Foundation News
___________________________________________________________________________________ ESU’s presidential couple creates memorial scholarshipNov. 3, 2009 The close bonds of family have inspired ESU President Michael Lane and Dr. Peggy Lane to join family and friends to endow a scholarship fund in honor of President Lane’s late brother-in-law, Bob Rensink. The Robert B. Rensink Memorial Scholarship supports students majoring in information systems with GPAs above 3.0.
“He valued education, and he valued family first,” said Dr. Peggy Lane, an associate professor in the department of accounting and information systems. “We did want some way to honor him, and it seemed to be something he would appreciate. He loved young people, and he absolutely loved family.” In fact, Bob and President Lane's older sister, Roberta Lane Rensink of Andover, Ma ., raised President Lane along with their own family during his teenage and college years. Bob graduated from California Polytechnic Institute at San Luis Obispo and was employed by General Electric, Honeywell and SBLI in the computer field. As a systems analyst, he worked in sales, interacting with customers in a winning way. He often mentored student interns, sharing his passion for life and work. Delivering the eulogy at Rensink’s funeral, Pres. Lane spoke of the professional advice he gathered from his brother-in-law: focus on relationships, openness, and honesty. “Bob loved life and the opportunities life presented,” Pres. Lane said. “In his work and his personal life, relationships were the things that mattered. Working in the computer industry in the ’60s and ’70s he was primarily responsible for working with customers to ensure they received the systems they purchased. His focus was on creating customer satisfaction, and he excelled.” The emphasis on relationships extended into his personal life, said Peggy Lane. “Bob was friendly with everyone he met. Even the mailman came to his funeral. How often do you see that? That really made an impression on me.” Now his memory will be carried forward in the successes of ESU students. “Bob would have been deeply honored and thrilled to have an information systems scholarship in his name,” Roberta Rensink said. “Education was extremely important to Bob. I’m sure he would have had tears of joy just knowing this scholarship would help a student meet his or her educational dreams.”
Major gift announced to name Veterans Hall of Honor in Memorial UnionFriday, Oct. 30, 2009 Emporia State University and the ESU Foundation are pleased to announce a $150,000 gift from retired Brig. Gen. Art and Sue Bloomer, of Wichita, to name the Veterans Hall of Honor in ESU’s Memorial Union as part of the union’s renovation. The gift was announced at a press conference Oct. 30 in what is now the “Bloomer Veterans Hall of Honor,” in recognition of Bloomer’s exemplary service in the U.S. Marine Corps and the couple’s continuous support of the university’s activities and leadership roles for the ESU Foundation.
“We are absolutely humbled by the tremendous generosity of the Bloomers. This gift even further cements the lasting legacy that they have created for Emporia State University students,” said Judith Heasley, ESU Foundation President and CEO of University Advancement. “They have invested so much in ESU in recent years – with their time, talent and treasures – and we are ever grateful. The Bloomers have influenced this university in a positive and permanent way.” The couple was motivated to support the project for its ties to veterans, and to provide a leadership example to spur other gifts toward the union’s renovation. And they’ve never forgotten that the university gave them their start in life. “Art and I both felt that we wanted to give back to the school that gave so much to us,” Sue said. “If you measure your own success by any standard, consider what Emporia State had to do with that – and consider how you might return the favor,” Art added. Art is a 1955 graduate of Kansas State Teachers College, now Emporia State University. Sue attended KSTC in 1953-54, and the couple married in Emporia in 1954. Back when Art was sweeping the gym floor for 65 cents an hour, and when Sue was meeting with her Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority sisters and learning to play bridge, the Bloomers remember the Memorial Union as a central place for meals and socializing. “It will certainly be satisfying to know that the Veterans Hall of Honor bears our name,” Art said, to which Sue added, “It will certainly be something we never thought about when we were sitting in the Union playing bridge!”
Bloomer served 31 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, flying 330 combat missions over North and South Vietnam. He rose to the rank of brigadier general, retiring as the commanding general at the Marine Corps Air Bases in El Toro, Calif. He went on to a distinguished civilian career, serving as a principal officer and executive vice president of American Protective Services, Inc. and much more. In 1985, Bloomer received the university’s highest honor, the Distinguished Alumni award. In 2007, the couple received the University Service Citation award for serving as co-chairs of a $15 million scholarship campaign, and Art has served since 2007 as chairman of the ESU Foundation Board of Trustees. Learn more about the Bloomers in the biographical sheet.
The Memorial Union renovation: Renewing an Illustrious HistoryThe Memorial Union at ESU, the oldest student union building west of the Mississippi River, is undergoing a major renovation with construction beginning in the spring of 2010. For more information, visit www.emporia.edu/murenovation. ESU students overwhelmingly voted to approve student fees to finance 90 percent of the union’s renovation, and the ESU Foundation is working with donors to raise $2.5 million in private funding. The Bloomers’ gift toward the Memorial Union renovation project is one of many. Dr. Monte and Lynda Miller of Topeka have stepped forward to name the Union Activities Council president’s office, and the Sunderland Foundation, based in Overland Park, has given $50,000 to the project. The formal name of the Bloomer Veterans Hall of Honor is the “Brigadier General William A. “Art” and Sharon Sue “Susie” (Vernon) Bloomer Veterans Hall of Honor.” The hall will display memorabilia from General Bloomer’s military service currently held by University Archives. On a related note, Emporia is the founding city of Veterans Day, a holiday celebrated nationwide on Nov. 11 to honor all veterans.
