Alumni Association News
News
___________________________________________________________________________________ President Lane addresses Teachers College alumni after U.S. Education Secretary names College a 'crown jewel'Oct. 30, 2009 ESU President Michael Lane has a special message for ESU alumni: Dear ESU Alumni, In a time when the news about education seems to be dominated by fiscal concerns, it’s always good to read about a university in Kansas that is doing something right. I hope you’ll find the remarks from U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as enlightening and encouraging as we did here at Emporia State University. The Teachers College at ESU is, indeed, a “crown jewel,” as Secretary Duncan noted in a speech at Columbia University last week. Just this week, we were thrilled to learn that another graduate of The Teachers College, Bradley Nicks, has received the 2009 Milken Educator Award for Kansas. Mr. Nicks teaches math, physical education and health at Shawnee Heights High School in Tecumseh. As you are aware, ESU has received a variety of awards and recognition as a model teacher and educational administrator program over the years.
Currently, one in every six classroom teachers in Kansas holds a degree and/or licensure endorsement from ESU. In addition, 40% of the pre-K – 12 school counselors and approximately 40% of the elementary and secondary school building principals have completed their degree and/or licensure endorsement at ESU. After three years in the profession, retention rates of teachers prepared by ESU is 93% compared to national rates of 30% to 50%.
We look forward to preparing more teachers to serve the children of Kansas and their parents. Sincerely,
President
2009 Hornet Heritage award-winning family announcedSept. 8, 2009 A family tracing its roots back 144 years to the very first class in 1865 of the Kansas State Normal School (now Emporia State University) is this year’s Hornet Heritage family. Claiming the 2009 award, the Spencer-Smith-Brown-Hopper-LeClear family branches out across three centuries of the university’s existence. Three sisters – Martha, Margaret, and Elmira Spencer – were present on Feb. 15, 1865, the first day of class at Kansas State Normal School, under the direction of Lyman B. Kellogg, the college’s first president. The Hornet Heritage award, sponsored by the ESU Alumni Association, annually recognizes a multigenerational family of Hornet alumni and former students. The family will be honored on Family Day at ESU, at halftime of the football game versus the University of Central Missouri. The game begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Two of Margaret Spencer’s great-grandchildren carried on the ESU lineage in the 20th century. Wayne Smith (BSE 1951, BA 1951) had a son and daughter-in-law who attended ESU. Nadine (Brown) Hopper attended the Newman School of Nursing, which later became part of ESU. Four of her children and two of her grandchildren have earned ESU degrees, while a third grandchild, Jami LeClear, is a current student at ESU, working part-time in the Sauder Alumni Center. Read more about the award here.
2009 Outstanding Recent Graduates announcedAug. 4, 2009 Emporia State University is pleased to announce the 2009 recipients of the Outstanding Recent Graduate award. Megan Burgess, of Topeka; Mark Schmelzle, of Valley Center; and Jodie Leiss of Emporia, will be recognized by the ESU Alumni Association at the Alumni Celebration Dinner on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, during Homecoming Weekend. “The Outstanding Recent Graduate class of 2009 represents a small but elite sample of the finest young men and women to complete their studies within the last 10 years,” said Peter Brodie, alumni relations director. “We are very excited to honor achievements in their careers, service to their communities and dedication to their alma mater with these awards.” The award recipients are selected annually by the university’s undergraduate colleges and schools. Read more about the award and see past recipients online. The public is invited to honor this year’s award winners by attending the Alumni Celebration Dinner. For more information, call (620) 341-5440 or e-mail alumni@emporia.edu.
2009 Distinguished Alumni announcedJuly 29, 2009 The highest honor Emporia State University confers upon graduates, the Distinguished Alumni award, will be presented to four alumni during Homecoming Weekend in late October. Dr. Becky Hays Boober, of Holden, Maine; Dr. Randy Scott, of Los Altos, Calif.; Justice Harold See, of Montgomery, Ala.; and Sue Swaim, of Aurora, Maine, will be honored by the ESU community at the Alumni Celebration Dinner on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, during Homecoming Weekend. Click here to read their biographies here and see past recipients. The award has recognized ESU’s most prestigious alumni since 1960, and this year’s remarkable class is no exception. “ESU is extremely proud of the accomplishments of this year’s Distinguished Alumni,” said ESU President Michael R. Lane. “This year we are pleased to honor four outstanding alumni including an award-winning executive in corrections, a state Supreme Court justice, a nationally recognized educator, and a distinguished research scientist and businessman. These four individuals represent excellent examples of the kinds of contributions our best and brightest graduates continue to provide to our nation. I thank each for their dedication and hard work, and I congratulate them on their selection as Distinguished Alumni of Emporia State University.” The award recipients are selected annually from among a strong pool of nominations. The initial selection is made by a committee representing alumni and faculty, and the Alumni Association Board of Directors approves the final slate of award winners. The public is invited to honor this year’s award winners by attending the Alumni Celebration Dinner. For more information, call (620) 341-5440 or e-mail alumni@emporia.edu.
