Winter 2011

The Magazine of Sterling College

Homecoming Review 11 Higher Learning Commission Accreditation 17A Home Away from Home 8

Sterling College as Community

Joellen and I love to host Sterling College students in our home. We have hosted individual students and student groups such as Student Government Association (SGA), SC’s outstanding debate and forensics team, and a Bible study planning for LOVE Sterling, a city-wide clean up day. At the end of each semester we open our home for a couple of evenings to any student who wants a study break with snacks. We also host prospective students and their families in our home during visit weekends.

Part of the underlying purpose for each occasion is to build community. Community is an important concept for a small college. It’s part of what makes us different from larger schools. We want every student we encounter, whether in our home or on campus, to know we value them and that God has a purpose for their life —and that each one is part of something larger. They are part of a special community.

However, we strive for a goal greater than community. As a Christ-centered institution, we desire our community to be a family. It’s a higher aim. It’s also a thoroughly biblical concept. Scripture teaches that the body of believers is a family. We are to be known by our love for each other. We are to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

It is my prayer that this idea of family will be increasingly true at Sterling College. This issue of Sterling Magazine celebrates the community of the College, both here on campus and also—through our alumni—beyond it. It also shares about some areas of the College in which we have moved beyond “community” to “family.”

You will read about the SC Athletic Training Department, which pushes its students to excellence through collaboration rather than competition, and about our foster family program, which connects students with families in the Sterling com-munity, giving them a “home away from home.” You will learn about new members of our community, many of whom are Sterling College alumni.

This issue also gives an update on a few members of our extended family. Many of you reading this are graduates or former students, while others are long-term supporters. We consider you central to the Sterling College family.

We hope you enjoy this community/family-themed issue of Sterling Magazine. And I hope, as an important member of the family, that you will stay in touch.

MPaul J. Maurer, Ph.D.President

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Sterling Magazine Staff director of marketing and

presidential communicationsSterling Editor

Karin (Lederle) Swihart ’08writer for marketing

communicationsSterling Associate Editor

Jennifer Underwoodgraphic designer

Kelly Flahertystudent assistants

Aly Dardzinski ’11Courtney Huber ’13

College Senior Administration president

Paul J. Maurer, Ph.D.vice president for academic affairs

Greg Kerr, Ph.D.vice president for enrollment

Dennis Dutton ’82, M.A.vice president for student life

Tina Wohler, M.S.vice president for

innovation and technologyKen Brown, Ph.D.

vice president for institutional advancement

Marvin Dewey, Ed.D.chief financial officer

Scott Rich, M.B.A.athletic director

Andy Lambert, M.S.

Board of Trustees’ Officers Tony Thompson ’69, Chair

Tim O’Brien, Vice ChairRandy Henry ’72, Secretary

Alumni Council Amy (Sylvester) Svaty ’02, President

Ty Herrington, President-ElectJill (Bleam) Lundgren ’79, Secretary-Treasurer

view sterling onlineCurrent and back issues available

www.sterling.edu/alumni/magazine

Sterling is a publication of Sterling College’s Marketing Communications office. It is distributed twice a year at no charge to Sterling College alumni,

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printerMennonite Press, Newton, Kansas

SterlingWinter 2011

Features 4 Athletic Training Education Program: Serving On and Off the Fields 6 Impacting the Inner City 8 A Home Away from Home

Departments11 Homecoming Review14 In the News16 Sterling has Long Term Impact on Local Schools19 Class Notes20 Where’s the Warrior?

ATEP Team 2010-2011 Photo. Front Row (left to right): Lacey Carlson, Amber Beebe, Adrianna Ballor, Morgan Martin, Whitney Love, Dani Burk, Lacey Rhoads, Christina Smith, Brittany Seiler, and Brittany Gant. Middle Row: Jarrett Stanton, Ryan Green, Josh Greenlee, Kerby Rice, Taylor Oswald, Assistant Athletic Trainer Jason Coles ’09, Associate Athletic Trainer Erin Laudermilk, Program Director of Athletic Training Education Ryan “Pete” Manely, Head Athletic Trainer Chris Brown, Matt Bartlett, Darius Alexander, Andrew Drake, Jordan Getting, and Alex VanLoenen. Back Row: Kyle Berry, Dallas Fenn, Kylie Yates, Britany Gasper, Kayla Lassiter, Jared Brown, and Randy Young.

The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at Sterling College is not even ten years old, but it already has a reputation, a good one. The walls of the program’s main teaching classroom are lined with pennants from—Ohio University, Oklahoma University, Eastern New Mexico State and more—each represents one of the 16 (out of 21 total) SC Athletic Training graduates who is attending or has attended a graduate program at that school.

How has Sterling’s ATEP accomplished this? Through cutthroat competition among the ATEP students? Absolutely not, says Program Director Pete Manely. “We use the word ‘family’ a lot. We are preparing students for a career that is all about serving others. I don’t know any other way to do that than to model it for them, to tell them we’ll be there for each other and then actually do it.”

This family approach begins even before a student enters the program. When Manely talks with prospective students, he tells them they can expect to work really hard—as a team.

It works. This year the Athletic Training Program was ten students over its recruiting goal. Cindy Lee, the mother of first-year student Taylor Lee of Norco, Calif., said this about Manely’s meeting with her son: “I was so impressed that Pete Manely took so much time to get to know Taylor and find out what kind of person he is. There was real counseling going on. Pete was so positive that I could sense Taylor felt more relaxed and connected almost immediately.”

The connection continues when students enter the program. “We always ‘eat good,’” says Manely. “We have a lot of get-togethers: cookouts, a Thanksgiving meal, a Christmas party, an end-of-the-year banquet—I believe in banquets. We celebrate our accomplishments.”

Athletic Training Education Programserving on and off the fieldswritten by Jennifer Underwood

4 Sterling Magazine

Five years ago there were six people at the end-of-the-year banquet; this past year there were 62! The gathering included current students and their family members, alumni with their families, even families of the staff members.

But it’s not all about the fun times. “Our promise to be there for each other means most when times are tough,” says Manely. “Last year was a rough year. We had three students whose parents went through life-threatening situations. My mom was diagnosed with cancer, and Erin’s (Laudermilk, an assistant professor) grandfather passed away. We didn’t hide these from each other. We shared our struggles. Every professor and trainer in our program has an open-door policy. When we say we’ll pray for a student, we do it.”

The students agree. “All our professors are easy to talk to,” says sophomore Dani Burk. “They work together as a team and they like each other. That makes us want to be around them. We hang out in the training room, even when we’re not working.”

Jason Coles is an ’09 alumnus who earned his graduate degree at Ohio University and then returned to SC as an assistant athletic trainer. “I came back because of the family atmosphere,” he says. “We’ve made conscious efforts to hold onto that even as we’ve grown. It’s a special thing to be a part of the ATEP program.”