ESU Foundation hires two development officersTuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 The Emporia State University Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of two talented fundraisers to its team – Shanna Bassett of Wichita, Kan., and Matthew Rhea of Edgerton, Kan. Bassett, development coordinator for University of Kansas Endowment, has raised funds for KU’s School of Medicine in Wichita since 2007. She earned her bachelor’s degree in information resource studies with a communication minor in 2007 from Emporia State, where she also served as a leadership assistant and intern and a telefund caller. She begins Nov. 9. Rhea, corporate development manager for the National MS Society, has additional fundraising experience for the March of Dimes and for numerous political campaigns, including former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Baker University in 1999. He begins Nov. 2. Bassett and Rhea will join the Foundation’s new Chief Development Officer, Roseanne Becker, and current members of the development team, in raising funds to support the mission of Emporia State University. “We are delighted to bring Matt and Shanna to campus,” said Judith Heasley, ESU Foundation President and CEO of University Advancement. “They are both dynamic, engaging individuals with proven success in fundraising and a solid grasp of the fundraising process. We’re confident that their abilities are a good match for ESU and its students.”
ESU hires seasoned fundraiser for CDO postTuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 Roseanne Becker, a seasoned professional with 20-plus years of experience in fundraising, has been hired as Chief Development Officer at the ESU Foundation. She begins Oct. 26. “We are most pleased that Roseanne will be joining our team,” said Judith Heasley, ESU Foundation President and CEO of University Advancement. “She is a consummate fundraiser with a strong history of major gift fundraising, and she will also be an energetic mentor to the fundraising staff. I firmly believe she possesses the skills and the personality to be highly successful at ESU. She is an excellent fit.” Becker, a resident of Leawood, Kan., most recently served as Vice President of University Advancement at Ottawa University. She was the Assistant Vice President for Development for Creighton University from 2004 to 2006, and the Senior Director for Individual Giving for the University of Missouri – Kansas City from 2001 to 2004. Becker’s additional fundraising experience is extensive, including posts at the Cleveland College Foundation, Albion College, Nazareth College, and the American Heart Association of Michigan. Now she’ll bring her vibrant background to ESU – a university that she recognized is poised to move forward with a new strategic plan. “I was very impressed with how focused everyone was on where ESU is going. The strategic thinking was in everyone’s conversations, at all levels,” Becker said. “I’m very excited to get started, especially to begin meeting alumni, donors and Foundation board members, and get a sense of their memories and why they feel connected to ESU.” Becker holds a master’s degree in human resources from Ottawa University, a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Kansas, and the prestigious designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
Chief development officer accepts new positionJuly 29, 2009 Linda Pease, chief development officer at the ESU Foundation, has accepted a new position as director of development for the Kansas 4-H Foundation. Her last day at ESU will be Aug. 28. “I have made this decision based on my desire to take advantage of a great opportunity and to spend more time with family and friends, which this new position will allow me to do,” Pease said. “I know I will miss the excitement of building relationships and support for Emporia State. This is a very special place, one that I’ve come to care deeply for. I’ll be anxious to see what the future holds – ESU will never be far from my mind and my heart.” Pease has served the ESU Foundation in several capacities over the last five years, taking a primary role in raising major gifts, managing the estate planning program, and overseeing the development team. She was personally responsible for a substantial amount of the funds raised in the fiscal year that ended June 30, said Judith Heasley, president of the ESU Foundation and CEO of University Advancement. “Linda is a tremendous fundraiser, and her talent has benefited ESU in every one of the projects she has undertaken,” Heasley said. “It’s no surprise that it also made her an attractive candidate for the 4-H Foundation. While her departure is a significant loss for us, the impact her work has had on ESU is permanent.” Going forward, Heasley said the Foundation will now open a search to fill the position. Concurrently, a second search will be conducted for a development officer, a position that was vacated in the last fiscal year. She expressed confidence that both positions would attract solid applicant pools.
ESU Foundation sees 6 percent increase in fiscal year givingJuly 21, 2009 The Emporia State University Foundation recorded a 6 percent increase in fundraising in the last fiscal year, an increase the Foundation president credits to donors who recognize the importance of higher education as an investment.
“I am delighted with the success in our fundraising activity, especially in a very volatile economy,” said Judith Heasley, ESU Foundation president. “I attribute this to two factors: donors who came forward with generosity to invest in the education ESU provides, and a determined, forward-thinking development staff. I am incredibly proud of our donors and our staff.” In the 2009 fiscal year, which ended June 30, total fundraising activity at the ESU Foundation – including cash gifts, pledges and deferred gifts – reached $6.986 million, a 6 percent increase over the 2008 fiscal year total of $6.59 million. A significant portion of the increase is in deferred gifts, while a number of donors also stepped forward to provide immediate scholarship gifts in response to the economic crisis. Alumni and friends also responded to the student callers in the Foundation’s telefund, where a fiscal year record was set. The number of new donors outpaced the total of any recent year, while athletic gifts reached $1.12 million, the second-highest total ever. As a result, the ESU Foundation was able to allocate funding to the university for the 2009-2010 school year that is on par with previous years – meaning that private support for ESU students will remain largely unchanged in the coming year, even with the economic downturn. “The generosity of donors to the Emporia State University scholarship programs could not come at a better time for our students,” said Elaine Henrie, director of student financial aid. “We are seeing a tremendous increase in the both the number of students who are applying for aid and in the number who are requesting a reconsideration of their award level due to job loss. These gifts make getting an education possible.”