ESU baseball team playing for national title on SaturdayFriday, May 29 When did we fully realize that Emporia State’s baseball team possessed the postseason magic to give them a legitimate shot at a national title? Maybe it was in Thursday’s semi-final game in the D-II World Series, when ESU outfielder Conner Crumbliss made a diving catch, barely capturing half the ball in the end of his glove, to end the top of the 5th inning with two UC-San Diego runners on base. It most certainly was when ESU fans around the nation heard the crack of Kellen Lane’s bat in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and one runner on base in a 3-3 game. The ball sailed out of the park for a two-run shot that gave ESU a 5-3 win and a spot in Saturday’s national championship game, and those ESU fans listening everywhere were jumping for joy. The party continues! At 11 a.m. CDT on Saturday, ESU takes on #5 Lynn in Cary, N.C. Wherever you’re at, you can watch the end to an amazing season. Television: The CBS College Sports broadcast will be picked up on CableOne Channel 20 in Emporia and tentatively, MetroSports in Kansas City. The game will be televised nationwide on CBS College Sports available on DirecTV (channel 613) and DISH Network (channel 152) as well as selected cable systems across the country. To see the full list of TV options, go to http://www.emporia.edu/athletics/baseball/news/09ESUBASEnationalchampionshipwatch.htm. Radio: Tune to KFFX-FM 104.9 in the Emporia area. Radio online: Go to http://www.kvoe.com/listen.htm for the radio broadcast. Video online: The game will be streamed live at http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=ncaa&media=129153. Watch parties: Look above to learn the latest on watch parties around the state – at this point, plans are developing for parties in Hutchinson, Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka and Emporia.
We’re hearing of more and more viewing options, on TV and in watch parties. As these opportunities develop, check out the Alumni website above or the Athletics blog for the latest information. We'll update the sites as we learn more.
“This is another great opportunity for our student-athletes to showcase their talents on a national stage,” said Kent Weiser, ESU athletics director. “I am very proud of their effort while in North Carolina.” Meanwhile, Rod Turner, the president of the ESU Alumni Association, offered a message to the team:
“To Coach Bob Fornelli and members of the 2009 Emporia State baseball team:
On behalf of more than 55,000 Emporia State alumni, we are all rooting for you on Saturday! Win or lose, your performance this year is a tribute to the outstanding players representing themselves as well as their university.
Of course, we want you to bring home the title! Many of us will cheer you on, following the game via the internet, cable, and radio, or attending one of the watch parties that are now forming across Kansas and in other cities.
Again, good luck on Saturday. Go Hornets!!”
ESU Ambassadors for 2009-2010 announcedMay 21, 2009 Thirty-four Emporia State University students have been chosen to represent their university in the prestigious Ambassadors organization for the 2009-10 academic year. The award-winning group brings together some of ESU’s most capable student leaders in the cause of serving the university. Now, 19 new members join 15 returning Ambassadors for a new school year, set to record thousands of service hours in their duties as ESU’s hosts. ESU’s Ambassadors conduct daily campus tours for prospective students and parents, host events for the ESU president, represent ESU at the Kansas State Fair, sponsor Senior Week, appear at Homecoming and Advancement events, and more. “The 2009-2010 Ambassadors are among the best and brightest that ESU has to offer,” said Nikki Metz, alumni programs coordinator and the group’s advisor. “We’re excited to get the group together for a retreat in August and start the year off with E-Zone activities, alumni events, and Homecoming.” Metz spoke especially highly of the group’s new executive team. “They have quite a legacy to follow,” said Metz, “and I am sure at the end of the year they will leave behind a legacy of their own.” New and returning members applied and interviewed for a spot on the 2009-10 roster. The 2009-10 Ambassadors are:
* denotes second-year Ambassador ** denotes third-year Ambassador
Railroad exeuctive's gift eases students' financial burdensMay 13, 2009 EMPORIA – A former railroad executive is giving $60,000 in scholarships to Emporia State University students in the next two years to ease their financial strain in the current economic climate. John McPherson and his wife, Ann, of Ponte Vedra, Fla., have established the McPherson Family Scholars Fund at the ESU Foundation to provide 10 scholarships, $2,000 each, for the 2009-10 school year, and another $40,000 for the 2010-11 school year. The scholarships are intended for ESU students from Kansas high schools who are studying in any academic field. McPherson, who from 1999 to 2007 was the president and COO of Florida East Coast Railway, formerly served as the vice president of operations for Illinois Central Railroad in Chicago, and before that spent 25 years in management with the Santa Fe Railroad. A native of Emporia, McPherson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University) in 1969. “Emporia State offered me a lot of opportunity in my life and my career, so I’m ready to give back,” McPherson said. When John and Ann set up their family foundation, they