Crowley) Kolb (’93) has 

been named principal of St. Patrick’s 

Elementary School in Mauston,Wis. 

Crissy (Fah) Prull (’94) has been 

promoted to field sales manager for 

Marmon/Keystone’s Minnesota region. 

Kate (Kenneally) McLenaghan 

(’95) serves as style and market director 

for Objets d’Envy and recently persuaded 

celebrities Susan Sarandon and 

Paula Deen to begin wearing the company’s 

jewelry. 

Wendy Ellis (’99) participated in the 

Accenture Chicago Triathlon, raising 

more than $2,000 for cancer research 

as a member of Team in Training. She 

finished the swimming, cycling and running 

event in one hour, 42 minutes. 

2000s 

The Rev. Nils Hernandez (’00) has 

been appointed pastor at St. John 

Catholic Church in Clarion, Iowa, clustered 

with Sacred Heart in Eagle 

Grove and St. Francis Xavier in 

Belmond. 

The Rev. Msgr. Francis P. 

Friedl (’39) was named the 

recipient of the Telegraph 

Herald’s 2008 First Citizen 

Award. He also authored the 

book, “Doc” Kammer Lives, 

about the former Loras athletic 

trainer. 

Josh Breitbach (’02), a senior programmer/analyst 

at Rockwell Collins in 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was awarded the 

quarterly Rockwell Collins Open 

Innovator Award, the first non-engineer 

to be awarded the honor. 

Breitbach improved efficiency by using 

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) 

technology to locate missing job 

assignments. 

Kelly Spiegel (’02) obtained her master’s 

degree in education: reading specialist 

PreK-12 from Emporia State 

University, Emporia, Kan., on August 8, 

2008. 

Tim Olson (’03) has been selected to 

showcase Authentic Dubuque Scenes, a 

series of drawings, in the Farnham 

Galleries of Simpson College. 

Lindsay (Wright) Fahrner, M.D. 

(’04) received her doctor of medicine 

degree from the University of Illinois 

College of Medicine on May 3, 2008. 

ALUMNI 

WEDDINGS 

Breanne Miller (’07) to Kevin 

Kessenich (’08) on July 11, 2008. 

ALUMNI BABIES 

1980s 

To Cathy (Scott) (’81) and Bruce 

Haylock, a daughter, Hope, on Aug. 6, 

2008. 

To Jim (’88) and Finola (Keohane) 

(’89) Pommerich, a son, Rory 

Patrick, on March 6, 2008.

Beth Biesiadecki (’00) married James Dietrich on Sept. 29, 2007. 

Fellow Duhawks in attendance included: (top row, l to r) Pat Winn 

(’71), Charles Steffens (’64), Raphael Yalden (’70), Nate Steffens (’94), 

John Nuccio (’66), (bottom row) Heather Judge (’01), Nicki Blatner 

(’01) Beth (Biesiadecki) Dietrich (’00), James (Bish) Biesiadecki (’67), 

Jody (Glass) Murray (’01) and Abby Smith (’01). 

Tom Foley (’98) married Elizabeth McGowan on Sept. 20, 2008. 

Joining in their celebration were: (back row, l to r): Jim Conlon (’98), 

Zach Pitz (’98), Bob Byrne (’98), Chris Kettmann (’98),Tom Foley 

(’98), Scott Steiner (’98), Julie (Jenks) Kettmann (’98), Corie 

(Harkness) Frasor (’00), (middle row) Jeanne (Cafaro) Conlon (’00), 

Sean Merrick (’98), Kevin Gorman (’98), Keith Hermann (’98), Liz 

Foley, (kneeling) Brett Shemansky (alumnus), Jeremy Frasor (’98) and 

Matt Sterencuk (’98). Not pictured:Walter Farrell (’69). 

Cortney Kettmann (’05) married Travis Kueter (’04) on June 14, 2008. Helping them celebrate were: (1st row, l to r): Luke Casey (’99), Kelly 

(Kettmann) Vaughn (’01), Joe Roling (’04), Cortney (Kettmann) Kueter (’05),Travis Kueter (’04), Jackie (McGonagle) Lagoni (’04),Ashley (Caccia) 

Cleary (’04), Michele Kearney (’05), (2nd row): Mary Tedore (’04), Sara Gerlach (’04), Sarah Hayek (’04), (3rd row): Lori (Lampe) Kilburg (’80), 

Kathy (Kaiser) Lampe (’85), Karen (Gonner) Sturm (’80), Melissa (Zeimet) Casey (’04), Mary (McNee) Kettmann (’97), Erin (Hodges) Fisher 