ESU Foundation adjusts to market, preserving long-term stabilityMay 19, 2009 The Emporia State University Foundation in recent months has significantly reduced expenses by employing frugal business practices, while planning conservatively for the next fiscal year and beyond, trimming more than 15 percent from the FY10 budget that begins July 1. Like any household examining its balance sheet in the turbulent economy, the Foundation is protecting its long-term health, said Judith Heasley, ESU Foundation president and CEO of University Advancement. From the beginning of the current fiscal year on July 1, 2008, through March 31, the Foundation’s endowed assets lost 25 percent in value. “This economic climate is now our reality, so I am working with my executive staff to look at the way we conduct our business differently as these cuts will in all probability be sustained,” Heasley said. “If anything, we regard this as a valuable opportunity to examine the way we do business.” Timely decisions are already leading to savings in the current fiscal year budget for the Office of University Advancement, which includes the ESU Foundation and the Alumni Association. Event expenses have been reduced with less expensive invitations and menus, while still hosting classy and informative events for donors and alumni. Travel expenses have been reduced with cheaper airlines and flying days, more appointments per day, and more in-state travel. Strategic communication pieces are reducing print costs. The office has even started its own recycling program, and is encouraging conservation of electricity. Meanwhile, the Foundation Board of Trustees’ finance and executive committees have been carefully monitoring the situation and making key decisions. Trustees voted to reduce the allocation percentage on endowed funds from 5 to 4 percent, more in line with national standards, to conserve resources. Portfolio adjustments helped the Foundation escape some of the market’s continued decline after January, and reap a slight rebound in March. Additional forms of cost recovery are also in the works, and the trustees reaffirmed the Foundation’s policy to not invade the principal of any endowed fund. A slight rebound in March has made Art Bloomer, chairman of the Board of Trustees, cautiously optimistic. He recalls the investments’ performance after the last market downturn in late 2001, when by 2006 the five-year average return was back up to levels comparable with the portfolio’s historical returns. Bloomer credits the Foundation’s investment manager, Hammond Associates, and a number of Foundation trustees who are “very astute in finance and investments.” “You sometimes have to look backward to see what the future is going to be,” Bloomer said of the potential for growth. “The thing that is encouraging to me is that we’re not out of line with other university endowment losses, and we can ride out the downturn. I really believe that in the next two to three years we’re going to see an upturn in the economy due to all the federal stimulus dollars, and the stock market will respond accordingly.” In the FY10 budget planning process, cuts of more than 15 percent (compared to the current budget) were implemented without impacting full-time positions. “Judy and her staff, especially chief financial officer Trisha Ott, have really scrubbed the budget thoroughly, and carefully scrutinized our spending,” Bloomer said. “They’ve really done a great job.” Other bright spots remain in the troubled economic climate. The Foundation has contacted donors whose endowed funds are “underwater” – meaning the current value is less than the original gift amount, so that interest revenue cannot finance an allocation – and many donors have stepped forward to provide one-time gifts. The result is that the level of scholarships available to ESU students in the 2009-2010 school year is expected to be close to the levels seen in recent years. “I don’t really expect to see a significant drop in the amount of scholarships that will be awarded from our endowed funds,” Bloomer said. Moreover, the Foundation’s total fundraising activity for FY09 is already hovering near the FY08 total, with about six weeks remaining in the fiscal year. The Foundation’s Call Center is also performing exceptionally well, thanks to alumni and donors. The dollars raised in this spring 2009 semester represent a new Call Center spring record, just as the fall 2008 semester saw the fall record surpassed. In the fall and spring, 1,310 new donors made their first pledges to support ESU students. “We have reason to be encouraged, even in these tough times,” Heasley said. “It’s a position many university foundations are finding themselves in right now. We have been able to curtail immediate expenses while developing a budget for next year that reflects shared sacrifice – and better yet, we’re still equipped to support the mission of Emporia State University.”
Railroad executive'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 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.