knew they wanted to give to ESU – particularly for the university’s ability to educate Kansans, some of whom might be the first in their families to attend college. “There are a lot of young people in Kansas who maybe don’t have an opportunity to get that great education – but Emporia State is positioned so perfectly to meet that need,” McPherson said. “If I can be a little bit of help to share what I’ve learned, I’m glad to share.” The result, like a train arriving right on schedule, is scholarship support for ESU students when they need it most. “The foresight John and Ann have shown in creating this fund is remarkable,” said Linda Pease, chief development officer at the ESU Foundation. “Their goal was to help students stay in school during the current economic crisis so they will be prepared to enter the job market when it improves. John told me he hopes this program will enable many students to do so, and he also hopes to encourage others to give back in similar ways.” As a youngster, McPherson formed an early connection with the campus, playing basketball in the gym and swimming in the pool. Throughout his time in college, he worked as a switchman and brakeman in Emporia’s busy train yards, witnessing a busy hub of east-west train traffic crossing the United States. As an executive rising through the ranks, McPherson earned a master’s degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and completed executive programs at the University of Southern California and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2008, he joined the CSX Railroad Board of Directors. For more information on the McPherson Family Scholars Fund or on supporting ESU through the ESU Foundation, contact the Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu. Visit us online at www.emporia/foundation and www.emporia.edu/give.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Fourth annual John Blaufuss Run/Walk goes off without a hitchMay 2, 2009 The fourth annual John Blaufuss Memorial Run/Walk at Emporia State University went off without a hitch. The running and walking paths courses on May 2 ran through and around the ESU campus area, including a 2-mile walk and a 5k run. Participants young and old walked the long circuit around the ESU campus, talking and smiling; a few on the walking path pushed strollers. A crowd of volunteers cheered the walkers into their final stretch, shouting encouragements.
166 participants joined the event. Finishes for the 5k run were clocked, and Mark Kucza (18:33), Jacob Kucza (18:34), and Will Rowland (19:08) were recognized as the fastest times in the male runner category. Audrey Sherman (24:04), Beth Rowland (24:17), and Chelsea Blaufuss (24:32), were recognized as the fastest runners in the women’s category. See a list of all runner times in .pdf format. Blake Davis, associate director of annual programs and event coordinator, recognized the top three male and female finishers at the reception and directed them to their medals. Dorothy Blaufuss, spouse of the late John Blaufuss and an alumna as well, spoke on the memory of her husband and his commitment to raising scholarship dollars for ESU students.
All $10,000 of this year’s proceeds are dedicated to the ESU General Scholarship Fund. This year, champion sponsor Barnhart Builders, of Olpe, Kan., were joined as sponsors for the event by Bobby D’s Merchant Street BBQ, Emporia Fitness, Sodexo, and Walburn’s Fitness and Wellness, as well as the Blaufuss family and several other area businesses in support of the scholarship drive. John Blaufuss, a beloved figure at Emporia State University, was killed while jogging in December 2005. The ESU controller served ESU for more than 30 years, and was a firm believer in supporting ESU and contributed to numerous scholarship funds for students. At the first Blaufuss Run/Walk in 2006, in honor of Blaufuss, ESU dedicated a statue of Corky the Hornet in Union Square.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Newberg Outstanding & Distingushed Seniors Named
The 2009 Dwight and Ida Curry Newberg Seniors have been named: Taylor Relph, a communication major of Wichita, Kan., was named Outstanding Senior (right) and Michelle Hernandez, a business administration major of Kingman, Kan. took the spot of Distinguished Senior (below). "Taylor and Michelle exceeded already high standards for excellence in the classroom, service to the community and the University,” said Peter Brodie, alumni relations director at ESU. “It has been a true pleasure to recognize them for their outstanding dedication to academics and service to the community." The Outstanding and Distinguished Senior awards are named in honor of Dwight (BSE 1933) and Ida Curry Newberg (LC 1932), who provided endowed funds for the awards. In order to be selected for the Newberg Outstanding Senior and Newberg Distinguished Senior awards, students must be nominated by an ESU faculty or staff member and submit The other nominees included Stephanie Clark, Paola; Kelli Coble, Galena; Suzanne Crawford, Emporia; Petra Elmore, Wichita; Timothy “T.J.” Erickson, Olathe; Benjamin Howard, Lenexa; Courtney Knaup, Wichita; Audanell Lester, Emporia; Annabel Osburn, Manhattan; Sarah Sadowsky, Overland Park; Susan Samuelson, Burlington; and Aniesa Slack, Oxford, Kan. For more information on the 14 nominees, including Relph and Hernandez, see their biographies (.pdf format.) For more information on the award, making nominations, and previous winners, see the Newberg Senior award page.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Ambassadors reach their 25th - photos to follow
