Alumni News & Events
Find out what ESU alumni are doing and where it is taking place! For more information on any of these events, please contact the ESU Alumni Office by calling (620) 341-5440 or by emailing sacpc@emporia.edu. |
|||||
Events
Emporia Connection coming this weekend ESU Day at the Capitol hits its mark Long-time alumni director accepts new position Founders' Day celebration features a family with ties to the past ESU publications bring home CASE awards Alumni chapters in Wichita and Salina areas support ESU
ESU’s Newberg seniors named MondayApril 8, 2008 Andrea Luthi, an Emporia State University senior from Madison, Kan., majoring in chemistry, biology and Spanish, was named the Dwight & Ida Curry Newberg Outstanding Senior at the annual Newberg banquet on April 7, while Lindsay Davis, a senior from Olpe, Kan., was named the Newberg Distinguished Senior.
Twenty-one seniors, each with an amazing list of accomplishments and accolades, were nominated for the Newberg recognition, but it was Luthi and Davis who rose to the top. Luthi, described in a nomination letter as “one of the most brilliant” students at ESU, a “model student who has abundant natural ability and works hard as a student,” will begin the Ph.D. program in chemistry at Northwestern University in the fall. “Wow!” Luthi said at the podium. “This is really amazing. It’s an honor to be up here to receive this award!” Luthi thanked her parents, teachers, friends and classmates, and God, for the “ability to learn and the enjoyment in doing it.” Davis, a biology major, was equally honored. “Looking at the program, there were a lot of quality individuals, so I feel honored,” she said later. Davis will begin a Wichita State University master’s program at the end of May to become a physician’s assistant. Click here for full biographies for Luthi, Davis, and the other 19 nominees. All nominees are listed below. are below, followed by a list of the 19 other nominees. Reading off the accolades of the 21 nominees left Dr. Jim Williams, vice president of strategic partnerships and student life, a bit breathless. “I certainly feel that our future is secure,” he said, “seeing all the knowledge in this room.”
Newberg Outstanding Senior nominees, hometowns and majors:
The Newbergs Dwight Newberg (BSE 1933) and Ida Curry Newberg (LC 1932) established seven endowed funds that provide scholarships to ESU students. Among these are the Newberg Outstanding and Distinguished Senior awards, with $500 and $250, respectively, set aside for the annual recipients. The fund is of particular interest to Dwight because he received the award in 1933. The award was discontinued, but the Newbergs reestablished it in 1988, and it’s been an ESU tradition ever since. Dwight Newberg passed away in 1996, and Ida Curry Newberg passed away in 2001.
Emporia Connection reunion coming this weekendTuesday, April 1, 2008 One of Emporia State University’s most active alumni chapters, the Emporia Connection, expects more than 100 alumni to attend a reunion this weekend in Emporia. The Emporia Connection, an African-American alumni chapter, has distinguished itself through well-attended reunion events and a scholarship for ESU students. In 2006, about 50 alumni gathered in Atlanta, Ga., and in 2005, the group established the Emporia Connection Legacy Scholarship to assist African-American students at Emporia State University. The weekend kicks off with a meet-and-greet from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 4, at the Sauder Alumni Center. The group will attend the ESU Track and Field Relays at 11 a.m. Saturday at Welch Stadium, and then gather for the Emporia Connection Scholarship Banquet at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Webb Lecture Hall. A short program will follow the 7:00 dinner. On Sunday morning, a bon voyage breakfast with live entertainment from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union’s Skyline Room will conclude the weekend’s events. Members of the media interested in the events may contact Jesse Tuel at (620) 341-5440 or jtuel@emporia.edu. ESU representatives blanket the Capitol Building at 'ESU Day at the Capitol'March 25, 2008 The annual “ESU Day at the Capitol” event in Topeka this morning became a day of advocacy and fellowship as Emporia State University representatives flooded the Capitol Building to demonstrate how the university impacts the state of Kansas. Read more, and see a photo gallery of the event!
Long-time alumni director accepts new positionRoy Mann, the long-time director of alumni relations at Emporia State University, has accepted a new position as senior development officer with the Provision Ministry Group, an international organization dedicated to church planting. Mann’s last day at Emporia State will be April 18. A campus and community reception will be held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Sauder Alumni Center. “This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Mann said. “I definitely feel led toward this tremendous opportunity with Provision, but I’ve agonized so much about stepping away from my ESU family.” Mann, who will serve Provision Ministry Group from an Emporia office location, has served as the alumni director since 1995 and first came to ESU as an assistant director of endowment in 1988. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in educational administration from ESU. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for him,” said Judith Heasley, executive director of University Advancement and president of the ESU Foundation. “I did everything in my power to get him to stay. It’s going to leave a void that will be very challenging to fill. He is ‘Mr. ESU’ in my mind.” Mann, 51, said the decision was all the harder because of his longevity at ESU, but there was also the strong allure of taking on a new challenge at this stage of his life. “As committed as I’ve been to ESU alumni, I’ve also maintained a passion for the church, and this opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a difference on a grand scale,” Mann said. “I will truly miss the alumni and volunteers I’ve known over the years, on the alumni board and among chapter leaders, and my colleagues in the office. It’s a difficult time to leave, because we’re on the right track under the leadership of Judy [Heasley], and I’ve really enjoyed working with her. I’m almost embarrassed at all the efforts she made to keep me at ESU.” Mann will begin on May 1 with Provision, developing new programs and expanding current programs in relationship-based fundraising. The group, based in Irvine, Calif., is a combination of three ministries dedicated to church planting – a church development fund; Stadia, an organization that works on church planting; and Visioneering Studios, comprised of 30 architects who design church facilities. At ESU, meanwhile, Heasley said the nationwide search for an alumni director will begin immediately. ESU Founders’ Day celebration features a family with ties to the pastFeb. 11, 2008
The luncheon activities begin at 11:30 a.m. and the program begins at 12:05 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. The special buffet is $7 per person. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The program includes family of the late John Breukelman, a biology professor at ESU from 1929 to 1968 – his daughter, Neysa (Koehler) Eberhard (BSE 1944, MLS 1962); granddaughter Carol (Yoder) Warkentine (BSE 1971); and great-granddaughter Shana (Warkentine) Meyer (BS 1995, MS 1997) – will speak. The family won the 2003 Hornet Heritage award for its multiple generations of ESU alumni, and the life sciences building carries the Breukelman name in honor of the professor’s contributions.