(’04), Erin Demmer (’05), Jessie Gerlach (’06), Dianne (Scheiden) Nelson,Angie Pitts (’04), Laura (Schwitzer) Ludwig (’04), Julie (Jenks) 

Kettmann (’98), Mary Nosbisch (’05), Rob Lagoni (’03),Alica (Davis) Kapp (’05), Erin Boxleiter (’04), John Heiar (’05), Kristen Anderson (’04), 

Eric Wilgenbush (’04), (4th row): Chris Lampe (’83), Ron Roling (’70),Tom Kettmann (’97), David Fischer (’04),Tim Cundiff (’04), Brent 

Kohlenberg (’07), Jared Kohlenberg (’05), (5th row): Brittni (Sturm) Imhof (’05), Joel Sturm (’78), Brad Theisen (’05), Shelly (Kilburg) Theisen 

(’06), Kim (Muenster) Schroeder (’06), Ryan Kettmann (’06), Corey Kettmann (’02), Jacob Sturm (’07), Michael Hermes (’07), Peter Hoff (’07) 

and Jesse Kueter (’07). 

53 



54 

Dr.Tiffany Juergens (’98) married Dr. David Clark on July 19, 

2008. Sharing their special day with them were (back row, l to r): 

Jenny (Prenger) Onderak (’98), Lisa (Domeyer) Wilkie (’98), Jenni 

(Biver) Bauer (’97), Rosalyn Juergens (’96), Jenny (Hamilton) Hirner 

(’98), Jill (Blocklinger) Welch (’98),Tiffany (Juergens) Clark (’98), Mike 

Domeyer (’69), Becky Nischik (’01), Peter Juergens (’04), Beth Ann 

(Nischik) Mund (’96),Aaron Juergens (’01), Ron Juergens (’73), (front 

row, l to r) Steve Loppnow (’05), Julius Robinson (’98) and Kelly 

(Kopp) Daily (’98). 

To Scott (’89) and Susan (Johnston) (’91) Lake,a 

daughter, Madeline Elise, on Sept. 23, 2008. 

To Jan (Schaff) (’89) and Mark Mailloux, a daughter, 

Kiara Katherine, on Nov. 30, 2008. 

1990s 

To Steve (’92) and Paula Ervolino, a daughter, Lauren 

Grace, on Oct. 17, 2008. 

To Jason Deutmeyer (’93) and Sonia Meria-Deutmeyer, 

a son, Johann, on June 6, 2008. 

To Rose (Corkery) (’94) and Tim Gorton, a son, 

Andrew Joseph, on May 28, 2008. 

To Lynn (Kruse) (’94) and Scott Schilling, a daughter, 

Gabriella Marie, on July 8, 2008. 

To Chris (’95) and Danielle (Hosier) (’97) Kerper, 

a son on April 30, 2008. 

To Joe (’96) and Erin (Goodman) (’96) Maloney,a 

son, Henry Hamilton, on Nov. 7, 2008. 

To Lynn (Portz) (’97) and Ricardo Cases, a daughter, 

Dahlia Rae, on Sept. 10, 2008. 

To Kyle (’97) and Jody (Even) (’98) Decker, a daughter, 

Isabelle Ruth, on July 3, 2008. 

To Chris (’98) and Julie (Jenks) (’98) Kettmann, a son, 

Gavin Christopher, on May 17, 2008. 

To Eric (’98) and Jenni (Gerlach) (’99) Thome, a son, 

Greyson Thomas, on Sept. 9, 2008. 

Amber Gille (’05) married Kristopher Stallman (’05) on Sept. 

27, 2008, in Christ the King Chapel at Loras College. Pictured are 

(front row, l to r):Amber (Gille) Stallman (’05), Kristopher Stallman 

(’05); (second row, l to r): Joe Wendl (’05),Tony Monaghan (’05), 

Katie Zurek (’05), Erin Hall (’05),Andrew Thibadeau (alumnus); 

(third row, l to r): Jessi Warner (’11), Chris Michel (’03), Kristen 

(Johnson) Greazel (’05), Greg Greazel (’03),Tony Welch (’05), 

Mark Dempsey (’05); (fourth row, l to r): Brock Gille (’11), Nate 

Reilly (’05), Nathan Bahr (’05), Jon Heiar (’05) and Jeff Ludovissy 

(’05). In attendance but not photographed: Bob Fink (’05), 

Alejandro Pino (’99) and Autumn (Esch) Pino (’99, MA’03). 