The camaraderie is clearly working, and Manely has a theory about that. “I believe that the main reason we’ve been able to create and hold onto a family atmosphere is because our common purpose is to serve. We are one of those rare programs in which students get to serve in their field while they are on campus. We serve our athletes, and we extend family support to them. We pray with them and over them. When they go through surgeries, we go with them to the hospital. We care about the success of

the teams we serve. I think that creates a special bond among us.

“We want to ‘Walk the walk.’ That’s our theme this year. We’ve been looking at verses that use the word ‘walk’ and seeing how they apply to what we do. We’ve been talking about how to use athletic training on a mission trip. Jason Coles wants to lead a team. We always want to be growing.”

That growth is producing athletic trainers who are fully prepared for a future in their field. Justin Martens is a 2010 grad who is now at Southeastern Louisiana University as a graduate assistant. He recently said, “I feel absolutely prepared for my grad work. Actually, the biggest shock to me has been to find that the level of professionalism that was expected at SC was so great. It’s not that it isn’t present in my grad program, but you would expect it to be higher at a big university, as if it wouldn’t be as strong at Sterling because of the size of the college and the family atmosphere of the ATEP program. That, however, is absolutely not true. I’ve discovered that the professionalism expected of us and the high standards we had for each other were top notch.

“I think that’s because we saw each other as members of a family. We were expected to assist each other and give the highest possible level of care because we all, trainers and athletes, belonged to the same family.”

Far more than the awards won and degrees earned, it is this servant attitude that will enable Sterling College’s ATEP graduates to “walk the walk” in athletic programs all across the country.

One ministry Sanchez is currently involved with is Students Run L.A., a running and mentoring program organized by leaders in her church. She develops relationships with high school students while training them to run in the Los Angeles Marathon. She is also involved with Bicycle Bread, a company that bakes bread in a neighborhood house and then sells it on a sidewalk or corner once a week. This, Sanchez says, has given her opportunities to start Bible studies outside the church, build real relationships, and share the Gospel with people in her neighborhood.

Though she has not made a commitment to be in Los Angeles for a specific length of time, Sanchez shares, “I really feel like this is my home, and I feel to do the work I am doing, I need to be in it for the long haul.” She continues, “A lot of people come and go, but to really see change, it takes time.”

For Naiya Hernandez ’08, there is also a clear connection between her experience at Sterling College and the time she recently spent in what is essentially the red light district of downtown Denver, Colo. Hernandez, a missions major at SC, spent the 27 months following graduation as a case manager at Joy House, a ministry of Providence Network. Joy House is a two-year transitional housing program that offers help and healing to low-income abused women and children who are leaving domestic violence situations and seeking to rebuild their lives. Hernandez credits Sterling with having a part in preparing her to impact the community there.

“I feel that when you live life with people, it’s natural to have discipleship relationships. That is what God calls us to do—make disciples.” Sterling alum Shalom Sanchez ’00 is one of many SC graduates who, after experiencing close relationships at SC, has chosen to live and minister in a different type of community—the inner city.

For the last eight years, Sanchez has planted churches; trained at-risk youth for marathons; mentored women; run a toy and school supply giveaway for needy families; helped with a neighborhood bread ministry; and substitute taught in the public school system. Sanchez, a missionary with Great Commission Ministries in South Los Angeles, Calif., says she felt called to urban youth work while on a Sterling College theatre group tour in California. “I saw people hurting and searching along with great need and great diversity, and that really started working on my heart,” she recalls.

Sanchez experienced discipleship in such a way at Sterling that she wanted to continue living in a close community setting. “Because almost everyone lived in the dorm, you really were a part of people’s lives, the good and the bad. You ate, studied, worked and played together,” Sanchez says. “When you are around people that much, it’s hard to not be real. Walls come down and people know you at deeper levels. I wanted to continue to live life with people, not just going to church on Sunday and leaving, but really being a part of each other’s lives. I wanted to know people and have people know me.”

Alumni Take Lessons Learned At Sterling To The City’s Toughest Parts

6 Sterling Magazine

a high school of 2200 where the average ACT score is 17 and the population is 99% African American. “But I love my students,” she adds. “They keep me on my toes.”

Still, the harsh needs of her students’ lives can be discouraging. “Some days I am overwhelmed with the reality of the brokenness of the system—and the city. Memphis is a wonderful place, with a rich, rich history, but it’s also the second most segregated city in the United States. I can tell students countless times that they can make an impact, but that’s not their reality. They have a hard time believing that.”

Though MTR is a member of the Urban Teacher Residency United Network, MTR is the only residency program in the U.S. that is Christ-centered. “My professors and the director are amazing,” says Thiessen. “It’s a fantastic program.” It’s also a program with a big goal. According to the MTR Web site, “Roughly 50% of all urban public school teachers leave within the first three years,” but “the retention rate for Urban Teacher Residency (UTR) grads beyond those crucial first three years is 85%.”

Thiessen has found this to be true. “There are teachers in my building who have just given up,” she says. She and the other students in the MTR don’t want to be those teachers. They want to make a difference, to stay when others leave.

Like Sanchez and Hernandez, Thiessen has followed God’s calling into a difficult place and has found His grace is sufficient there. Thiessen says, “I feel completely inadequate, but I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

“Sterling really helped me work out my own beliefs and fine-tune my worldview while also respecting the views of others,” Hernandez says. “Being within the SC community of friends, classmates and professors allowed me to grow as a person and prepared me for going into the world, where there are so many different thought processes and beliefs.”

“Because Sterling students are required to live on campus, this creates a setting where it’s not just the hustle and bustle of classes,” she continues. “You’re in this community where you get to know each other and form relationships, and you meet people with such different perspectives.”

Though she has moved on from her position at Joy House, the community Hernandez found and fostered there continues as an important part of her life. “It spills over because I still have relationships with those women,” says Hernandez. “I still see them often.”

Most recently Erin Thiessen ’09 decided to live and work in the inner city. In May 2010 Thiessen moved to Memphis, Tenn., to enter the Memphis Teacher Residency (MTR) program. Through MTR Thiessen will receive her Master’s in Urban Education from Union University and will teach in the inner city of Memphis for at least two years following the completion of her degree. She spends her weekdays (Mondays through Thursdays) as a teacher in an urban classroom under the guidance of a mentor and her weekends (Fridays and Saturdays) as a student in graduate classes. It’s a busy life, but Thiessen says it is a very special thing to be a part of. All the MTR students live in community in the heart of the city, and sharing a common purpose—to impact youth with the love of Christ through education—creates a necessary support for a difficult job.

“It’s not like Freedom Writers—or any other movie about urban teachers,” says Thiessen. She teaches six periods of art each day to 140 students in

written by Alison (Bauman ’05) Anderson

Winter 2011 7

SC Foster Family Program Quick Facts

- sharing a home-cooked meal- attending church together- doing laundry- watching movies- going to Hutchinson- hanging out with the children of the home

Common activities between families and

students include:

Originally started by longtime Sterling College support, Linda Simpson, for the Warrior football team, the Foster Family program was created to build a strong support systems for campus athletes by connecting them with local families. The program has since been developed to include all new students if they desire to participate. Currently over 100 families are involved in the program, most often having multiple “foster” children per household.