This past weekend, current and alumni ambassadors joined together with President and Dr. Peggy Lane, Judith Heasley, David and Ann Eldridge and Roy and Lori Mann to celebrate 25 years of service to Emporia State University. An eclectic crowd with amazing pockets of energy came together for dinner and socializing on Saturday evening. Some also attended a portion of the Women's Softball double header against Southwest Baptist and/or a send-off brunch on Sunday morning here at the Sauder Center. During the evening program, President and Dr. Lane recognized the 2009 retiring ambassadors for their dedicated service. The Sauder Alumni Center’s Webb Atrium was also bedecked with a display of Ambassadors history and memorabilia, to be taken down at the meeting. The ambassadors re-named and presented their honorary membership award this past weekend, now the Roy Mann Honorary Ambassador Award, aptly presented to Roy Mann himself, a former ESU alumni director, who was very surprised to receive it. Photos from the weekend will be posted online starting this week, so check out our University Advancement Photos page, our Facebook page or the Ambassadors page on the University website! The ambassadors are an instrumental component of the alumni association programming. If you see an ambassador today, please congratulate that individual on the organization's 25 years of service and thank him/her for an outstanding year.
___________________________________________________________________________________ ESU prepares for 2009 Senior Week EventsSeniors, prepare for the Best Week Ever – the week that’s all about you! Senior Week 2009 is set for April 27 to May 1, and 24 area businesses are collaborating with Emporia State University and the ESU Alumni Association to bring you a week packed full of events not to be missed, including the annual Newberg Outstanding Senior Banquet and a senior celebration at Wings N’ Things. This year's Senior Week includes a new distinction – the Seniors’ First Alumni Event, a chance to hob-knob with local business and alumni chapter leaders who are fellow graduates of ESU, with President Michael and Dr. Peggy Lane as your hosts. The Newberg Outstanding Senior Banquet on Monday at 6 p.m. honors the most accomplished students of the graduating class. Families, faculty, and the public are invited to attend. RSVP for the event by contacting alumni@emporia.edu. The nominees for 2009 are Stephanie Clark, Paola; Kelli Coble, Galena; Suzanne Crawford, Emporia; Petra Elmore, Wichita; Timothy “T.J.” Erickson, Olathe; Michelle Hernandez, Kingman; Benjamin Howard, Lenexa; Courtney Knaup, Wichita; Audanell Lester, Emporia; Annabel Osburn, Manhattan; Taylor Relph, Renton, Wash.; Sarah Sadowsky, Overland Park; Susan Samuelson, Burlington; and Aniesa Slack, Oxford, Kan. See full biographies of the Newberg Outstanding Senior candidates. Senior Week events Monday, April 27: The Newberg Outstanding Senior Banquet starts at 6 p.m. Fourteen faculty-nominated candidates will be honored in the Memorial Union Colonial Ballroom along with their nominators and families, and two will be selected as the Dwight and Ida Curry Newberg Outstanding Senior and Distinguished Senior. The cost for the banquet is $15 per person. RSVP by prepayment at the Sauder Alumni Center. Tuesday: The Senior Breakfast will be held from 8-10 a.m. on the Pedestrian Mall, between Cremer and Morse halls. Erin Gruwell will speak in Albert Taylor Hall at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: The Emporia State Federal Credit Union will host a Senior Lunch at the Union’s Webb Lecture Hall along with games, activities, and a balloon artist from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. As a special new opportunity this year, the Sauder Alumni Center will host the Seniors’ First Alumni Event at 5 p.m., giving soon-to-be ESU alumni a chance to network with alumni community members, the Alumni Association board, and alumni chapter leadership. RSVP at alumni@emporia.edu. She Stoops to Conquer will be performed at 7:30 p.m. in Bruder Theatre. Tickets may be purchased for a small fee at the ticket office in King Hall. Thursday: Seniors’ Night on the Town, from 9 to 11 p.m. at Wings N’ Things, caps the week as a final celebration among the senior class, with some cool prizes thrown in the mix. For more information on Senior Week events, contact the alumni office at (620) 341-5440. Register for all events by stopping by the CSI offices in the Union or the Sauder Alumni Center.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Hornet Heritage Award nominations still open until May 1The Alumni Association is seeking nominations for families who have made Emporia State University (and EKSC, KSTC and KSN before it) a significant part of their lives. We are seeking nominations for this honor to be presented during Family Day activities at Emporia State University on September 12, 2009. The Hornet Heritage Award recognizes a family who exhibits a history and tradition of Emporia State University in attendance and graduation. Nominations may be accepted throughout the year; however, the deadline for consideration is May 1 of each year. Self-nominations or nominations of other families are accepted and should include the following information:
Please contact alumni relations at (620) 341-5440 with any questions on how to submit a family. We look forward to announcing the selected family in an upcoming Hornet News Update and on campus!