___________________________________________________________________________________ ESU prepares for fourth annual Blaufuss Run/WalkThe fourth annual John Blaufuss Memorial Run/Walk will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 2, 2009, at the Sauder Alumni Center, 1500 Highland St., to raise money for Emporia State University student scholarships. The event is held in honor of John Blaufuss, former ESU controller and interim executive director of University Advancement, a dedicated runner who was killed while jogging in 2005. His dedication, both to running and to garnering support for the university, is symbolized in the run/walk event. The event supports the ESU General Scholarship Fund. The running and walking paths take meandering courses through and around the ESU campus area, including a 2-mile walk and a 5K run. Both the run and walk begin at 9 a.m. As a family-friendly event, strollers are welcome. Last year the event raised $10,000 for scholarship support and was sponsored by Barnhart Builders of Olpe, Kan., who have been retained as event’s champion sponsor for this year. Joining them in supporting the scholarship drive are Bobby D’s Merchant Street BBQ, Emporia Fitness, Sodexho, and Walburn’s Fitness and Wellness, as well as the Blaufuss family and several other area businesses. To register now for $25, download and print the brochure and registration card you can find by navigating to www.emporia.edu/saf and clicking the Blaufuss Run/Walk logo. Fill out all required fields, and return it to the indicated address. Participants may also register at the Sauder Alumni Center during business hours in the next week, or at the event beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2. Event T-shirts will also be available in limited quantities. Following the race, a reception for participants, family and friends will be held in the Sauder Alumni Center. The public is invited to attend. For more information on the event, contact Blake Davis at (620) 341-5440 or bdavis1@emporia.edu.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Shepherd Scholars announced, honored in ceremony
When a dozen Emporia State University students were honored Tuesday as the 2009-10 class of Shepherd Scholars, the lengthy introductions for the seniors-to-be spoke not just to the past, but to the future. “I congratulate you on your accomplishments to date – but also on your future accomplishments, not only next year as seniors, but beyond ESU in your careers,” said ESU President Michael Lane, as he welcomed students, family, friends and faculty members in the Sauder Alumni Center on Tuesday afternoon. The Shepherd Scholars program was established at ESU in 1994 by Augusta Shepherd and her late husband, R. Hershel Shepherd, of Emporia. The scholarship provides generous support for ESU’s most accomplished upperclassmen in their senior years. The 2009 Shepherd Scholars are: Frances Busby, Osage City, secondary English education Caitlin Eck, Bartlett, accounting Jill Ferrell, Hutchinson, secondary English education Paige Kinzie, Macksville, secondary English education Karen Kroge, Lawrence, secondary social sciences education Jonathan Krueger, Bentley, political science and public affairs Jacob Kucza, Lawrence, elementary education Katie McClain, Lawrence, secondary social sciences education Jasmine Puderbaugh, Topeka, secondary English and French education Levi Short, Hamilton, biochemistry and molecular biology Tamara Stimatze, Emporia, psychology and rehabilitation Melissa Swager, Goodland, mathematics During the ceremony, professors introduced the students and spoke of their accomplishments and hard work. Students received a plaque in recognition of their selection.
For Frances Busby, the ceremony held a special surprise – she was also recognized with the Roe R. Cross Scholar Award, presented by ESU professors named as Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professors. The Roe Cross award annually recognizes a professor who best demonstrates teaching excellence, professional activities, fostering of intellectual atmosphere, service to the university outside the classroom, and status as a student mentor. For the third year, the elite circle of professors honored one of the Shepherd Scholars with an additional scholarship. “It’s great! It’s a wonderful honor,” Busby said afterward. “I wasn’t expecting the Roe Cross honor. I had no idea.” Busby was pleased, for herself and fellow recipients, to be recognized beyond high academic marks. She said the scholarships support the creativity of students in all disciplines, and encourages future success. “It really makes you feel good, that you’re getting somewhere with what you’re doing,” she said. Busby, a secondary English education major from Osage City, was introduced by Dr. Cynthia Patton. Patton taught a course surveying world literature, and found Busby to be quite animated in her postings to the course’s online discussion boards – frequent postings, at all times of the day and night. “At 3 a.m.!” Patton said, to elaborate. “Almost every day. Including weekends! I’m not saying there’s nothing to appreciate about ancient Egyptian love poetry. But there was definitely something refreshing in the joy Frances showed in expressing her views.” Busby laughed afterward, saying she would post replies whenever ideas came to her, even if those ideas woke her up. “‘Let’s see what everybody else thinks. They can read it when they wake up,’” Busby said. Similar evidence of excellence followed for each student, from the intellectual curiosity that led Karen Kroge to prepare for a teaching trip to China by reading four books on the nation, to Jonathan Krueger’s efforts to reestablish the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity on the ESU campus. Among such an accomplished group, the future for these 12 Shepherd Scholars looks even brighter than the present.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Westar Energy vice president establishes need-based scholarshipLarry Irick (BSB 1979) of Lawrence, Kan., has established a need-based scholarship at Emporia State University. The scholarship is specifically reserved for students graduating from high schools outside the major metropolitan areas of Kansas and demonstrating financial need. The scholarship is further reserved for business and mathematics majors; Irick is a graduate of the ESU school of business, and he remembers the faculty of the accounting program and math department, some of whom he felt took a sincere interest in his welfare as well as his educational progress. Irick is now a vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary at Westar Energy. Irick says that for him, the scholarship was a simple proposition. “I’ve been lucky, and I’m in a position to help,” said Irick. “From my standpoint, it’s pretty basic. I had a good experience at Emporia State…And I was kind of lucky. I was able to earn my way. I recognize that jobs may be less available. There’s definitely a greater need for that kind of support for financially needy students.” Irick said that his time at ESU was supported first by an on-campus job, then later by work at a local meat packing plant, along with some limited scholarship support. This meant early mornings and complicated scheduling. “I recognize that that is a real burden on students,” he said. “It detracts from getting the most out of the college experience.” Irick said that he hopes that the Larry D. Irick Scholarship will be an opportunity for students to avoid this difficulty. “I would like for it to help them to be able to focus on their education while they’re at Emporia State,” he said. For more information on this scholarship or to support Emporia State University, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or visit us at www.emporia.edu/foundation.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Provost Tes Mehring establishes scholarship at ESUDr. Tes Mehring, provost and vice president for academic affairs and student life at Emporia State University, has established a scholarship fund at the university in pursuit of scholarships for students in the Teachers College. The scholarship names financial need as a primary criterion for selection, indicating Mehring’s concern for the difficulty in the cost of education. Mehring said that her motivations for establishing a scholarship came not from her own experience, but from that of her students here at ESU. “I was fortunate – I didn’t have any scholarship support,” said Mehring, explaining that part-time work and student loans had supported her education. “But over the years, I’ve seen the needs increase in my own students.” Mehring is encouraged by the thought that today’s successful students, benefiting from donations like hers, will be the philanthropists supporting the next generation’s education. “The circle completes itself,” Mehring said. Beyond financial need, Mehring has seen firsthand how ethnic minorities are under-represented in the teaching field, and it is her intent for the scholarship to benefit minority students in any undergraduate major within the Teachers College. However, because Emporia State University does not discriminate against any particular group of students when awarding scholarships, all students are encouraged to apply for the Mehring Scholarship. Ethnic minorities represent a small percentage of ESU students, especially in the Teachers College and in fields dealing with kids, Mehring said, specifically listing the fields of teaching, counseling, recreation, health promotion, athletic training and other areas. In the professional world, too, this leads to problems. “Kids need to see people who look like them, and they don’t have many opportunities for that to take place,” Mehring said. Mehring’s doctoral training was in psychology and special education, and it is in these fields that she has served as a faculty member at ESU since 1981. She became a department chair, the dean of the Teachers College, and finally provost and vice president. All along, Mehring’s commitment to the student body has remained the same. “Students are the utmost priority. That’s why we’re here, that’s why we do what we do,” she said. “I think more and more we’re seeing students who have to depend on outside funding, whether through jobs or scholarships, to get access to a college degree. This scholarship is an opportunity for me to ensure the future.” For more information on the Mehring Scholarship or to support Emporia State University, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or visit us at .