Sterling College student Sam Downe was stuck, literally. On a lonely back road far outside town, his truck had slid into deep snow. Sam is from Texas, so he couldn’t call his parents, not his real ones anyway. But Sam has foster parents in Sterling, the Schmidts, and he could call them. Pretty soon Sam saw Clark Schmidt approaching in his truck, and the next day the two of them drove a tractor out to pull Sam’s truck from the snow. Like a good “dad,” Clark came to the rescue.

“I know—without question—that any time I need the Schmidts, they’ll make themselves available,” says Sam. “Having that, this far away from home,is invaluable.”

Sam is one of many SC students who have a home away from home at Sterling. Every year the Student Life Office connects new students with foster families from the College and community. These families invite their new sons and daughters over to eat, do laundry and hang out with their children. Some, like the Schmidts, offer even more, and some students continue the relationship long past their first year at the College.

Sam has done this. A senior this year, he has been part of the Schmidts’ lives since before their youngest child was born. “Over the years he’s become a member of the family,” says Clark.

That’s exactly what most Sterling students say they want from the foster program. Students tired of cafeteria food enjoy home-cooked meals, and students missing younger brothers and sisters often gain a few foster siblings. In Sam’s case, the Schmidt family seems made exactly for him. “I come from a farm family,” says Sam. “Clark has invited me to work cattle with him, hunt with him on his property and even do a controlled burn with him.” Sam may see these things as the Schmidts’ reaching out to him, but Clark views it differently. “He’s helped me out quite a bit, and I’ve enjoyed working with him.”

a home... away from home

8 Sterling Magazine

Actually, this foster family and son seem to have a habit of supporting each other. When Sam played junior varsity basketball, the family went to his home games. “Knowing Sam was on the team made it a lot more fun for us,” said Clark. And Sam loved having his own personal cheering section. “With my own parents so far away, it was nice to have somebody rooting just for me.”

The Schmidt children will cheer for Sam any time—with good reason, says Jessica. “He gets right down at their level when he talks to them, and he never ignores them.” One of Debi and Wyatt’s favorite memories of this past summer was when Sam called up Jessica and asked if he could take the older two kids to the pool. They followed up an afternoon of swimming with a trip to the ice cream shop.

The Schmidts and Sam saw each other often this past summer since Sam stayed in town and led the praise band at their church. “Watching him lead worship was really special,” said Clark, “one of my favorite ‘Sam’ memories.”

They have a lot of “Sam” memories they are

thankful for, just as Sam has a list of his own. “Easter dinner with the whole family, including grandparents, that was fun,” he says, “and the time Clark stood up for me when I was working with him. That meant a lot. Then there was the time they let me borrow a farm truck when mine was in the shop…” He can go on and on, talking about the Schmidts as if he has grown up knowing them.

Clark and Jessica, too, talk about Sam as if he is a nephew rather than just some college kid they first invited over for dinner a few years ago. “It’s been fun to watch him mature,” says Jessica. “He’s so much farther along than we dreamed of being at his age.”

Clark praises him just as highly. “He’s a joy to be around, and he’s a positive role model for my sons. If

a home... away from homewritten by Jennifer Underwood

From Left to Right: Clark, Debi, Waylon, Sam, Wyatt and Jessica

Winter 2011 9

Wyatt and Waylon would want to be like Sam, that would be awesome.”

Clark, Jessica and the kids will watch Sam graduate this next spring, and Clark already describes his feelings about the event as “bittersweet.” “We’ll miss him,” says Jessica. “I’m happy for him, but I’m sad, too.”

And perhaps Clark expresses their thoughts best when he adds, “It would be really nice if he could find a good job around here.”

It happens to be that my foster mom is Christine Foster at academic support. It’s just cool how I can go into her office, grab some coffee and just talk about anything. Daren Casey, Lakewood, Colorado

If it wasn’t for my foster family taking me in my freshman year, it would have been a lot harder to adapt to Sterling. I love my foster family and can’t see my life without them!

Elisabeth Gafford, Fort Worth, Texas

Our foster family, the Wallmans, are easily up for foster parents of the century. They are amazingly humble and always excited about new ways to help me feel more welcome.

Seth Swihart, St. Francis, Kansas

The first week my foster family adopted me we all piled into the family van and headed off to run some errands. I feel like I’m a member of their family.

Lauren Zweygardt, St. Francis, Kansas

...other students’ home away from home tales

10 Sterling Magazine

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. Psalm 84:5

McCreery Hall residents wave as they ride along on their float, “Journey to a New World.”

Campbell Hall won the annual float competition with their rendition of the band Journey’s song, “Don’t Stop Believing.”Resident Director Ben Swihart volunteered to be dunked for the Catholic Student Associa-tion Club at the Homecoming Hangout.

(photo to left) Patrick Wright ’14 pets a Kangaroo at the Homecoming Hangout. The SC alumni department sponsors the petting zoo.

Sterling grabs the ball in a pile up during the homecoming game against the Friends Falcons. Sterling ended the game with a close loss, Falcons 20, Sterling 13.

A packed stadium enjoys a beautiful day for the Homecoming football game.

Alumni gather along Broadway for the annual Homecoming Parade: left to right: Alan Cureton ’76, Christian Dashiell ’02, Stacy (Coester ’03) Dashiel, Erin (Clark ’07) Cureton, Coleman Crenshaw ’03, Luke Cureton ’03, Brian Hansen ’05.

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Members of the Alumni Council gather at the annual Lady Warriors Basketball Pancake Feed before starting a very busy day: left to right: Amy (Sylvester ’02) Svaty; Greg McGlynn ’87; Joe Lang ’66; Mary (Horton fs68) Knecht; Jill (Bleam ’79) Lundgren and Carol (Ford ’70) Bingle

Homecoming2010

SC coaches enjoy a game of condiment twister during the pep rally. (Ketchup, Mustard, Relish and Bar-B-Que sauce)

When a classroom becomes a community---even better, a family—teachers change students’ lives. Two Sterling College alumni won significant educational awards this past year for doing just that. Tracey Repp ’91, a special education and at-risk math teacher at Andover Central Middle School (he also coaches high school boys’ and girls’ soccer), was named to the 2010 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) team as the region four representative, and Jeanie Padron ’94, a fourth grade teacher at Maize Central Elementary School, received a Milken Award, hailed as the “Oscar for teachers” by Teacher Magazine.

Only eight teachers are named to the KTOY team each year. Not only must they be outstanding educators, they must be champions of their craft, willing and able to speak at colleges and assemblies across the state. The Milken award is a national award given to “celebrate, elevate and activate exemplary K-12 educators.” Early to mid-career teachers across the nation are presented with individual, unrestricted $25,000 awards for “what they have achieved… and for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future.”