___________________________________________________________________________________ Emporia State’s Blaufuss Run/Walk slated for May 2The fourth annual John Blaufuss Memorial Run/Walk to benefit Emporia State University scholarships will be held Saturday, May 2, on the ESU campus. Sponsored by Barnhart Builders, the 5K race and 2-mile walk will begin at 9 a.m. in front of the Sauder Alumni Center, 1500 Highland St. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., and a reception at the center will follow the race. All proceeds from the annual event will benefit ESU’s General Scholarship Fund. Members of the media may contact Jesse Tuel at (620) 341-5440 or jtuel@emporia.edu to learn more about the event and the late John Blaufuss. To register or learn more about the race, contact Blake Davis at (620) 341-5440 or bdsavis1@emporia.edu. Event details can also be found at www.emporia.edu/saf/foundation/annualscholarshipdrive.htm.
Runners at the 2008 Blaufuss Run
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Students and staff at ESU Day Under the Dome
Tuesday, March 10, was the 2009 ESU Day Under the Dome. Small groups comprised and ESU students, alumni, faculty, and administrators met with many key legislators and presented them with information cards about ESU and small tokens of appreciation. Below, Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson poses for a group photo with students, alumni, faculty and administrators from Emporia State University. Click the image to enlarge it.
___________________________________________________________________________________ ESU alumni chapter holds Teacher Appreciation Program event at Kingman High School
Emporia State University’s South Central Kansas Alumni Chapter held a Teacher Appreciation Program (TAP) luncheon at the Kingman High School, Kingman, Kan., on Thursday, February 26. While the alumni-driven program is primarily considered a recruitment venue for ESU, it is also a way for ESU to show appreciation for alumni and their peers in the teaching field. Alumni volunteers on February 26 (pictured, clockwise from left) included John Summervill (BSE ’62, MS ’63), president of the Hutchinson-based Mid-America Alumni Chapter; Doris Taylor(BSE ’66), former teacher at Kingman High School; Rosemary Kirby(BSE ‘52), Foundation board member; and Mim Hiesterman, ESU’s South-Central Alumni Coordinator. TAP offers a buffet to all teachers, administrators, and staff during the lunch period at each host school. The program also offers information booths for students about ESU programs and events and the opportunity to sign up for further information packets. TAP is also an opportunity for teachers to learn more about ESU graduate programs and continue their own educational advancement. The program schedules about 15 events per semester on a rotation of schools, primarily in the Wichita area. For more information about the TAP program and how you can get involved, visit emporia.edu/alumni. Contact alumni@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5440 for further information. |
information about their academic and extracurricular accomplishments. The fourteen nominees were honored Monday at a dinner with their nominators and families.
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ESU ‘Founders’ Day’ event commemorates 146th anniversary
The 146th anniversary of Emporia State University will be celebrated at the annual Founders’ Day celebration on Friday, Feb. 13, but the day will be much more than a celebration of the past.
It’s also a chance to build strong community bonds in the present, said Peter Brodie, Alumni Relations Director.
“We want students, faculty, staff, and the off-campus community to remember the strength of the academic environment at ESU, and what defines it as one of the finest mid-sized public universities in the state – and the country,” Brodie said.
“KSTC – Music To My Ears” – The Day’s Events
11:30 a.m. – Founders’ Day Luncheon, Memorial Union’s Colonial Ballroom, setting the
stage for the theme, “KSTC – Music To My Ears,” honoring the school’s name from
1923 to 1974, Kansas State Teachers College. $8 per person.