___________________________________________________________________________________ ESU call center has its strongest semester in history
Blake Davis, associate director of annual programs, is enthusiastic about the success. “The call center is one of the best tools we have in terms of engaging alumni,” Davis said. “Our callers talk to about 40,000 people in a year. They are the front-line fundraisers of the university.” To put things into perspective, Davis said, “They are able to contact more people each night than I do in a year.” All 14 callers are full-time students and part-time employees of the ESU Foundation. Davis said that this is critical to their success. “It's a chance for alumni to talk to current students and rekindle a part of that experience.” During the fall semester, students solicit donations to the Foundation's annual fund, supporting whatever areas of need present themselves. In the spring, students call alumni from each of the four colleges and schools to solicit scholarship support. In Fall 2008, over 500 alumni committed to making their first-ever gift to ESU, and total support exceeded any term in the past. Davis said that the support shown by alumni in the last term is very encouraging in light of present economic difficulties. “Fall 2008 was our best semester yet, and I think of it as our alumni being informed of financial situations and making sure that students don't have to bear that burden,” Davis said. “Our alumni are cognizant of what's going on in the world, and it's ESU students who benefit.”
___________________________________________________________________________________ ESU programs and publications earn CASE awards
A program that puts Emporia State University alumni volunteers to work recruiting prospective students has caught the attention of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). ESU’s START/TAP program earned gold award recognition at the CASE District VI convention held Jan. 25 – 27 in Kansas City, Mo. The START/TAP program, conducted by the ESU Alumni Association, stands for Students Through Alumni Recruitment Teams (START) and the Teacher Appreciation Program (TAP). START began in 2000, and TAP followed in 2004. Alumni volunteers visit high schools across Kansas, contacting prospective students while providing lunch for teaching staffs and giving gifts to teachers who are ESU alumni. The program complements the work of ESU’ s admissions office in recruiting students. Planning for ESU’s 1957 class reunion earned a CASE s ilver award. Held during ESU’s Homecoming in October, 2007, the event was organized by a number of volunteers, a class planning committee, and current alumni relations staff members Nikki Metz and Joan Lauber. The reunion drew more than 100 alumni (about a third of the graduating class), and resulted in a $10,000 scholarship endowment contributed to by class members. Several ESU promotional publications also earned CASE recognition. John Decker, graphic artist in ESU’s Public Affairs and Marketing office, earned a silver award recognizing his design work on a series of posters advertising ESU’s Rave Alert system. The other two silver awards went to Kathleen Dorcas, ESU Printing Services printer specialist, for her design of materials for the ESU Department of Music Annual Gala benefit concert. Jesse Tuel, ESU Advancement Communications director, won a bronze award for his article, “A Rare Find.” Published in ESU’s “Spotlight” magazine, the article traced the origins of an artifact donated to the ESU Foundation. “We’re elated to earn this recognition for our outstanding alumni programs and the quality of our publications,” said Judith Heasley, ESU Foundation president. “We’ve always known how much of a difference we’re making in student recruitment and alumni engagement through programs like START and TAP and our Homecoming class reunions, but it’s rewarding to be recognized for our success by our professional organization.” Brad Goebel, ESU’s director of marketing, echoed Heasley’s praise. “We have 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. In addition to Kansas, CASE District VI includes institutions of all sizes in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Hill Scholarship established for ASG leadersVanessa Hill has established the Jon Carl Hill Scholarship at Emporia State University, designed for students involved in the Associated Student Government, in memory of her husband's history with student government and news publications. Carl Hill was an Emporia native who was active in his participation with the Associated Student Government and the school newspaper, the Bulletin, during his time at ESU. That background led him into various roles in newspaper publishing in the region, and he always retained a strong interest in politics. Vanessa Hill is a 1981 graduate of ESU. “I loved Emporia State, from the first time I walked on campus. It was just a wonderful experience,”said Hill. Now an elementary school teacher with a history of involvement with the Topeka city council, she credits Carl and his involvement in ASG with encouraging her interest in government. Hill hopes to instill that passion in ESU students through her scholarship gift. “My husband was really passionate about government,” she said. “I wanted to encourage [students] to go on in politics.” Hill said that she understands the financial difficulties in education and hopes that her scholarship will help students achieve their educational goals. “In these trying times, I know that every little bit will help....So many students start, and they might get in there for a year or so and say, ‘I can't do this.’” Hill hopes to encourage “that one student” who might otherwise have given up on his or her career because of financial difficulty in school. For more information on this scholarship or about supporting ESU, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu, or visit our home page at www.emporia.edu/saf.