Sterling College spoke with both Repp and Padron and learned exciting things about how these two alumni are impacting their classroom and school communities.

What keeps you going?

Repp: Knowing that I am on the front lines with these kids. I graduated from Sterling with a behavioral science degree and went into law enforcement. I valued every second I had as a police officer, but I was always responding and reacting. I saw so many cases when kids’ paths would have been different if someone could have intervened earlier. I went back to school for my teaching degree, and now I’m using math as a tool to teach respect, readiness and responsibility. My years as an officer really impact my teaching; I know where these kids come from and where the disconnect happens. My classroom has become a meeting point for kids at my school. They hang out in it, and that makes me feel good. Rather than responding and reacting, I can prevent.

Padron: Well, outside of relationships with the kids, I love to see them grow. I take pictures at the start of the school year and then have an assembly at the end where those pictures are displayed. I always cry when I think about how much they’ve grown. I get to spend eight hours each day with these great little people. They have so many insights. I love getting to know them.

What drew you into teaching at the very beginning?

Repp: My wife, Lolita, has been teaching for 17 years. In fact, if there were a Kansas

Teacher of the Year decision in my house, I’d be a distant second. I’ve always been around teaching because of her. She’s the biggest reason for anything good happening to me.

I had an interesting start to my teaching, though. When I student taught, I was still an undercover police officer, and my students—they were third-graders—knew that. I had no behavioral issues that year or—since I was hired at that same school the following year to teach fourth grade—the next. They thought I was still on the force.

Padron: I’m not sure I would have gone into teaching had it not been for Sterling. My second year I did a work study program at the grade school and worked with Georgia Henry (the Henrys were also my foster family—we still keep in touch). She is an amazing teacher, and she let me actually do things in her classroom. That environment made me realize that teaching is what God has called me to do. (Padron later student taught

12 Sterling Magazine

An Interview with Tracey Repp ’91 and Jeanie Padron ’94

written by Jennifer Underwood

under Lori Humphreys. Both Humphreys and Henry are still teaching at Sterling Grade School.)

What is one of your favorite stories or lessons from your teaching years?

Repp: One of my special needs students from a low socioeconomic family and had poor hygiene, more because of lack of access than anything else. Two times a week I would take him down to the “ref area” in the gym and let him in so he could get cleaned up and put on fresh clothes. This kid sang his guts out while he was in the shower; he was so happy to be cared for, to be able to have a warm shower. I would sit on the bleachers in the gym and just listen to him. When he was finished, he would come out, give me a big hug and then race off to class.

Padron: I think humor is very important—you have to be able to laugh at yourself. In my first year of teaching I had a time when I was disappointed with some of my kids. I was lecturing them, sitting on a rolling chair with them gathered all around me. The rolling chair slipped out from under me, and I landed on the floor. You could have heard a pin drop. My kids were just staring at me. Then I laughed—and only then did they start laughing too. I told them, ‘I’m gonna make mistakes. We’ll just laugh and move on.’ I want my kids to realize we’re a family, and in a family, you’re safe. You can make mistakes, be wrong—it’s okay. We’ll love each other through it.

Another favorite moment came during the Milken award assembly at my school. One of the very first students to stand and clap was one of my students from last year. He’s a sweet kid who really struggles academically, and he jumped up and started clapping. I thought, ‘He struggled so much last year, but he is so happy for me.’ That made me cry.

What are your goals and hopes for your students and for your teaching?

Repp: To be both qualified and passionate. I want to be creative, and I want to meet the needs of ALL the learners in my class. I have a significant responsibility, and I take it very seriously.

I’m very protective of my kids—they don’t want to be at-risk or special needs. I think it’s time they hear that they can do it.

Padron: I’ve learned that you teach to individuals. My number one goal is to remember that, to teach to individual kids to meet their needs. Success looks different for every one of them. When I’m mindful of that, my teaching is better.

How has your family reacted to your winning this award?

Repp: Well, actually, my wife nominated me. She’s a teacher at Kansas Collegiate. I didn’t know anything about it until we were on our way to the soccer alumni game at Sterling last fall, and she made some comment about it. My son and I are very close—being a parent is the best thing, and the most important, I’ve ever done. He’s a senior in high school this year, so it’s a good thing I didn’t get the award next year. I’d be a wreck with him off at college.

Padron: My son is in third grade at my school, so he was able to be at the award assembly. Because it’s such a big surprise (my principal didn’t even know until a couple days before), my daughter, a sixth grader at the middle school, couldn’t be there. Fortunately my principal had arranged for a substitute for me. I didn’t think I would need one; I wanted to stay and teach the rest of the day, but then it just hit me. It was really good for me and my son to be able to pick up my daughter and spend the rest of the day together.

What are some of your favorite memories or experiences of Sterling College?

Repp: Through the teaching and coaching I received at Sterling, I learned how to be on my own, and the environment SC provided allowed me to get there with guidance. The people at SC made a huge difference. I always felt like they cared about me and were committed to me. I never had Kathy Glynn for a class, but she was a huge advocate for the team (Repp played soccer during his years at SC). She came to games and asked how I was

doing. I always felt like I could go to her for anything.

Padron: One of the best things for me about Sterling was the camaraderie; I still get together with friends from college. Sterling also solidified my faith. I needed a Christian community where I could talk about my faith. Larry Smith, my softball coach, was such an encourager to me. Sterling was a perfect fit for me—and it gave me the opportunity to find my life’s calling.

Winter 2011 13

New Staff Members

In the News

14 Sterling Magazine

New Faculty Members

Hans Nickel fs07 is the sports information director and sports management instructor. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in sports administration and his master of education in sports management from Wichita State University. He was the assistant commissioner for the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) in 2009 and acted as August High School’s assistant basketball coach from 2005 to 2009.

Dr. Donald Frick is a visiting professor teaching in the communication and theatre arts department. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the department. Frick is the author of three books about the history and implementation of servant leadership and producer of more than 50 films/documentaries with his work receiving several awards.

Ian Anderson ’04 is serving as Kilbourn Hall’s assistant resident director. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in English and minor in religion and philosophy. Ian recently earned his teaching certification through Sterling College Online and additionally works as a teacher in the Hutchinson school district. Ian is married to Alison (Baumsn ’05) Anderson. They have two children, Meyer and Porter.

Christian Dashiell ’02 serves as director of campus ministries. He has had experience in both church and para-church ministry and was involved with inner-city work in Kansas City. He holds a master of divinity from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Christian’s wife, Dr. Stacy (Coester ‘03) Dashiell, works at the Sterling Medical Center. They have two children, Elli and Zachary.