Megan Perry (’03) and Jake Crawford were married on Oct. 18, 

2008, at Herrick Chapel in Grinnell, Iowa. Celebrating with them 

were (l to r): Joanna Diem (’04), Dave McDermott (’01), Stacia 

(Edwards) McDermott (’03), Jarrod Phelps (’04), Jake Crawford, 

Megan (Perry) Crawford (’03), Mark Smith (’02) and Jamie 

(Wilhelm) Smith (’03). 

Lindsay Wright (’04) was married to John Fahrner on May 24, 

2008, in Davenport, Iowa. Several Loras alumni participated in the 

wedding. Pictured (l to r) are: Meredith Fahrner,Angela Bruck (’04), 

Rachel Hutchins (’04), Elaine Rusin, Lindsay (Wright) Fahrner (’04), 

Helen Hughes (’04), Jody Takes (’04), Holly Wilken, Sarah Ledger 

(’03), and in front, Jenna Wilken.

Kyle Kuntz (’07) and Taryn Robinson (’08) were married on 

Nov. 8, 2008. Sharing their special day with them were Loras alumni 

(l to r): Kathleen Kraft (’08), Kyle Kuntz (’07),Tom Engelen (’08), 

Taryn (Robinson) Kuntz (’08), Joanna Brady (’08), Brian Driscoll 

(’06), Ryan Begley (’07), Niall Connellan (alumnus) and Mike Rerucha 

(’07). Not pictured: Michael Dolphin (’07). 

To Ryan (’99) and Carola Gogerty,a 

son, Finn Nicholas, on Dec. 6, 2007. 

To Anne (Kinsella) (’99) and 

Charles Hilby, a daughter, Cecilia 

Anne, on Aug. 25, 2008. 

To Michelle (Mensen) (’99) and 

Ryan Schockemoehl, a son on Nov. 

14, 2008. 

2000s 

To Sarah (Remakel) (’00) and Dan 

Henkels, a son on Nov. 20, 2008. 

To Joni (Kunkel) (’01) and Kevin 

Dement, a son. 

To Jane (Feltes) (’01) and Doug 

Hammer, a son, Charles “Charlie” 

Tyler, on Aug. 21, 2008. 

To Katy (Tierney) (’01) and Jim 

Sands, a son, Connor, on Oct. 30, 

2007. 

To James (’97) and Carrie 

(Smith) (’98) Kennedy,a 

daughter, Ella Gail, on Nov. 

24, 2008. 

To Laura (Hillebrand) (’01) and 

Kyle Saros, a daughter, Clara Anne, 

on Jan. 31, 2008. 

To Brian (’02) and Tammy Kallback, 

a daughter, Josie Ann, on Nov. 19, 

2008. 

To Mike (’02) and Ann Marie 

(Noel) (’05) Rohner, a daughter, Ella 

Constance, on Oct. 23, 2008. 

To Chad (’02) and Jennifer 

Wernimont, a son, Braden, on Oct. 

30, 2008. 

To Nicole (Frommelt) (’05) and 

Garth Gibson, a child on Nov. 17, 

2008. 

To Jodi (Morris) (’05) and Todd 

Stevens, a daughter,Addison Marie, 

on Aug. 14, 2008. 

To Adriana Gonzalez (’94) 

and Nicolas Londoño, a daughter, 

Emma, on Sept. 21, 2008. 

Sandra Gonzales (’05) and Jonathan Denham (’02) were 

married in Christ the King Chapel on Aug. 23, 2008. Many 

Duhawk faculty, staff and alumni attended their reception. 

To Jamie (’01) and Cassie 

(Sloan) (’01) McDonald, 

a son, Seamus William, on 

Feb. 7, 2008. 

ALUMNI DEATHS 

1930s 

Charles Plamondon (’30) on Oct. 

17, 2008, in Dubuque, Iowa. 

The Rev. Msgr.William Leonard 

(’39) on Dec. 10, 2008, in Dubuque, 

Iowa. 

1940s 

The Rev. Donald Weydert (’40) on 

Aug. 5, 2008, in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Cyril Reilly, Ph.D. (’41,A ’37) on 

June 29, 2008, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

James Lynn (’44,A ’40) on April 29, 

2008, in Mesa,Ariz. 

Wilfred McWilliams (’46,A ’43) on 

Sept. 9, 2008, in Hoffman Estates, Ill. 

The Rev. Msgr. Raymond Klaas 

(’46,A ’44) on Oct. 15, 2008, in 

Madison,Wis. 