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Burns Scholarships established for McPherson and Neodesha studentsDr. Linda Lattin Burns and her husband Dr. Robert Burns have established two scholarships at Emporia State University, one to each of their names, targeted to students of their respective home high schools and counties and distributed based on the students' financial need and grade point average. The Burns have a long history with Emporia State University. Robert Burns, involved with the Quivira creative writing organization, earned a 1958 BSE in English. After a 3-year tour of duty with the US Navy, he returned for a 1965 master of arts degree in English. Linda, then Linda Lattin, earned a BSE in 1964 and a master of science degree in English in 1965. The two met in their graduate programs and taught at the high school level in Kansas, then moved upon graduation to teach at the university level in Missouri. Linda taught at the University of Missouri, Columbia, until they were married and joined the English department at Southeast Missouri Sate University. Both professors gained professional honors, and Robert served as chairman of the department and associate dean of the division. Linda Burns credits ESU with forming her approach to education. “We were both education majors and stayed with it,” said Burns. “I suppose being at Emporia kinda set the stage for the rest of our professional careers. We have a lot of fond memories.” Burns explained that the scholarship's focus on high GPA and financial need reflects the situation she and Robert met with at ESU. Both were bright students from low-income families. “We couldn't have gone unless we had some support. This is just a way to pay back – or to pay forward,” Burns said. The couple established a scholarship in the English program at SMSU with contributions from colleagues and friends and retired in 2001. Now, the Burns have established a scholarship to aid students with needs at their own alma mater. For more information on this scholarship or about supporting ESU, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu, or visit our home page at www.emporia.edu/saf.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Faculty Incentive Grants distributed for 08/09The Faculty Incentive Grant program, established by the Foundation Board of Trustees with an inaugural distribution of $15,000 in spring 2008, has awarded another $10,000 in seven grants for the 2008/2009 academic year. The grants provide funding for faculty research, allowing ESU to keep pace with other research institutions and providing materials and educational opportunities for ESU students. Prof. Amy Sage Webb, President of the Faculty Senate and a member of the program’s selection committee, says the grants are a unique way to support ESU’s mission. “I see it as a wonderful opportunity to facilitate academic opportunities that involve students,” Webb said. Some institutions have similar grant programs, but at ESU, Webb explained, because of its “instructional mission,” it is important that each of these grants enables faculty to provide research and instructional opportunities for students. Webb also explained that the grants reflect ESU's ability to keep pace with educational opportunities. “We have needs all over the place,” said Webb. “It may not even be a need that students know they have.” Webb also said future grants will be offered to initiatives in any academic department that showed a similar potential for research and educational opportunity. Tim Burnett, a professor of biology, received a grant for partial funding toward materials used in a quantifiable PCR system, an industry standard in gene detection and research. “I've been trying to get one on campus since I arrived, six years ago,” said Burnett. “It's certainly something that all of our students, whether they're going into research or industry, will be exposed to.” Burnett expressed the difficulty of teaching students on old technology that isn’t state-of-the-art as they will see in their professional careers. He said that for his own research, too, the system is a boon – previously, his work required him to travel to the University of Kansas Medical Center to perform the same research. “It will vastly increase the capabilities of my lab,” Burnett said. The winter 2009 recipients and their goals follow. • Tim Burnett, of the biological sciences department, received supplemental funding in addition to a grant from the National Institutes of Health to purchase a real-time polymerase chain reaction detection system and materials for its use. PCR is used in a variety of manipulations in the study of genetics, and the system is common in research laboratories. • Emily Dieker, in the Newman division of nursing, received partial funding for nursing laboratory equipment to be used in various student instruction applications. The equipment will be necessary in various undergraduate courses throughout the program. • William Jensen, of the biology department, received partial funding toward a camping trailer to house students on field study trips, making more extensive study trips possible. These expeditions are a necessity for students of biology, allowing a much broader base of experience in studying environments within Kansas and across the region. • Brenda Koerner and Richard Sleezer, respectively of the departments of biological and physical sciences, received partial funding for equipment to monitor carbon storage in Great Plains environments and study its correlation to the use of the land. The project promises interesting research material on the Great Plains region and will also involve students of both departments, offering them a chance to apply state-of-the-art techniques in the field. • Quiang Shi, of the mathematics, computer science, and economics department, received the cost of an educational-use license of the Mathematica software application, a statistical and mathematical modeling system widely used in science and engineering with multidisciplinary capabilities. The software will allow ESU students of mathematics and computer science access to tools in their studies often missing in typical curricula. The software has broad applications in not only business and computer science but in the physical, natural, and social sciences. • Marshall Sundberg, of the biology department, received funding for three digital cameras and tripods. The cameras will be used to study various aspects of plant growth and will be useful to the department in many other applications by undergraduates, graduates, and faculty through various independent research projects. • Yixin Yang, again of the biology department, received partial funding toward travel expenses for the fourth International Conference of DNA Repair and Mutagenesis in Whistler, Canada. The conference is held every four years, and Yixin Yang's presentation at the conference will represent recent work from ESU faculty and students. For more information or to support the Faculty Incentive Grant program, contact the ESU Foundation, (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu, or visit us online at www.emporia.edu/give.