Dr. Marielena Righettini is an assistant professor teaching in the Sterling Teacher Education Program (STEP). She earned her master of education degree in elementary education and her doctorate of philosophy in education specialties with an emphasis in language, literacy and culture from University of Nevada, Reno.

Joshua Wisner ’07 serves as Kilbourn Hall’s resident director. While he was a student he served as a resident assistant for two years and was named Outstanding Male Student of his graduate year. For two years after graduation he taught English in East Asia.

Todd Mobray serves as director of online operations. He comes to Sterling from Cloud County Community College where he worked as a curriculum specialist and filled roles in program development for multimedia and graphic design. He earned his master of science degree in instructional design and technology from Emporia State University.

Jason Coles ’09 serves as assistant athletic trainer. While a student at Sterling, he worked with volleyball, football, men’s basketball and baseball as a student trainer. He holds a master of science in athletic training from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Currently Jason is working with the Sterling College football, men’s basketball, and softball teams.

Sarah Contrucci is the marketing department’s web marketing manager. She earned her bachelor of science degree in business marketing and a minor in art from Azusa Pacific University. She is currently working on her master of arts degree in international development from Eastern University.

Debra Millikan is an assistant professor teaching in the Sterling Teacher Education Program (STEP). She has 19 years of elementary teaching experience in the classroom and another 12 years as a teacher workshop presenter. She earned her master of education degree with K-12 instructional technology integration from Kansas State University.

Lisa Parson is the director of career services and first year program. She specialized in organizational leadership and human services at Fort Hays State University. She also holds a master of science degree in counseling and student development and earned her graduate certificate in academic advising from Kansas State University.

Erin Cureton ’07 is the visit experience coordinator for the admissions department. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in Christian ministries with minors in behavioral science and social entrepreneurship. Her husband, Luke ’03, serves as the head golf coach at Sterling and her father, Mark Clark, is an assistant professor of music.

In the News

Winter 2011 15

Sterling College is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Gregory P. Kerr as its vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Kerr comes to Sterling from Bluefield College in Bluefield, Va., where he has served as the chair of the Division of Science and Mathematics and as interim vice president for academic affairs. He

assumed his duties at Sterling on July 1.“It is hard to overstate the importance of this position,” said

Sterling College President Dr. Paul J. Maurer. “We received forty applications for this position from across the country. Dr. Kerr stood out among many highly qualified candidates. His academic credentials are impressive, and in his experience as an interim vice president for academic affairs, he implemented numerous positive changes. I am delighted and excited that Dr. Kerr has joined our team at Sterling College.”

As the interim vice president at Bluefield from May 2008 to June 30, 2009, Dr. Kerr administered an academic program consisting of 20 undergraduate majors; served on the president’s

leadership team; and planned, implemented and monitored an academic budget in excess of $3 million. He also negotiated articulation agreements with the Virginia Community College System and served as the accreditation liaison for the Commission on Colleges/Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Dr. Kerr was appointed as the chair of Bluefield’s Division of Science and Mathematics in November 1999. He built a successful biology program at Bluefield; more than 70% of its graduates earned advanced degrees, and more than 40% of its graduates from 1997 to 2010 are in or have completed doctoral programs. He added a Forensic Science Program developed primarily from existing coursework, and he led the integration of Christian service with academic preparation of pre-health professions students.

Dr. Kerr earned his bachelor of science degree in plant science from Cornell University in 1981; his master of science in horticulture from Colorado State University in 1983; and his doctor of philosophy in plant physiology from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, in 1988. His professional experience includes being a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Minnesota; an adjunct professor at Southwest Virginia Community College; and an adjunct associate professor at Patrick Henry College.

Dr. Kerr and his wife Cheryl have four children: Laura, Melissa, Timothy and Emily.

Sterling College announces new Vice President for Academic Affairs

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In the News

While you were an education major at Sterling, did you spend any time at Sterling Grade School? If you did, you might be interested to know that the town of Sterling has a brand-new grade school. Construction began in the fall of 2009, and this past May the United School District 376 held a retirement ceremony for the old grade school. It was torn down during the summer, and students and teachers began the 2010-2011 school year in the new building. Sterling College continues to have a great impact on the local school system. Three of the seven members of the school board are College employees: Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Shawn Reed; Vice President for Innovation and Technology Dr. Ken Brown and; SC Post Office Manager Brian Foster. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fred Dierksen is a ’82 SC graduate, and Grade School Principal Brennan Riffel graduated from the College in 1995. In addition, more than 30 Sterling alumni teach in the school system. Their names and graduation dates are listed below.

Lorrie (Self) Kruse ’87, Monte Ball ’87, Darci Briar ’97, Jill (Higginbotham) Britton ’84, Larry Brownlee ’80, Sheila (Bailey) Burgess ’82, Betsy (Halloran) Dutton ’82, Clark Comley ’88, Kay (Gladden) Comley ’88, Fred Dierksen ’82, Susan (Wilson) Dierksen ’87, Judy (Porting) Dowell ’89, Klarice Farney ’02, Wendy Fiehler ’85, Clyda (Pile) Frederick ’72, Georgia (Davis) Henry ’78, Matt Hendricks ’95, Lori (Chance) Humphreys ’80, Jackie (Neal) Krueger ’69, Marilee Kruse ’88, Wes Laudermilk ’03, Dean Mantz ’93, Kim (McReynolds) Richter ’93, Christy (Loveless) Riffel ’95, Terry Robson ’83, Jill (Alley) Rowland ’93, Tricia (Beery) Schechter ’98, Jessica (Gilmore) Schmidt ’96, Derek Schneider ’07, Janet Schnurr ’97, Debbie Stout ’77, Georgia (Bemis) Vogt ’84, Robin (Reed) Webb ’97, Dwayne Wilson ’94.

16 Sterling Magazine

Sterling has Long Term Impact on Local Schools

On the last day of the 2009-2010 school year, first-grader Tristan Reed posed for a picture in his classroom with his dad, Shawn Reed ’95, his grandfather Don Reed ’68 and his great-grandfather Maurice Reed ’39. There are several points of interest related to this picture. Tristan’s late great-grandmother, Margaret (Nichol) Reed ’39, was a second grader when the old grade school first opened in the mid-1920s; Tristan is now a second-grader at the brand-new grade school. Shawn serves as a member of the USD 376 school board; his father and grandfather have also served on the school board.

Sterling College Has Third Year of Record Enrollment

For the sixth consecutive year Sterling College’s enrollment has grown, with this year’s being the highest it has ever been. At 736 students, Sterling College has broken last year’s record of 722 and the fall 2008 record of 653. This is the College’s third consecutive year to have record enrollment figures. “With so many colleges and

universities suffering enrollment setbacks, this is very good news for the college,” said President Dr. Paul J. Maurer. “With continual, steady growth like this we can enhance Sterling’s academic programs while still providing an environment in which students can grow in all areas of life.”