To Mike Otto (’94) and 

Sushmeeta (Jolly) Nanda, a 

son, Jayden Anand, on Aug. 

16, 2008. 

To Jill (Vorwald) (’02) and 

Matt Sampson, a daughter, 

Annabel Kate, on May 28, 

2008. 

55 



56 

To Cheri (Strutt) (’06) 

and Jonathon Moser,a 

daughter, Mariah Cirila, on 

May 14, 2008. 

Ralph O’Brien (’49) on Sept. 3, 2008, 

in Madison,Wis. 

1950s 

James Comiskey (’50) on Nov. 27, 

2008, in Chicago, Ill. 

Robert McCauley (’51) on April 19, 

2008, in Cambria, Calif. 

Daniel Whalen (’51) on Oct. 26, 

2008, in Eugene, Ore. 

John McLychok, M.D. (’52) on Nov. 

1, 2008, in Santa Barbara, Calif. 

George Murphy (’52) on Aug. 14, 

2008, in California. 

Donald Schneider (’54,A ’50) on 

Dec. 1, 2008, in Dubuque, Iowa. 

John Tigges (’54,A ’50) on Oct. 29, 

2008, in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Donald Wand (’54,A ’50) on Dec. 6, 


Donald Johnson (’55) on June 20, 

2008, in Beloit,Wis. 

John Altfillisch (’56) on May 1, 2008, 

in Galena, Ill. 

John Hagan (’56) on Sept. 7, 2008, in 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

Gregory Kuehn (’57) on June 16, 

2008, in California. 

Samuel Cordaro (’59) on May 2, 

2008, in North Carolina. 

John Rowland II (’59) on June 20, 

2008, in St. Louis, Mo. 

David Hinkel (’59,A ’55) on May 19, 

2008, in Wisconsin. 

James Baker (’59,A ’55) on May 26, 

2008, in Crystal, Minn. 

To Penny (Emke) (’96) and 

Tad Gralewski, a son, 

Ronald Tyson, on Oct. 24, 

2008. 

1960s 

Richard Ripp (’60) on May 23, 2008, 

in Madison,Wis. 

Francis Scheidel (’60) on Jan. 20, 

2008, in Ocean Shores,Wash. 

The Rev. John Friederick (’61) on 

Nov. 2, 2008, in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Thomas Hummel (’62) on Feb. 1, 

2008, in Colorado. 

Thomas Kennedy (’64) on April 25, 

2008, in Hackettstown, N.J. 

James Cooney Jr. (’65) on Sept. 29, 

2008, in Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Stephen Schoening (’65) on Aug. 8, 

2008, in Caledonia, Ill. 

Robert Smith (’67) on April 29, 

2008, in Rockford, Ill. 

Steven Behr (’69) on June 15, 2008, 

in Dubuque, Iowa. 

John Feltes (’69) on Aug. 25, 2008, in 

Crystal Lake, Ill. 

Leonard Schultz Jr. (’69) on Aug. 

2008, in Illinois. 

1970s 

James Montalbano (’74) on June 18, 

2008, in Illinois. 

Steven Meineke (’75) on May 4, 

2008, in Prairieville, La. 

E. Dan Hudek (’77) on July 3, 2008, 


1980s 

Sheila (Gallagher) Augustine (’81) 

on Sept. 6, 2008, in Fort Collins, Colo. 

Catherine (Renk) Stribling (’81) on 

Dec. 11, 2008, in Jersey City, N.J. 

To Mark (’99) and Liz 

Lawler, a daughter, Maura 

Ann, on Aug. 2, 2008. 

To Bob (’88) and Terese 

Janik, a son, Benjamin 

Robert, in December 2008. 

Janice M. Quere (MA ’81) on Oct. 

22, 2008, in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Kelly Ludwig, Ed.D. (’84) on June 7, 

2008, in Orland Park, Ill. 

1990s 

Dana Reicks (’95) on Sept. 18, 2008, 

in Jerico, Iowa. 

Andrew Krayer (’97) on May 22, 

2008, in Milwaukee,Wis. 

2000s 

William Cooey (MA ’01) on Oct. 7, 

2008, in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

John Mayrose (’02) on Dec. 3, 2008, 

in Williamsburg, Iowa. 

Andrew Hoock (’05) on June 30, 

2008, in Seattle,Wash. 

Alumni 

Stacey Ament (alumnus) on Sept. 6, 

2008, in Iowa City, Iowa. 