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Large estate gift announced at Emporia StateThe legacy of Leona and Emil Dillard will be felt at Emporia State University for years to come, through one of the largest gifts in ESU history. In 1993, Leona Dillard established the Leona Sneed Dillard and Emil L. Dillard Scholarship Fund as a preparatory estate gift. Dillard passed away in April, but through the gift she left the university – at $400,000 – her name will remain a substantial presence on campus, especially among the juniors and seniors in English and business programs that her scholarship will help to support. In 1942, Leona Sneed Dillard, then a Hutchinson, Kan. resident, graduated from ESU with a bachelor's degree in business. She married Emil Dillard in the same year, and her maiden name is retained in the name of her scholarship to represent her time at ESU. According to her obituary in the Tryon, N. C. Daily Bulletin, she taught in Eureka, Kan. for some time, then went on to earn an M.B.S. from Columbia University in New York, where the couple lived for 38 years. During this time, Leona worked as an investment analyst for Aramco and a freelance fiction and historical writer. The couple retired to Tryon; Emil died in 1992, and Leona made arrangements for her estate soon after, finally returning to Kansas in 1996. Linda Pease, chief development officer at the ESU Foundation, commented on Dillard's gesture. “We can't underestimate the impact this University has on alumni,” said Pease. “Back when she started teaching, I bet she didn't make much in a year. And yet she was able to go on to make this marvelous gift, and students from now on will benefit from her generosity.” The fund is designed to allow the scholarship amount to expand with the fund, allowing the benefit to keep pace with inflation and showing the care Dillard took to make her impact a truly lasting one. “Leona's influence will live on at Emporia State,” Pease said. “Year after year, the Dillard Scholarship will help students achieve their educational goals. This is an amazing legacy she has left.”
___________________________________________________________________________________ Scholarship created to honor ESU Distinguished AlumniThe 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 our home page at www.emporia.edu/saf.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Clarke biology scholarship created at Emporia StateThe Robert F. Clarke Memorial Biology Scholarship has been established at Emporia State University by his children Linda Clarke and John Clarke to benefit a full-time graduate student in the biology department. Robert Clarke was born in Portsmouth, Va., but met Elaine McNabb during his service in World War II and moved to Kansas to marry her. Then an illustrator, Clarke attended KSTC (now ESU) and earned a bachelor's degree in 1955 and a master's degree in 1957 in biology, then earned a doctorate in zoology in 1963 at the University of Oklahoma. Clarke began his teaching career in ESU's biology department during graduate school in 1956, returned after his doctoral education, and became chair of the department from 1972 to 1978. Known as a wildlife artist, he accrued a long list of professional honors, from Who's Who listings to prestigious research fellowships and naming as an ESU Distinguished Alumnus. Clarke retired in 1990. His commitment to his students is reflected in this scholarship in memory of his service and distinction. The donors share their father's history with Emporia State University, as well as his love for the science of life. Linda earned a bachelor's in 1976 and a master's in biology in 1982, as well as a master's in counselor education in 1985. John earned a bachelor's in biology as well, in 1972, and graduated in 1973 with a master's in psychology. The donors' choice to offer the scholarship in the department of biology reflects a wish to pass on to the next generation the love of life that was instilled in them by their father. For more information on this scholarship or about supporting ESU, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu, or visit our home page at www.emporia.edu/saf.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Davises create ESU scholarship for business and education studentsThe Dale and Carolyn Davis Endowed Scholarship has been established with the Emporia State University Foundation, targeted to a full-time business or education major who is a Lyon County high school graduate. Dale Davis, president and CEO of Sauder Custom Fabrication, an Emporia-based corporation since 1956 that designs and builds pressure vessels for world-wide industrial applications, has been active in the county government, has served as mayor for the City of Emporia, and has been active in campaign funding support. Though the Davises are not ESU alumni, Dale has served on the ESU Foundation Board of Trustees in the past and has a deep investment in the university. Dale and Carolyn explained their motivation in creating the endowment by emphasizing their family ties to the university. “We have two daughters and a daughter-in-law, as well as other family members, who are graduates of ESU and are teachers. Some students find the cost of higher education almost out of reach, students who have the potential to become great teachers or business leaders,” Dale and Carolyn said. Davis said that the scholarship should emphasize to its recipients the community investment it represents. “I think it means that there are a lot of people in society who value higher education and recognize its importance,” Dale Davis said. The Davises certainly recognize the importance of education. They have been involved with the National Teachers Hall of Fame since its inception on the ESU campus. “I think that all of us, as we advance in life, come to respect the teaching field more,” Davis said. “The burden on teachers just continues to grow.” But the Davises hope to lessen the burden. “Hopefully, our endowed ESU scholarship will help them in some small way to reach their dreams.”
