Pages 13-18 - MacMurray College

A MACMURRAYMomentA 1975 MacMurray College graduate, Dr. Kris Tumilowicz haspracticed dentistry in northern Illinois for over 30 years. During histime at MacMurray, Dr. Tumilowicz took full advantage of the collegeexperience, participating in Madrigals, Choir, MacMurray StudentAssociation, Campus Activities Board, and, as a multi-sport athlete, hebecame a Varsity M member. In addition to building and maintaininghis successful practice, Dr. Tumilowicz is an active member of hiscommunity and continues to be grateful for the opportunity he hadto attend MacMurray College. As a member of the Harker AssociatesClub, he annually reaffirms his commitment to making a MacMurrayCollege education possible for future generations.Office of Institutional Advancement(217) 479-7024 development@mac.eduName: Dr. Kristoffer J. TumilowiczOccupation: Dentist/owner, Dental Dimensions Ltd.Major/Minor: Chemistry/Pre-Dental 3-2 ProgramClass Year: 1975Biggest Influence at MacMurray College: Music & Liberal Arts (There’s more to lifethan test tubes and laboratory results)Most memorable experience in a class: Russian language class with Professor VictorAfanasiefThe first people I met at Mac: My fellow residents at MichalsonI live the Highlander philosophy by: Service to others, both patients and communityFondest Mac Memories: Madrigal performance at Governor’s Mansion; soccer games;track meets; and choir tours to New York, Florida, New Orleans, and ColoradoBeing a MacMurray College graduate means to me: Well educated, with diverse experienceFavorite professor: Dr. Charles FisherI am inspired by: Those who provide education and experience, especially outsidethe classroomHow and why I give to MacMurray College: The accelerated program gave me a jumpstartinto dental school. Along the way, I experienced a safe, exciting environmentwith a vast array of student life activities. Young students should have thesame opportunities I had, and I know MacMurray will continue to providethat same experience.11

Act i vit i eremain Mac traditions for years to come.The campus had a vibrant feel to it throughout the coldwinter months and into the warmth of the spring – the warmweather arriving just in time for the first Highland Games,which was held during Alumnae Weekend and was by farone of the most successful new activities.The student turnout at many of these events, and in somecases faculty and staff attendance, was more than whatswas expected, many times with nearly 50 percent of theon-campus student population participating. Please enjoysome of the photos taken at these various events, as wellas some other events sponsored by the Campus ActivitiesBoard.Andrea White, of Jacksonville,IL; Matt Duncan,of Jacksonville, IL; andKelsey Smith, of Filmore,IL, presented their workto a packed gallery at theSenior Art Exhibition inApril.Students watch to see whichduck will cross the finish linefirst at the annual MacMurrayDuck Race on April 9.Team O-Psi (Omega Theta Psi) reacts tofinding out they won the MacMurray Iron Chefcompetition with their Willy Wonka Sushi SwissRolls. Eight teams competed in the Jan. 21event. Teams had an hour to make two dessertsfrom more than 50 ingredients provided.Students, faculty andstaff alike enjoyed theFantasy Faces event onFeb. 18. Participants hadtheir pictures taken andthen placed against thebackgrounds of exoticlocations, movie posters, orin pictures with celebrities.MacMurray students filled everylane at the Bowl Inn on Feb. 27.A group takes a break from theirgame to pose for a quick photo.17 13

H I G H L A N D E RHighlightMac Alumna Tammy Dugan Robbins ’909:00 a.m. – Meeting with MacMurray College alumni director. 10:30 a.m. – TV producer. 11:30 a.m. –meeting at Shrine Temple. 1:30 p.m. – TV interview about Buck Gardner’s visit. To the average person,this may seem like a hectic schedule, but for Tammy Dugan Robbins ’90, public relations director for theShriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, MO, it’s just another typical day.Growing up in Carlinville, IL, Tammy knew she wanted to attend a small school to major in art. Sheinstantly felt at home at MacMurray on that rainy Columbus Day as she toured campus with Eric Collins ’88,falling in love with the stately buildings and friendly students. As a student, Tammy was active on campus,serving as president of Phi Nu, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, and RA in Rutledge Hall. With thekind guidance of her academic advisor and beloved professors, Tammy changed her major to English witha minor in art. After graduating from Mac, she completed a master’s degree at Sangamon State University(now the University of Illinois-Springfield) in public affairs reporting.Tammy’s career has revolved around communications, working as a reporter/news editor at the MacoupinCounty Enquirer and then as a reporter for the Arlington Heights (IL) Daily Herald. Realizing that she wantedto work with young people and in the non-profit sector, Tammy went to work as the news bureau assistant atCentral Missouri State University and then as public relations manager at the Girl Scout Council of GreaterSt. Louis.Following her desire to work for an organization that made a difference in the lives of children, Tammyfound her position nine years ago at the Shriners Hospital, where she is director of public and communityrelations. The hospital system, which was founded in 1922, is one of the largest pediatric sub-specialtyhealth care systems in the world and focuses on children with a host of orthopedic conditions, spinal cordinjuries, burns or cleft lip and palates. The hospital in St. Louis is one of 22 locations and is recognized byU.S. News and World Report as one of the top 10 pediatric orthopedic hospitals in America, along with itspartners, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. The hospital has anactive patient roster of 13,000, performing about 100 surgeries a month and seeing approximately 1,000patients per month in its outpatient clinic. The St. Louis hospital primarily serves nine states – Missouri,Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana – but has taken cases from justabout anywhere, including Guatemala and Haiti.No two days are identical for Tammy. She may be meeting with a TV producer to plan a fundraiser forthe hospital, doing a TV interview about duck calls, hosting the St. Louis Rams for a hospital tour, or workingwith volunteers from the Shriners fraternity.Now looking back on her undergraduate career, Tammy truly believes college was the best time ofher life, the place where she was given freedom to explore, make mistakes and become who she is today.She fondly recalls debating with friends in CORE with Coach Bob Gay and Dr. Raydo Bugayong, studyingrhetoric with Dr. Robert Seufert, and creative writing classes with Dr. Allan Metcalf.Tammy is the epitome of the MacMurray College motto of knowledge, faith and service, using hereducation to make the world a better place, one life at a time.14 16