Francis Brems (alumnus) on Dec. 13, 

2008, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

To Richard (’95) and Marie Albanese, 

a daughter,Adelyn Nicole, on Oct. 24, 2008. 

To Frank (’81) and Judi 

(Johnson) (’88) Kudlacz,a 

daughter, Molly Elizabeth, on 

Aug. 14, 2007.

To Rob (’01) and Jody 

(Glass) (’01) Murray,a 

son,Tyler Robert, on 

July 3, 2008. 

Robert Burns Sr., M.D. (alumnus) 

on July 29, 2008, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. 

James Close (alumnus) on Nov. 4, 

2008, in Pekin, Ill. 

Thomas Connolly (alumnus) on July 

30, 2008, in Aspen, Colo. 

Elroy Dannewitz (alumnus) on Aug. 

13, 2008, in Ottawa, Ill. 

Arthur Dupons (alumnus,A ’44) on 

June 18, 2008, in Tomahawk,Wis. 

James Flannery (alumnus) on July 9, 

2008, in Arlington Heights, Ill. 

Thomas Galligan (alumnus) on May 

9, 2008, in Waterloo, Iowa. 

Cletus Gauer (alumnus) on Nov. 10, 


Patricia (Horton) Goodrum 

(alumnus) on Aug. 4, 2008, in St. 

Cloud, Minn. 

Charles Hauck (alumnus) on Feb. 3, 

2008, in White Plains, N.Y. 

James Johnson (alumnus) on Nov. 

29, 2008, in Elkader, Iowa. 

John Kelly (alumnus) on Nov. 3, 

2008, in Dayton, Ohio. 

George Lemke (alumnus) on Aug. 9, 

2008, in Clinton, Iowa. 

Richard Levad (alumnus) on Feb. 27, 

2008, in Grand Junction, Colo. 

Donald Masters (alumnus) on May 

1, 2008, in Albany, Ga. 

Michael McKenzie (alumnus) on 

Dec. 10, 2007, in Ohio. 

Michael Melcher, O.D. (alumnus) 

on Aug. 18, 2008, in Thorp,Wis. 

To Richard (’91) and Sun 

Hee Oberfoell, a son, 

Xavier Cho, on June 18, 

2008. 

To Erik and Carrie 

(Mueller) Brown (’03), a 

daughter, Lillian Marie, born 

Sept. 15, 2008. 

Harrison O’Brien (alumnus) on July 

9, 2008, in Sun City West,Ariz. 

The Rev. Edmund Petit (alumnus) 

on July 28, 2008, in Aurora, Ill. 

Robert Rettenmaier (alumnus) on 

Nov. 14, 2008, in Owatonna, Minn. 

George Ruetz (alumnus) on Oct. 

12, 2008. 

Sr. Mary Kathleen Saunders RSM 

(alumnus) on Aug. 4, 2008, in Cedar 

Rapids, Iowa. 

Ronald Schmitt (alumnus) on Oct. 

25, 2008, in Rickardsville, Iowa. 

Richard Schmitz Sr. (alumnus) on 

Oct. 14, 2008, in New Jersey. 

John “Jack” Shekleton (alumnus) 

on Feb. 27, 2008, in Rochester, Minn. 

Virgil Stammeyer (alumnus) on 

May 17, 2008, in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Tom Stratman (alumnus) on Aug. 

11, 2008, in Seattle,Wash. 

Robert Wagner (alumnus,A ’38) on 

July 2, 2008, in Dubuque, Iowa. 

James Welton (alumnus) on Oct. 17, 

2008, in Utah. 

John Jacobs (alumnus,A ’46) on Aug. 

28, 2008, in Phoenix,Ariz. 

Richard Runde, D.D.S. (alumnus, 

A ’52) on Nov. 27, 2008, in Mequon, 

Wis. 

Academy 

Robert Kies Sr. (A ’32) on Dec. 4, 


Robert Schmidt (A ’39) on May 19, 


To Michelle (Ruggaber) 

(’98) and Michael Dougherty, 

a son, Benedict Raymond, on 

Sept. 10, 2008. 

Donald Cox (A ’45) on Oct. 27, 


Leo Glaser (A ’45) on May 22, 2008, 


Thomas Flynn (A ’46) on May 29, 

2008, in Rochester, Minn. 

Gordon Roberts (A ’46) on July 26, 

2008, in Cordova,Tenn. 

Melvin Kiebel (A ’47) on Aug. 13, 


John Benecke (A ’50) on July 28, 


William Ihm (A ’54) on Aug. 10, 

2008, in Kieler,Wis. 