11:30 a.m. – Piano performance by student FeiFei Jiang, Colonial Ballroom.
12:05 p.m. – Ceremonial cutting of ESU’s birthday cake, Colonial Ballroom. Featuring Dr.
Tom Eddy, longest-tenured unclassified employee; Jeanne Just, longest-tenured
classified employee; Rod Turner, president of the Alumni Association; and Angela
Blaufuss, president of Associated Student Government.
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Members of the Advancement office (the Alumni Association and ESU
Foundation) spreading awareness of Founders’ Day on campus with treats and
information.
The public and members of the media are invited to join ESU for the day’s events. For more information: www.emporia.edu/saf/foundersday.htm, (620) 341-5440, or alumni@emporia.edu. The luncheon cost is $8 per person, and may be paid at the door. Members of the media may contact Jesse Tuel at (620) 341-5440 or jtuel@emporia.edu.
At a university so strong in its traditions, the Founders’ Day celebration has been a mainstay at ESU since 1902. Brodie said the event is a unique way to offer students and alumni more than just observances and speeches.
“We’re always moving toward engaging programs that involve all our stakeholders – students, faculty, and alumni – to create a broader sense of the ESU community,” Brodie said. “We hope that the entire community celebrates Emporia State University.”
Scholarship created to honor ESU Distinguished Alumni
The Distinguished Alumni Leadership Scholarship Fund has been established at Emporia State University by a handful of individuals recognized as ESU Distinguished Alumni, including Dr. Lloyd Stone (EDS 1967), Dr. Mark Witten (BSE 1975), Donna Clopton (BSE 1961), and Dr. Clyde Martin (BSE 1965). But the work isn't finished: these individuals have asked that all 130 living Distinguished Alumni consider contributing to the fund established in their collective honor, building toward a goal of $80,000 or more.
Representing the contributors already committed to the fund, Martin, a professor at Texas Tech University, explained its purpose. “The goal is to identify and reward students with high potential,” said Martin. That reward will take the form of a very substantial scholarship granted to juniors and seniors. Students will be nominated by their peers and instructors and finally selected by a scholarship committee. “What we have in mind is a very substantial scholarship, so financially, it'll mean a lot,” Martin said. “But what we're hoping to do is put a lot of pressure on those individuals to become Distinguished Alumni themselves.”
Martin emphasized that this is not the effort of a small group. “It's the project of all the Distinguished Alumni,” Martin said, explaining that the goal could be met with a gift of $600 from each living alumna and alumnus who has been recognized with the award. Stone further explained the group's reasoning in addressing the Distinguished Alumni. “It's an honor to become a Distinguished Alumnus,” said Stone. “I think that that Distinguished Alumni who have been honored can give back to the University.”
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor that can be granted to alumni by the ESU Alumni Association, awarded annually during Homecoming to up to five individuals. Recognizing outstanding professional accomplishments in ESU's finest graduates, it has been awarded to 201 individuals since the program began in 1960. Candidates are nominated by ESU alumni and faculty, and the Alumni Association Board of Directors approves the final recipients. Past Distinguished Alumni have included teachers and scholars, humanitarians and administrators, doctors and lawyers, and leaders in business, industry, and the armed forces, all respected members in their professions and communities who have given ESU a rich heritage.
For more information on this scholarship or about supporting ESU, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu, or visit us online atwww.emporia.edu/saf.
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Holiday Reception for new Alumni Director
The Office of University Advancement invites you to attend a holiday reception! Join us from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Sauder Alumni Center, to share in the holiday spirit with ESU friends and colleagues, and to meet ESU's new Alumni Relations Director, Peter Brodie!
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Outstanding Recent Graduates look forward to Homecoming
The three 2008 winners of the Outstanding Recent Graduate award – Jared Larson, Jeremy Luby, and Todd Wheat – will be honored at the 2008 Alumni Awards banquet on Friday, Oct. 24, during Homecoming festivities, and all eagerly anticipate the chance to get back in touch with their alma mater. To register for the banquet, call (620) 341-5440 or e-mail alumni@emporia.edu by noon Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Jared Larson, Annville, Penn., College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, BA 2002, BA 2002.
Jared Larson is working toward his Ph.D. in global governance at the University of Delaware. Toward his dissertation, he has performed research in the United States and, throughout the past summer, in Spain, anticipating approval of a research venture in Portugal. He is a commentator on Spanish radio regarding U.S. foreign policy, speaking Spanish fluently and French and Portuguese very well, with proficiency in five other languages. His publications appear in Spanish journals and conference proceedings. He has taught at Lebanon Valley College, the University of Delaware, and ESU, and has taught English in Madrid. His experience at ESU launched it all.