Members of the Lyman B. Kellogg Society, who have included ESU in their estate plans, will also be recognized at the luncheon. The society is named after the school’s first president, who taught the first class on Feb. 15, 1865. The Kansas State Normal School was created by the Kansas Legislature two years earlier, in February 1863. The ceremonial cutting of ESU’s birthday cake will be performed by two long-time ESU employees: Dr. Tom Eddy, representing unclassified staff, with 45 years of service; and Jeanne Just, representing classified staff, with 38 years of service. For more information, contact the alumni office at (620) 341-5440 or sacpc@emporia.edu. ESU publications bring home CASE awardsJan. 25, 2008 Some of the people who help tell Emporia State University’s story to a worldwide audience have earned recognition for their efforts from a national organization. ESU won three awards at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI convention, held Jan. 12-15 in Denver. ESU’s awards came in a competition against universities of all sizes. More than 1,200 entries were submitted for the CASE District VI awards. “I’m very proud of everybody,” said Judith Heasley, executive director of university advancement and president of the ESU Foundation. “It’s an even playing field when you’re up for CASE awards, because it’s about the quality of things you’re producing rather than the size of the institution,” she added. ESU brought home bronze awards for excellence in three projects: Research/Science/Technology Feature Article; Fundraising Materials; and Special Publications. The winning feature article, “Wow—Faculty Research at ESU,” appeared in the summer 2007 edition of Spotlight, the magazine for Emporia State University alumni and friends. Authored by Jesse Tuel, director of advancement communications, the story highlights the creative energy at work among a cross-section of Emporia State faculty. The second CASE bronze winner is a brochure outlining scholarship giving opportunities at Emporia State. “Scholarbucks Café” was designed by Kathleen Dorcas, printer specialist at ESU’s Printing Services. The Scholarbucks Café concept was developed by the University Advancement team for the annual campus scholarship campaign. The package of materials – including brochures, a banner, aprons and more – won CASE’s bronze award for excellence in fundraising materials. A third bronze award, in the special publications category, went to ESU graphic designer John Decker for his work on a comprehensive package of invitation materials produced for the inauguration of Dr. Michael R. Lane as ESU’s 15th president in March, 2007. Brad Goebel, ESU’s director of marketing, echoed Heasley’s praise. “Kat, Jesse and John are part of a great team of professionals who help tell the Emporia State University story. I'm very pleased that their hard work gets the recognition it deserves,” said Goebel. Examples of the award winning work can be found online: Alumni chapters in Wichita and Salina areas support Emporia State University Dec. 6, 2007 Members of two Emporia State University alumni chapters in Kansas are banking on the future of their alma mater. The South Central Kansas chapter in the Wichita area, and the Smoky Valley chapter in the Salina area, gathered recently to raise money to support ESU students from their areas. The South Central chapter held its 10th annual scholarship golf scramble on Sept. 23 in Hesston. On Dec. 6, the chapter presented a $12,000 check to ESU representatives, adding to an endowed fund for scholarships for ESU students from the counties of Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey, Reno, Kingman and Sumner. The long-active group, led by current chapter president Sharon Bezdek of Wichita, hosted 100 players for the golf tourney. Meanwhile, the Smoky Valley Alumni Chapter held a reception on Nov. 15, adding more than $10,000 to its endowed fund for scholarships for students from the counties of Saline, McPherson, Dickinson, Ottawa and Ellsworth. Chapter members worked to raise the funds before the event, and presented the check in November. The current chapter president is Cindy Ramsey of Salina. “The initiative these groups have shown is great to see. They have a huge influence on their home areas when they invest in local students,” said Roy Mann, ESU’s director of alumni relations. “The alumni have a lot of fun getting together at these events, of course, but they also have a chance to promote their alma mater and recruit potential students through the promise of scholarship support. Our alumni in the Wichita and Salina areas have certainly seized that opportunity.” For more information on the South Central Kansas and Smoky Valley chapters, contact Jesse Tuel or Roy Mann at (620) 341-5440. |
|||||
KC Chapter at the T-Bones game - June 10
The 145th year of Emporia State University will be celebrated at the annual Founders’ Day luncheon on Friday, Feb. 15, featuring three generations of a former professor’s family.
Last Updated May 7, 2008