Donald Leslein (A ’55) on June 13, 


Vincent Wallenhorst (A ’55) on 

May 28, 2008, in Cuba City,Wis. 

Hugh McQuestion (A ’56) on 

March 13, 2008, in Wisconsin. 

Paul Gansen (A ’59) on July 5, 2008, 


David Oeschger (A ’59) on July 2, 

2008, in Cascade, Iowa. 

Gary Hird (A ’61) on May 27, 2008, 

in Wichita, Kan. 

James Schmitt (A ’61) on Nov. 26, 


Thomas Weig (A ’62) on Aug. 6, 

2008, in Mississippi. 

Mike Cahill (Academy) on Sept. 17, 


William Lange (Academy) on Aug. 

29, 2008, in New Berlin,Wis. 

To Laura (Tressel) (’04) 

and Lance Cooley, a son, 

Aidan Thomas, on Nov. 13, 

2008. 

57 


perspective 

58 

“Ya Gotta Believe” 

BY KATE (KENNEALLY) MCLENAGHAN (’95) 

My Loras College roommate and friend, Jenny (Galloway) McDevitt (’95), was diagnosed 

with a malignant brain tumor on Sept. 17, 2003. She had her first craniotomy three days later, 

which was followed by chemotherapy and radiation. She was told that her tumor was a grade III 

anaplastic astrosytoma, specifically a pleomorphicxanthroastrocytoma with possibly grade IV 

features. The prognosis that she was initially given by her doctor in Chicago was that she would 

live for three, maybe four years. This was told to her with an 8-week-old baby at home. Jenny 

was only 28 years old…. 

Soon after her prognosis set in, Jenny realized what she really wanted to do was run a marathon. She 

had always wanted to run a marathon but never had a reason. With the recent turn of events in her 

life she decided this was as good a time as any to start. “I am going to run this out of my body,” she 

told herself. Jenny started training in March 2004, about six months after her diagnosis. Jenny’s first 

race was a half marathon just weeks prior to the 2004 Chicago Marathon. At mile 11 she happened 

to look down at her watch and glance at the time. The date was Sept. 17, exactly one year after receiving 

her diagnosis. At that moment, Jenny realized that believing she could run this race had paid off. 

Since that date, Jenny has run many full and half marathons in different cities and is still here with 

us. In fighting for her own life, she has taken on the cause of those like her and has spent these last 

few years traveling all over raising awareness of brain cancer with the Tug McGraw Foundation. 

This past October I joined Jenny and the Tug McGraw Foundation and ran my very first marathon 

with her at the age of 35. That marathon was a journey for me that is still so hard to put into 

words…to push your body to its limits, to experience every range of human emotion is one thing, 

but to run it alongside someone like Jenny…it was an immensely spiritual journey as well. You 

see, not only was I running with Jenny, but I was also running with other cancer fighters/survivors 

and their doctors. Any time along that run when someone was cramping up or getting tired, 

it was Jenny who would slow her pace and run alongside him or her and make sure they were 

okay. I remember thinking to myself what a leader she was to all of us, that she made me believe 

in myself and that I could do this. Here was a woman who has lost sight in 

her left eye due to the tumor and has spent the last five years in and out 

of chemotreatments fighting for 

her life and she certainly believes 

in herself! She led our pack of 

runners over 26.2 miles and she did 

it smiling and laughing the whole way. 

Now, as I sit here and write this on Feb. 1, 2009, 

Jenny is dealing with yet another recurrence of her 

cancer, but she is fighting it and she’s still running. 

She is as invested in telling her story and helping raise 

money for the Tug McGraw Foundation as she ever was. 

Jenny realizes this is not just happening to her, but to many 

others as well, and that quality of life is important. In dealing 

with her own disease, Jenny has reached out and inspired others 

with her story of dedication and determination to fight cancer, 

and her lesson is a powerful one…when you go to help others 

you help yourself more than you can ever imagine. When 

you believe in yourself you can do great things. Jenny has 

come to understand that this happened to her for a reason 

and she knows that she has a responsibility to use her voice 

and share her story and she does so with the kind of grace 

and strength that we should all aspire to have whatever battles 

we have to face in our own lives. She is a leader and truly 

my inspiration. I can only hope that I can help spread her 

message and light of hope for those who are fighting battles 

similar to these. As Tug McGraw said, “Ya Gotta Believe.”

Leader, Leading, Leadership Student Leadership - www.loras.edu ...

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