Increased efforts at retention have contributed to the record enrollment. “We want to make sure our new students connect quickly, with fellow students,

professors/staff and community members,” said Vice President for Student Life Tina Wohler. “In this way we are better able to help students who are struggling academically or emotionally so that they can complete their education.”

The large new-student populations of the past few years also contribute, as does the number of students coming from the West Coast. For the first time the number of new students from California (33) is greater than the number from either Texas (29) or Colorado (14). This new-student group also includes six international students who come from Ghana, Indonesia, Panama, South Korea, Guatemala and Germany.

The headcount of 736 includes 77 students who are enrolled in Sterling College Online and several others who are taking classes for combined SC/Sterling High School credit. Fifteen of the students are commuters and 82 are transfers from other schools/colleges. Fifteen of them are the sons or daughters of SC alumni, and six were valedictorians at their high school.

In the News

To make your gift to the Sterling Fund, please contact:Office of Advancement

Sterling College125 W. Cooper

Sterling, KS 67579www.sterling.edu

(800) 346-1017, ext. 219

Impact the world through a Sterling

Education.

Through the Sterling Fund, you prepare students with a Christ-centered education to become creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. From the arts to athletic training, behavioral science to business, and from math to ministry —our students are able to discern and follow God’s calling for their lives and transform their interests into tools for stewardship. When you give to the Sterling Fund, you enable us to continue to strengthen our students’ desire to practice servant leadership and seek wholeness in a broken world.

Sterling College’s Assessment Results in Best Reaccreditation Terms Since 1967

For colleges, the official news that they have been approved for reaccreditation is much like the diplomas their students receive during graduation: the “piece of paper” stands for a lot of hard work.

But it also symbolizes progress and success, which is why, Sterling College’s President Dr. Paul J. Maurer, in his announcement of the college’s official 10-year reaccreditation, said, “This is a truly significant moment for Sterling College. Join me in giving thanks to God for his goodness.”

This is Sterling’s best accreditation result from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1967. The College will report on finance in 2011 and on the assessment of student learning in 2012, but the HLC has not scheduled any return visits between now and the 2019-2020 academic year. The HLC is the accrediting agency for more than 1000 colleges and universities in 19 states, including Kansas State University and the University of Kansas. Sterling College has been accredited continuously by the HLC since 1957.

The reaccreditation was not the only indication from the HLC that Sterling is meeting and exceeding expectations. When the HLC evaluation team met on the Sterling campus last December, the team spent a great deal of time reviewing the College’s self-study, the 286-page document that provides evidence of Sterling’s progress toward the HLC’s five core criteria. The HLC team was so impressed with SC’s self-study that it invited Director of Institutional Assessment Gentry Sutton and Associate Dean/former Director of Assessment

In the News

Dr. Kevin Hill to showcase the document at the HLC’s annual conference in April. This would allow other school representatives, going through their own self-evaluation process, to view a successful self-study and ask Sutton and Hill questions regarding the process.

Sutton and Hill had already submitted a presentation proposal for the HLC’s annual conference, and the evaluation visit had a positive effect on that as well: their proposal was accepted almost immediately following the December visit. Early in April, Sutton and Hill traveled to Chicago for the annual conference. They shared the self-study during the showcase period and then answered questions about it during the self-study fair. “There were probably only 10 minutes in the entire three hours of the session that we were not talking to people,”

said Sutton. “It was good to be able to help other people go through the process we had just completed.”

Then Sutton and Hill presented to more than 70 people on the evaluation of goals that are specific to an institution. A Christ-centered mission and a focus on servant leadership are specific goals for Sterling College. At the HLC’s previous visit, Sterling had been challenged to incorporate these goals into every area of the institution and especially into every academic program. “Our Christ- and service-centered focus is what makes us distinct,” said Dr. Maurer, “Therefore, it is vital that we continually evaluate our progress in this area. Gentry (Sutton) and Kevin (Hill) were both instrumental in this ongoing self-evaluation, and they conveyed this process, and Sterling’s progress, very

well at the HLC conference.”Though Sterling was well represented

at the conference, the real test was the HLC’s reaccreditation decision, and the College had to wait until May 10, 2010, to hear the result. After Dr. Maurer shared the good news and gave thanks to God, he thanked to the people involved. “I want to express my gratitude to you, the members of faculty and staff, as well as the trustees, who have worked so diligently toward this reality.”

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Front Row (left to right): Larry Long, Jo (Taylor) Robinson, Carolyn (Hobbs) Haney, Pat (Offerle) Hood, Eileen (Zimmerman) Learned, Shirley (Megli) Ingerly, Allen Stucky.

Middle Row (left to right): Elsie (Wright) Learned, Jeanne Lawrence, Anita (Hobble) Miller, Mary (Crawford) Finney, Greta Zimmerman, Mary Lou (Geist) Comley, Sam Wilkey, Dee (Jay) Reiff.

Back Row (left to right): John Grove, Lee Williford, Randall Crouse, John Englland, Alan Stancliffe, James McNeil, Wesley Learned, James Van Gorder, Norman Schiesser, Lillard Blake, Roy Carson.

Class of 1960

50th

An

niversaryFront Row (left to right): Florence (Hanna) Hill ’50,

Dave Shaw ’50, Lila Lee (Gish) Shaw ’49, Lorina (Witty) Gillen ’49, Roberta (Dill) McFarland ’51,

Christine (Lukens) Buchanan ’50.

Middle Row (left to right): Margaret (Ward) Lipp ’49, Dr. J. Robert Campbell ’49, Robert Gordon ’49.

Back Row (left to right): Eileen Mathews, guest & graduate of Bethel College, Meredith Myers ’50,

Reed Hindman ’53, Carol (Edgar) Hindman ’50, Ruth (Hanna) Wilcox ’50, Joe Mc Farland ’51.

Winter 2011 19

Alumni News & Notes

Webber International, 69-52. Alumni attending the game were; Bay, JOHN “TONY” MANN ’83 of Clearwater, Fla., JOHN VANDOLAH ’81 of Parrish, Fla., J.C. ’83 and LORRI (DEWERFF ’86) CHAMBERS of Sioux Falls, SD.

1980s:DR. DOUG ’81 and Stacey WILSON now live in suburban Tucson, Ariz., where Doug is the superintendent of the Marana Unified School District. Stacey teaches high school science and their eight year old daughter is in 3rd grade.

RICK ASHLEY ’82, attended the Sterling College Alumni Event in Omaha, Neb. in September, 2010. He enjoyed reconnecting with SC and a friend from his days as Resident Director of Kilbourn Hall and making new connections within the greater Sterling College family. Rick resides in Omaha where he is employed in the pharmaceutical sales industry.

BRIAN BAY ’85, of Salina, Kan., notified the Office of Alumni Relations of a mini-reunion in Babson Park, Fla., on December 18. He and several other SC alumni attended the basketball game in which the Lady Warriors defeated

(left to right) – Brian Bay ’85, John VanDolah ’81 and John “Tony” Mann ’83 attending a Lady Warriors basketball game in Babson Park, Fla.