“In many ways, [ESU] is fundamental to everything that I do,” Larson said. “Everything that I’ve studied, be it language, philosophy, or social science, is work that I’m applying now.”
Larson recently finished his second master’s degree program after completing his first at the University of Spain in Madrid. Larson’s doctoral dissertation and coursework focuses on the immigration of Muslims in Europe, and he is proud to see the work it recognized. “I just received a scholarship to present on Muslim immigration in England this year,” he said with enthusiasm.
Early in his undergraduate term, Larson was uncertain about continuing into graduate work, but his ESU experience changed his mind, and his work through study abroad programs cemented his goals of working in Europe. Larson chose to continue into his Ph.D. program specifically on the model of his instructors at ESU – “because of the way they ran the classroom, because of the way they treated their students with respect,” he said.
Larson emphasized the value of one-on-one mentorship. “If I’d gone to a bigger school, I don’t think things would have worked out that way,” said Larson. “Because of the small class sizes, I’m in contact with almost every one of my professors from ESU.”
The award has a deeply personal meaning to Larson. “Well, the cliché is, ‘It’s an honor,’ but it is. It’s a very kind recognition.” Larson said that to be recognized as outstanding was a surprise; he considers his work to be simply “following in the footsteps” of the faculty members who guided him, listing faculty like Dr. Ellen Hansen and Dr. Elizabeth Locey. “If they recognize me as outstanding,” said Larson, “then I’m more than proud.”
Jeremy Luby, Overland Park, Kan., School of Business, BSB 2003, MBA 2004
Jeremy Luby, the senior web developer at American Century Investments’ E-Business Department, is responsible for managing not only web design but also the corporation’s search engine marketing and optimization, developing a crucial point of entry for clientele.
The former ESU webmaster, who designed and implemented the current university website, has also designed several web pages for non-profit groups and is the sole proprietor of Tenretni Computer Systems in Emporia. Luby has spoken at professional development seminars and to students, and he has donated books on financial planning to ESU students.
Like Larson, Luby stressed the importance of ESU’s one-on-one mentoring and small classes as a model of corporate life, crediting ESU with an atmosphere “of close communication and personal attention.” Luby received the Direct Channel Innovation Award and, as a special point of pride, he was inducted into the American Century Circle of Honor, an exclusive recognition Luby says was made possible by his ESU experiences.
Luby said the ESU emphasis on communication put him ahead of his colleagues, as did its curriculum. “The nature of ESU’s broad-based business curriculum allowed me to excel in all areas of our company, beyond my technology background,” Luby said, explaining that his career has led into finance, accounting and marketing in addition to his web design and administrative duties.
Luby is honored by the award and excited about attending the awards banquet. “The award is such an honor and a validation of a lot of hard work while I was attending ESU,” said Luby. “I will treasure this award like I cherish the two degrees hanging on my office wall.” He added that the most important thing about the award is the chance to visit his alma mater. “I have the opportunity to come back to ESU, to interact with many friends, colleagues, and mentors!”
Todd Wheat, Olathe, Kan., Teachers College, BSE 2001, MS 2004
Todd Wheat was recently named the principal of Northview Elementary School for the 2008-09 school year, after serving as an administrative principal intern at the Arbor Creek and Sunnyside schools the past two years. He began his career teaching second and then sixth grade, and is now pursuing his doctorate of education.
Wheat consistently serves on district-wide committees and teams focused on leadership, facilities, staff development, safety, curriculum, and parents, while creating new programs, writing successful grants, and much more.
“I would say that it’s wonderful and exhausting all in the same breath,” said Wheat. “There are days… but the thing that keeps me going [is] seeing how much the staff and parents care.”
About his term at the university, Wheat said that “my ESU experience really shaped my philosophy in education, from the very beginning.” He cited the “Professional Development School” model of student teaching at ESU as his most useful experience, allowing him to see an entire year of operation at a working school, and now Northview Elementary is a participating school. “Emporia State really did help me out tremendously with my professional and personal growth,” Wheat said.
Reacting to the award, Wheat feels honored. “It’s certainly not just another thing to put on the wall,” he said. His mother, a very influential force in his life, passed away less than two years ago, and he wishes that she could have seen him today. Nonetheless, Wheat said, “I feel like she’s sharing it with me.”