For more information on this scholarship or about supporting ESU, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu, or visitour home page at www.emporia.edu/saf.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Three donors establish estate gifts at ESUThree estate gifts have been recently established with Emporia State University, each benefiting students through the creation of a targeted scholarship. The scholarships they benefit will be fully established in the fiscal year following the realization of the gift. Each is designed to help students of like mind share some part of the donor's university experience. The Joseph H. Thimes scholarship was created by Joe Thimes to benefit Kansas-native students in the fields of math or physics, or education students pursuing a math or physics emphasis. The award will be granted to four students each academic year. Thimes’ intention is to encourage ESU students to become educators in math and science, sharing the experience of his fulfilling career as a teacher. Thimes is a Lyon County native and graduate of Strong City High School. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in math from the College of Emporia in 1969 and a master’s degree in math from ESU in 1974. Thimes has taught high school physics at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School for over thirty years. The Ted and Janice Eberle Endowed Scholarship was created in late 2007. The scholarship will grant substantial awards each year to four students in ESU’s School of Business – one student of each classification, freshman to senior – who are graduates of Derby High School. Ted and Janice Eberle are educators and ESU alumni (BSE 1963, MS 1967, and BSE 1964, MS 1966, respectively). The couple taught at Derby High School (Janice from 1971 and Ted from 1983) until retirement in 2007, with Ted teaching marketing education and entrepreneurship and Janice teaching in the business and computer technology department. Ted spent eight years as state advisor to two organizations for career and technical education, while Janice worked to maintain the professional development program activities for DHS. Through this scholarship fund, they will continue to benefit Derby High School students beyond their years of service.
The Ruth Ellen Siegrist Nelson Scholarship has been established to encourage returning students with incomplete degrees who have not been enrolled for at least two years. The scholarship's inclusive list of preferred majors includes English, library science, business, math, and the natural and physical sciences. The donor's intent is that the scholarship go to a woman, in support of today's opportunities for young women made possible by the women's movements with which Nelson was involved during her college years. Nelson is an ESU alumna, graduating in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in education and in 1975 and 1977 with master's degrees in English and library science. Professionally, Nelson worked as a graduate assistant in ESU's English department and, after graduation, served for 31 years at the Northern Heights High School in Allen, Kansas. Although Nelson has left the area of study open – not requiring that recipients follow in her professional footsteps – the scholarship will encourage students who have left the realm of education to return to school and take opportunities like the one Nelson made for herself. For more information on supporting any of these scholarships or Emporia State University, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu, or visit our home page at www.emporia.edu/give.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Thomas Scholarship crafted to aid rural business students at Emporia State UniversityA fourth-generation Emporia State University graduate who brought a farmer’s work ethic to her accounting career has decided to give back to future ESU students with a $50,000 scholarship. Diane Thomas Mitchell, of Bartlesville, Okla., has established the Thomas Scholarship Fund, creating a renewable scholarship designated for a graduating senior from USD 252 (Hartford, Neosho Rapids, or Olpe) who is pursuing a business degree at Emporia State. Mitchell, the manager of Downstream Financial Services at ConocoPhillips, was raised on the family farm southeast of Emporia. She knew rural students had the drive to succeed, but not always the financial means to get there. She also knew an ESU education gave her the skills she needed to compete. “Emporia State gave me a good foundation,” Mitchell said. “Their business school is outstanding, and what helps make it outstanding is the students. I’m hopeful this will help the business school attract top-notch students. I think that’s important.” Mitchell’s family has long-established Kansas roots. Four generations have attended ESU, beginning more than a century ago with Mitchell’s great-grandmother, Carrie Gasche Gardner, who graduated in the class of 1898. In 1927, Margaret Gardner Thomas Jones, Carrie’s daughter and Diane’s grandmother, graduated. Diane graduated in 1978, and in 2005, Benjamin Thomas, Carrie’s great-great-grandson, earned his ESU degree. Margaret’s three sisters also earned degrees from Kansas State Teachers College, now ESU: Erma Gardner Bangs (BS 1924), Inez Gardner Butterfield (BS 1928), and Carol Gardner (BA 1930). Education was so important to the Gardner family that their parents, R.O. and Carrie, sent the four sisters by train to Topeka to live with grandparents and earn their high school diplomas there. Diane and her siblings, Steven and Karen, were raised by Kenneth and Shirley Thomas on the original Gardner farm southeast of Emporia. All three graduated from Hartford High School. Diane earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1978, becoming a CPA in 1981. She went to work for Conoco, Inc., after graduation, and now holds a senior management position in the company’s accounting division. Mitchell’s motivation to give is two-fold. First, it’s the example set by her parents, who have established two student scholarships – one on behalf of Margaret Gardner Thomas Jones for Hartford High School students, and one on behalf of her brother Steven, who died in a car wreck at the age of 40. Second, it’s the generosity of ConocoPhillips. The company matches Mitchell’s gift, dollar for dollar. “ConocoPhillips has been very good to me, and Emporia State prepared me very well for it, so I thought ConocoPhillips and I could give back,” Mitchell said. Looking ahead, Mitchell admits that she has high expectations for students who receive the Thomas Scholarship, just like the expectations she has for her ConocoPhillips staff. But with her rural background, she knows those students will bring a rigorous work ethic to the table. For more information on the Thomas Scholarship, or to donate to the fund, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440 or sacfound@emporia.edu.
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The student call center at the Emporia State University Foundation had a a record-setting semester in Fall 2008 despite a weakened national economy, and the Spring 2009 telefund began this January. The call center solicits donations from alumni around the country through evening telephone sessions throughout each semester. 
Last Updated November 17, 2009