1357286412345678During the annualVolunteer Luncheon,Tammy joins hercoworkers in servinglunch to the volunteersas a gesture ofappreciation.While she hasn’t beenissued her own “littlecar,” Tammy has hadthe opportunity to sitin one of the Shrinersfamous cars.Tammy escorts formerSt. Louis Ram AeneasWilliams and otherRams officials througha hospital visit in late2010.Tammy visits with two ofthe Shrine tour guides,Ben Allen, left, andFred Ruegg, right, whotaught her much aboutthe organization whenshe first arrived nineyears ago.Last year, the highestrankedShriner in theworld, George Mitchell,visited the St. Louishospital.Tammy poses with oneof her favorite clowns,Dougal.Buck Gardner, worldchampion duck caller,teaches a patient fromHaiti how to use aduck call. The eventwas planned as simplya fun event, but laterturned into a valuablerespiratory therapyexercise for many of thepatients.Tammy is shown withpro golfer Fred Couplesat the 2008 JustinTimberlake ShrinersHospitals for ChildrenOpen in Las Vegas.Couples is her all-timefavorite golfer, andTammy says this mightbe the pinnacle of hercareer.17 15

ALUMNI SERVICESFROM THE DIRECTORDear MacMurray alumni and friends,If you have not visited theCollege’s website – www.mac.edu - I invite you to do so, and tocheck back frequently. The sitehas recently been redesignedin order to serve you and ourprospective students moreefficiently.As a result of our Mac authorsdisplay at Homecoming last year, we now have alist of alumni authors on the website. We would liketo create a similar list of alumni-owned businesses.Please visit the site and complete the form to have yourbusiness added to the directory.We are constantly looking for new partnerships andservices to share with you and will be adding such asection to the website as well as events throughoutthe year, so please bookmark the page as one of yourfavorites.In addition to our website, the College’s Facebookpage is also a good way to stay connected with youralma mater. If you enjoy the How Well Do You KnowCampus photo contest, then be sure to become a friendof the College on Facebook, as we will be posting morefun contests like this throughout the year.As always, if you are interested in hosting a regionalgathering, serving on the Alumni Board or nominating aclassmate for an award, please contact me at (217) 479-7030 or alumni@mac.edu.My best to you,Christina WellsDirector of Alumni ServicesEBERSOLE WOWSNAPLES AUDIENCEBy Dr. Chet Bone, Liftetime TrusteeThe cabaret audience of the Naples (FL) PhilharmonicTheatre gave Christine Ebersole ’75 a standing ovationfor her performance on March 24, 2011.Setting the stage for her entrance, her support bandof piano, bass violin, drums and reed player (clarinetand saxophone) played “Big Noise from Winnetka,”Ebersole’s hometown.Ms. Ebersole opened with a fiery rendition of “TheWicked Witch is Dead” followed by show tunes, oldand new. Included among them were “You Forgot YourGloves,” “Some Day,” “42 nd Street,” “Can’t Help LovingThat Man of Mine,” “When the World was Young,” “Lifeis Just a Bowl of Cherries” and many more. ChristineEbersole’s voice had a great range, good timber at everylevel of range and vibrant expression throughout. Shehas excellent enunciation.Ms. Ebersolerewarded theapplauding standingaudience with a series ofencores for which theywere quite grateful.Among theappreciative audiencewere Louise KrussellBone ’56 and herhusband, Dr. Chet Bone,who were receivedby Christine Ebersolebetween the conclusionof her 6 p.m. show andthe start of her 8:30 p.m.show. Both Christineand Louise receivedhonorary doctorate degrees from MacMurray College in2002.Christine Ebersole won the 2007 Tony Award forOutstanding Actress in the role of a lifetime, as EdieBeale in the acclaimed Tony nominated Broadwaymusical “Grey Gardens.”In past theater seasons, Ebersole has won criticalacclaim as well as The Outer Critics Circle Award and theTony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for herportrayal of Dorothy Brock, in the 2000 revival of “42 ndStreet.”Ebersole has appeared in concert with the SanFrancisco Symphony at Carnegie Hall (2008 PBS Special),multiple concerts with The Boston Pops and has yearlyengagements at New York’s Café Carlyle.16