SPRING ISSUE 2014

LEARN TIMES, LOCATIONS AND TICKET PRICES AT

WWW.ALUMNI.EKU.EDU.

THE APPROACH TO

HIGH-FLYING CAREERS

DELTA’S DON BORNHORST, ’87, SEES CLEAR SKIES FOR EKU AVIATORS

The football is signed by both legendary Eastern coach Roy Kidd, ’55, ’61, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, and Jimmy Feix, the winningest coach in Western Kentucky University history. The one-of-a-kind wedding gift also carried this caveat: This marriage interrupts for the “Battle of the Bluegrass.” Maribeth McBride Berman, ’92, says she and her husband, Louis Berman, a 1975 Western graduate, may have the only football signed by both men. The couple now lives in Louisville but met in Bowling Green when Maribeth, who had worked in human resources at Eastern, took a job at Western. “When I accepted that position I remember my family grilling me about it,” Maribeth recalls. “I told them it was a great opportunity professionally...I didn’t mention sports.” That’s because her mother, Marietta Chambers McBride, ’73, ’76, is a passionate EKU grad. So are brothers Jody McBride, ’88, and Dan McBride, ’89, along with sister-in-law Kelley Grimes McBride, ’96, ’04. Nephew Ryan McBride is a current student. But Louis Berman happily discusses the rivalry. “It was reasonably bitter for the first five or six years,” Berman remembers. “The first Christmas we visited Richmond, I wrapped her present in the newspaper that had WKU’s national championship story on it and put it under their family tree.” Dan McBride, an associate athletic director at Eastern, says the family has worked “very, very hard” over the years to turn Berman into a Colonel. “He’s come along,” Dan says. “He’s been more willing to support Eastern than we have to support Western. In fact, when our basketball team was in the 2007 NCAA tournament, he wore an Eastern shirt in the stands.”

Rivalry aside, the couple has been generous to both schools. They established the McBride-Berman Family Scholarship at Eastern in 2011 to recognize their love for the institution and to provide financial support for deserving, well-rounded students who attended high school in Madison County. “EKU provided so many wonderful educational learning experiences and life-learning experiences for me,” says Maribeth, who received her bachelor’s degree in public relations. She also has fond memories of attending Model Laboratory School with her siblings. Louis Berman, a partner at Neace Lukens and Assured Partners, says he needed assistance to attend college. “It became real apparent to me a long time ago that the best thing you can do to help a kid is to help them get their college education and give them a chance in life,” he says. “That’s been a mission of mine for 15 years.” “When I wasn’t able to give financially I gave back by spending time mentoring and advising for my sorority,” Maribeth says of Alpha Delta Pi. “When I was able to give in another way – we did so. That’s what’s important – find what you are passionate about and where you think you can make a difference and then support it in whatever ways you can.”

RIVALRYPHILANTHROPY

DOESN’T GET IN THE WAY OF

R i v a l R y a n d P h i l a n t h R o P y

In my few short months as president, Eastern has truly become “home.” Each day, I’m energized by the boundless possibilities I see here, convinced that we have come to a point in our history that demands bold plans and broader visions. Consider how many are impacted by our choices today: current and future students, faculty and staff, regional partners, and potential employers here in Kentucky and throughout the world seeking skilled graduates. Eastern’s Master Plan calls for careful investments in our campus home: flexible, attractive, enduring spaces for discovery, community and excellence. Along with EKU faculty, staff and students, I’m proud to share our plans with you.

• With $66.3 million earmarked in the governor’s 2014-16 budget proposal, we’ll complete Phase 2 of the New Sciences Building to house biological sciences, geography and geology departments and our natural history collection.

• Commitment is in place to build a complex housing the College of Education and Model Laboratory School, creating an impressive campus entrance on Lancaster Avenue that honors our origins as a teachers college and best positions our education graduates to provide 21st century education.

• By repurposing McCreary, Keith, Beckham and Miller Halls for an EKU Honors Quad, we’ll attract ever more prepared, promising students.

• Supporting local efforts to beautify the Lancaster Avenue corridor, Combs Hall will be razed after spring semester. With planned renovations in Commonwealth Hall, we will obtain needed new space for administrative and program offices.

• Expanded parking convenient to high student traffic areas will relieve congestion and improve vistas near the Ravine.• Athletic facilities will be enhanced with new outdoor tennis courts and renovations to Roy Kidd Stadium, softball & baseball

complexes, track & field areas, and Alumni Coliseum. • New campus signage with updated logos will serve our community and guests.

“Make big plans; aim high in hope and work,” advises renowned architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham. We aim high, secure in the proven power of Eastern education, amply evidenced in this issue as you read about our American Sign Language program’s nearly 100 percent placement rate; a generous new scholarship; and alumni who have launched careers in fields as varied as national television, Hollywood costume design, and the airline industry. We’re building an Eastern that’s proactive and interactive, responsible to our environment, our region, and future generations of Colonels. I’m excited, confident and honored to share this journey with you.