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Alumni News & Notes

NATE PRIOR ’09 and DAVID FULLER ’09 stand upon the Great Wall of China proudly displaying

their Sterling College hoodies.

where’s the warrior

KIRSTEN (GINTHER) FAIRWEATHER ’87 and her husband, Brian, live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Kirsten is a Professional Travel Consultant for Fairweather Travel.

SCOTT CARTER ’88 is the owner and general manager of TimeOut Grill and Tap House in Estes Park, Colo. For more information visit www.timeoutestes.com

MIKE MANNING ’88, graduated with an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University in May of 2010. In March 2010, Mike competed in the USA Track and Field Indiana Association Masters Indoor State Championship where he won the 3000 meter race.

DEAN ’89 and Robbin MEKELBURG now live in Castle Rock, Colo., with their three children Josie (10), David (7) and Sofia (4). Dean owns a custom home construction company and a painting company. www.gencustomhomes.com

1990s:MARY (HALLORAN ’92) BREITENSTEIN and husband, Brian, announce the birth of their daughter, Emma Rose. Emma was born July, 19, 2010. Emma joins big sisters, Anna (6), Ava (4), and Ella (3). The Breitensteins are at home at 1505 SW 24th St., Topeka, Kan.

MARCY (PHILLIPS) BRANDT ’94 is now the Director of the Minden Opera House in Minden, Neb. You can learn more about the Opera House at http://mindenoperahouse.com/

C.T. YOUNG ’94 and LORI (FOWLER ’00) YOUNG announce the birth or their son, Gunner Charles on December 2, 2011. Gunner joins sisters Aubrey (7) and Bailey (5). The Youngs live in Pretty Prairie, Kan.

MATT ’96 and JESSICA (FAHRENHOLTZ ’96) ROBERTS report that they live in Purcellville,

The Sterling College eNewsletter is emailed the first Monday of each month. The newsletter supplements the semi-annual Sterling Magazine with feature articles, campus updates, upcoming events and other general information.

If you would like to receive the eNewsletter, please send your current email address to dearle@sterling.edu so you can receive next month’s edition.

eNewsletter Sign-up

20 Sterling Magazine

Front Row (left to right): Jennifer (Feather) Biga, Cheryl (Roberts) Ellis, Seth Svaty.

Middle Row (left to right): Matt Ahlenius, Cambra (Canada) Strawn, David Ellis,

Brandi (Armstrong) Beins, Mary Anne Donley.

Back Row (left to right): Joy (Anderson) Bircher, Sara (Ketterl) White, Aaron

White, Brenda Theissen, Laura (Rullman) Boaz.

Class of 2000 Reunion

Alumni News & Notes

If you would like to be featured in “Where’s the Warrior?” send us a picture of yourself wearing a Sterling College article of clothing in front of a well known landmark such as London’s Big Ben, New York’s Niagara Falls, or Cawker City’s Ball of Twine. Please identify all individuals in the photo and include the date and location of the picture and your reason for being in that location. We will then select one of the submitted pictures for our next magazine publication. We ask that pictures be of high quality, with the SC wording clearly visible.

Mail pictures to Sterling College Alumni Relations Office, 125 W. Cooper, Sterling, KS 67579 or email to dearle@sterling.edu Email is preferred.

Winter 2011 21

Va., where Matt is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Patrick Henry College. They also report the arrival of their third child William on April 26, 2010. He joins siblings Karis and Lucas.

ELIZABETH CASTILLO ’97 married Eric Pope, April 30, 2010. She is a pre-K teacher is San Antonio, Texas.

LARA KUPKA ’98 married David Schesser on June 5, 2010. They have adopted a beautiful baby boy whom they have named Conor. The Schessers live in Overland Park, Kan.

KYLE ’99 and ELIZABETH (CALDERWOOD ’99) REED of Topeka, Kan. welcomed a son, Thomas Cameron, on Dec. 21, 2010. He joins sisters, Lauren (6), Allison (4), and Rebecca (3).

BRANDON ’99 and Brenna (Wiebe) WINN welcomed their first child, daughter Morgan Avery, into the world on August 4, 2010. Morgan weighed in at 9 lbs 12 oz and was 20.5 inches. Long time Office Manager of the Athletic Department Deb Wiebe and husband Curt are proud grandparents.

2000s:LAURA (BROWN ’00) LINDBERG and her husband Aaron announce the birth of their daughter Anna Elizabeth on January 19, 2010. Anna is welcomed by big brother Micah. Proud grandparents are NORM fs71 and CHERYL (STORMONT ’71) BROWN of Aledo, Ill. The Lindbergs live in Little Rock, Ark.

ERIC ’01 and Leslie VARNON announce the birth of their second child, Cooper Allen Varnon, on March 1, 2010.

Alumni News & Notes

Do you know of a great potential student for

Sterling College?We appreciate every aspect of support that we receive, especially when we hear of alumni and friends telling

prospective students about the opportunity to grow and learn here at Sterling College. Thank you for giving us

the chance to show students what we have to offer.

http://www.sterling.edu/webform/refer-student

22 Sterling Magazine

DAVID ’03 and AMANDA (PENNER ’03) CACCIOTTI had a baby girl on May 15, 2010. They named their daughter Ella Ruth.

BETH (KOOPS ’03) CHRISTIANS and her husband, Marty, live in Downs, Kan. Their first child, Liam James, was born January 25, 2010.

JACK ’03 and KIM (REED ’03) DILLARD are the proud parents of their son, Ian McLain, born July 27th, 2010. Ian joins sister, Karis (15 months) in the Dillard home. DON ’68 and wife LINDA ’69 are blessed grandparents.

PAULA (SVATY ’04) GRAY and husband, Michael, announce the birth of their first child, Sage Nellora, born April 17, 2010. Grandparents are Don and NIKI (RAY fs71) SVATY of Ellsworth.

KATE WISE ’04 reports that in August of 2010 she became the associate librarian at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan., where she also recently purchased a house.

JILL (ALLRED ’05) and James HARRIS were married January 22, 2011. Jill and James live in Vista, Calif. James, who is in the Marine Corps, will soon be deploying overseas. Jill recently graduated from a health care and rehabilitation therapy program.

GLENNA (LOUK) KARRAKER HASS ‘05 reports that she and husband Daniel, welcomed the addition of twin girls to the family. Addison Eileen and Allison Jaelle were born August 24, 2010. The twins join two brothers, Andrew, 3 and Anthony, 10. The Hass family resides in Sterling.

JASON ’05 and MELINDA (ROYER ’04) THOMAS welcomed their second child, Bryson Dean, into their family on November 4, 2010.

RIGO MEDINA ’06 now resides in Seattle, Wash., where he is the Regional Vice President of KBS Capital Markets.