About the Award
The Outstanding Recent Graduate award recognizes an outstanding recent graduate from each of the undergraduate colleges and schools at Emporia State University. Selection for this award is based on criteria determined by each school/college and the stipulation that the recipient be no more than 10 years past graduation at Emporia State University. This award is sponsored by the ESU Alumni Association.
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Travel & Study Abroad opportunities for ESU Alumni!
Spring Break in Great Britain - March 13-21 2009. An exploration of the roots of British theater, with an optional coursework component of 1-2 credit hours and including a tour of the Globe Theater. Cost, including airfare, is $2,000 per student. Contact Jim Bartruff, theatre director, by Dec. 12, 2008, at jbartruf@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5704.
Athens to Istanbul: A Tour of Infinity - May 19 to June 12, 2009. Visits several sites in Greece and Turkey to study the artistic, philosophical, and scientific meanings of “infinity” over 4,000 years of history, led by Dr. Brian Hollenbeck. The base cost is $1,600. Contact Hollenbeck at bhollenb@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5644.
Scottish Culture, Migration Studies, and the Transnational Identity - June 17 to July 16, 2009. A pair of linked courses (six total credit hours) in Edinburgh and Glasgow focusing on identifying the Scottish national character and the effects of the Highland Scots Diaspora, directed by Dr. Robyn Long. Cost (not including airfare) is $3,400 ($3,700 for graduates). The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2009. Contact Long at rlong3@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5811.
Language & Literature in Central China - July 2009. Combines six credit hours of coursework in Chinese literature, history, and language with a 4-week immersive experience in Xi’an & Beijing. Cost, including lodging and airfare, is $2,800. Contact Dr. Phillip Coleman-Hull and register by Feb. 15, 2009, at pcoleman@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5921.
The Real Australia - May 21 to June 10, 2010. Travel to New South Wales and Victoria for an authentic cultural experience and three hours of course credit, led by Dr. Rebecca Dobbs and Dr. Karen Smith. Base cost is $3,400 (not including airfare), and the deadline to apply is Nov. 16, 2009. Contact Karen Smith at ksmith@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5570 and/or the Office of International Education at oie1@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5374. PLEASE NOTE: THIS TRIP IS SCHEDULED FOR 2010.
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Emporia State Prepares for Homecoming Festivities
Emporia State University is buzzing in preparation for the Homecoming 2008 weekend, Friday Oct. 24 and Saturday Oct. 25, with family and alumni events of every stripe. Whether you’re looking to catch up with old friends or just looking for some family fun, ESU has what you’re looking for.
Friday at 6:15 p.m. in the MU Ballroom, ESU honors ten outstanding individuals in the Alumni Awards Reception, with dinner planned for 7:00. Jared Larson, Jeremy Luby, and Todd Wheat will receive the Outstanding Recent Graduate award; Roger Heineken, Gilbert Rodriguez, and Dr. Harry Stephens will receive the University Service Citation; and Louis Burns, Lonnie Clark, Tom Fincken, and Ben R. Leedle will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award.
On a lighter note, “Light the Night” begins at 7:00 p.m. with the Tricycle Race, the mysterious Ultimate Event at 8:00, and the Snake Dance and Bonfire at 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. Expect a zany and energetic time, and be ready to burn some carbs!
Finally, former Union Activities Council and Associated Student Government participants will want to settle down for the UAC/ASG Reunion! Join your fellow UAC and ASG alumni at the reunion. You won’t have to manage the scheduling of a big-name comedian or follow Robert’s Rules of Order, but you will have a great time. The event is open from Friday 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. for the reception and from 9:00 to 1:00 a.m. for the “after party” at Wheat State Grill! The ASG/UAC event continues Saturday, with an “open house” event in the Memorial Union from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Saturday is game day! Before the game, take advantage of the Kaffee Klatch at 9:00 a.m. in the MU Mainstreet, open to all alumni and friends and hosted by emeritus faculty you might remember from your student days at ESU. After the 1 p.m. game, hang around for the reception, open from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Gold and diamond anniversary celebrants can end the day with a class reunion at 6:30 p.m. The Class of 1958 will celebrate 50 years with a dinner event in the Kanza room. Graduates of the 1940s, especially 1948 grads, are invited to swing by at the same time in the Flint Hills Room for a Fab Forties reunion, then meet later on for an after-dinner event at the home of Laura Mae McAntee, 1722 Hammond Dr., Emporia.
To RSVP for these events, visit the registration page. For more information, contact the Foundation at (620) 341-5440, or drop an e-mail to alumni@emporia.edu.
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Last Updated November 19, 2009