JOSH SLAUGHTER ’06 has been named the director of athletic publications at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan. He previously served as the assistant director of athletic media relations at Emporia State during the last three years.

JILL (SWISHER ’07) ACHILLES and husband, Travis, of Newton, Kan. were blessed with their first child, James Scott, on September 14, 2010.

DANNY ’08 and Stephanie BANKS report the birth of their son, Tyrese Lee. Tyrese joins step brother Erich and step sister Vanessa at home in Delphos, Kan., where Danny serves as a social worker.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families when we receive word of the passing of our alumni. For the past seven years a special memorial presentation has been produced that is shown at the Alumni Banquet during Homecoming and again to our students during the Heritage Convocation. This presentation lists and shows pictures of SC alumni who have passed away the previous year. Please keep the Office of Alumni Relations informed so we can pay tribute each year.

Sterling College has been named to received memorials of three special people who recently passed away. If you wish to make a gift in memory of any of these members of the SC family, send your check to Sterling College and note the name of the person in the memo line.

Mrs. Beverly Ray: Beverly was the wife of long-time SC Board member and graduate, Rev. Don Ray of Ellsworth, Kan. She accompanied Don to the Board meetings and was deeply involved in the mission of Sterling. She and Don sent all of their children to SC and most of the next generation has passed through the campus as well. Her memorial gifts are to the Theology and Ministry Department and General Scholarship Fund.

Mrs. Carla McConnelee ’61: Carla passed away suddenly October 4, 2010. She was the wife of Bill McConnelee ’61. Their children are Carl ’88, Catherine ’90 and Cynthia ’94. Bill currently lives in Hutchinson, KS.

Mrs. Laura (Kneidl) Stewart ’36: While a student at Sterling, Laura won the National Pi Kappa Delta forensics tournament in extemporaneous speaking. She served on the Board of Trustees. Her late husband Ritchey ’36, daughter Marilyn (Stewart) White ’72, her husband Hal ’72 and their children Aaron ’00 and Alicia ’03 all graduated from Sterling.

To the right is a memorial listing of alumni who have passed away and been brought to the attention of the Office of Alumni Relations:

Laura (Kneidl) Stewart ’36 June 10, 1915 – September 9, 2010

Gail (Skinner) Wilkey fs38 December 8, 1915 – February 7, 2010

Lois (Kimple) Janssen fs39 May 23, 1915 – May 4, 2010

Wilbur J. Akin ’39 November 23, 1914 – December 19, 2009

Alma Jean (Frederick)Gray fs40 DOD: August, 2, 2010

Elizabeth “Betty” (Hall) McCauley ’41October 4, 1919 – October 27, 2010

Mildred “Millie” (Mendenhall)Dunn ’42 March 22, 1921 – August 3, 2010

Katherine (McClenahan) Stinson fs43 September 19, 1921 – January 29, 2010

Joan (Lindahl) Breidenstein fs47 August 31, 1925 – May 31, 2010

Lucile (Gordon) Hamm fs47 April 18, 1923 – October 1, 2010

Harold Scheid ’47 May 12, 1922 – July 1, 2010

Eloise (Treaster) Campbell ’48 August 4, 1926 – February 15, 2010

Lubertus Hayenga ’49 November 23, 1927 – January 2010

Deral Johnson ’49 July 17, 1926 – March 24, 2010

Blanche (Crawford) Ball fs50 February 24, 1929 – November, 24, 2009

Alma (Means) Wiseman ’50 July 27, 1927 – October 12, 2010

Clark M. Harbach ’50 June 25, 1923 – October 28, 2010

Vada (Schechter) Clark fs51 February 11, 1929 – September 26, 2010

Robert Lorah ’52 November 2, 1927 – September 2, 2010

Pattie (Thurston) Wright fs54 April 17, 1933 – March 24, 2010

John W. Irwin ’55 April 16, 1933 – January 7, 2010

Noel Gevedon ’55 June 1, 1928 – January 17, 2010

Robert Kluherz ’58 May 9, 1931 – February 8, 2010

James “Jim” North ’59 April 12, 1937 – June 22, 2010

Kenneth Eaton fs60 April 24, 1938 – June 15, 2010

Rex Pomeroy ’61 April 17, 1939 – April 18, 2010

Marjorie (Curry) Yates ’51 July 24, 1939 – June 24, 2010

Carladel “Carla” (Mershon) McConnelee ’61 June 25, 1939 – October 4, 2010

Melvin V. Splitter fs64 December 5, 1942 – March 8, 2010

Robert “Bob” Cundith fs64 July 23, 1942 – August 31, 2010

John C. Nystrom ’64 June 29, 1942 – March 25, 2010

Diana (Peters) Gregory fs66 March 7, 1944 – July 2, 2010

Dorothy (Elmore) Kimble ’71 May 4, 1920 – June 6, 2010

Brian Cunningham ’77 July 7, 1941 – July 29, 2010

Jana Wagerle ’80 September 12, 1957 – July 10, 2010

Willis Nachtigal ’60 November 15, 1931 – November 7, 2010

Larry Norris fs84 April 30, 1964 – June 29, 2010

James Wilcox ’87 January 5, 1964 – October 23, 2010

Glen Hanning fs90February 13, 1968 – April 14, 2010

Jalane (Merrill) Nelson ’95 July 22, 1966 – May 28, 2010

Randy Surratt fs98 September 8, 1974 – April 27, 2010

Jason Finister ’09 August 13, 1985 – July 29, 2010

In Memoriam

Alumni News & Notes

Legacy WalkReading the names engraved in the Sterling College Legacy Walk is sure to stimulate memories of your time at SC. Currently 294 bricks have been placed in the walk; 96 of those were added in fall of 2009. Names of past professors, trustees, presidents, alumni, supporting friends, businesses and churches are cemented as permanent reminders of the rich history and heritage of Sterling College. Legacy bricks make wonderful gifts in honor of someone or as meaningful memorials. The cost is $120.

If you would like to add your name or the name of someone special to you to the Legacy Walk, please contact Director of Alumni Relations David Earle, either by email at dearle@sterling.edu or by phone at 620-278-4228.

125 W. Cooper, Sterling, KS 67579www.sterling.edu (800) 346-1017

Parents: If this is addressed to your daughter or son who has now established a separate address, please help us stay connected by contacting us with his/her new address by calling (620) 278-4219 or emailing advancement@sterling.edu

Non- Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 2Sterling, KS

LegacyDon and Rita Fee wanted Sterling College to benefit from their last act of stewardship. Believing that Sterling College had given Don so much in preparing for a successful life, he wanted to help other students with the same blessing he received. In 2010, Sterling received a bequest in the amount of $50,000 from the Fee’s after Rita’s passing.

There are many ways you can give back to the college in planning your estate. Contact the Gift Planning Office at Sterling (800-346-1017, ext 247) for information or visit our website at www.scgift.org

Don and Rita Fee

A Great Way to Leave a