Michael T. Benson President

President’sPerspective

P r e s i d e n t ’ s P e r s P e c t i v e

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ContentsF E AT U R E S

4 Cover StoryFly HighDon Bornhorst’s career take-off

9Forecast: BrightThe opportunity, optimism and on-air talent of Sam Champion

14Giving Back More Important than FameMichelle Cole’s costume design and core values

18The Structure of StewardshipManaging ongoing support of Eastern experiences

D E PA R T M E N T S20 Campus News

25 Class Acts

32 In the End Laurence Hayes

ContentsEastern

Editorial Board: Jackie Collier, ’12, Dr. Michael Eastman, Anne Gray, Simon Gray, ’10, Marcus Whitt, ’82, ’85Contributing Writers: Pamela Schoenewaldt, Terry Shaw, Odette ShultsPhotography: Salem Peters, ’15, Chris Radcliffe, ’03, Tim WebbDesign & Production: FMB Printing: Publisher’s Press

Eastern Kentucky University Magazine is published by the Office of Alumni Relations for alumni and friends of the University. Comments or questions should be directed to Alumni Relations, Richards Alumni House, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475-3102. For more information, call 859-622-1260 or e-mail jackie.collier@eku.edu.

Eastern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age (40 and over), race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information in the admission to, or participation in, any educational program or activity (e.g., athletics, academics and housing) which it conducts, or in any employment policy or practice. Any complaint arising by reason of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equal Opportunity Office, Eastern Kentucky University, Jones Building, Room 106, Coates CPO 37A, Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3102, (859) 622-8020 (V/TDD), or the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC. 20202 1-800-421-3481(V), 1-800-877-8339(TDD).

Eastern Magazine Staff

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GROUNDED LEADERSHIPHELPS DELTA’S BORNHORST

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Don Bornhorst, ’87, thinks humble leadership goes further than an arrogant, command-and-control approach, something the senior vice president at Delta Air Lines saw during one of the most remarkable turnarounds in aviation history. In a decade, Delta went from losing more than $1 billion a year to making $2.7 billion in profits in 2013. Bornhorst attributes the change to Delta’s culture of servant leadership, which he describes as a combination of “passion, drive and humility” that is stressed throughout the company, along with listening, caring and fulfilling the needs of employees and customers. Delta emphasizes an open door environment where the rank-and-file is expected to actively participate, make suggestions and is free to tell leaders when they’re mistaken.

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Things weren’t always that way at the airline, which was in bankruptcy from September 2005 to April 2007. “The Delta I knew before bankruptcy was more of that arrogant leadership style,” Bornhorst says. “Today we’re just more humble. No matter how successful we are, we’re always asking if maybe there is a better way to do things.” The culture of servant leadership was instilled by Delta President Richard Anderson, who joined the company in September 2007. It’s obviously working. Last month Delta was honored by Air Transport World as the 2014 Airline of the Year. In 2013, Delta topped Fortune magazine’s “Most Admired” global airline industry list for the second time in three years. It also received the No. 1 ranking in the Business Travel News Annual Airline Survey for the third year in a row and was recognized as Best Domestic Airline at Travel Weekly Reader’s Choice Awards. None of this has gone to the management team’s head. “One thing Richard Anderson has stressed is that he never wants to see us spiking the ball on the competition,” Bornhorst says. “Even with our success, he said we have to work harder now than we ever have before; being complacent has gotten the company in trouble in the past.” Hard work is nothing new for Bornhorst. In his 22 years in the airline industry, he’s worked in finance, customer service, marketing, corporate communications, cabin service, supply chain and properties. Since 2007 he’s overseen regional flying at Delta Connection, which

serves 137 unique cities in a footprint that spreads from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Lexington is a perfect example of the small to mid-sized cities served, though the division also supplements larger New York- and Chicago-sized airports. Bornhorst deals with seven airline subcontractors with a total of 7,550 airplanes. A certified public accountant by trade, he describes his job as some accounting and operations, a little marketing and a whole lot of diplomacy, which goes to the heart of Delta’s servant leadership – especially when it comes to meeting the company’s high standards. “I really listen to them and very much value their positions,” Bornhorst says of the subcontractors. “Listening and empathy go a long way in the process.”

LEARNING TO LEAD Bornhorst, who graduated from Conner High School in Hebron, said a big part of his experience at Eastern Kentucky University was extracurricular activities – especially his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. “You deal with a very diverse group at a fraternity meeting,” he recalls. “I learned as much about how to manage there as I did from the university. I had more of an opportunity to apply and test out leadership skills, and I found that to be very, very useful when it came to a work setting. It’s hard to teach accountability. It’s an easier thing to experience.”

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While talking with Eastern students last fall as part of the College of Business & Technology’s distinguished speaker series, he said Phi Delta Theta was in bad shape when he joined. He considered quitting, but the faculty adviser, Ralph Thompson, told him to stick with it. That advice paid off when Bornhorst applied for a Phi Delta Theta scholarship and attended a national conference where the awards were announced. “There were a number of small scholarships – around $500 or so–and I actually hoped to get one of those,” he said. “After those were announced and I didn’t get one, my advisor turned to me and said, ‘Hey, we gave it a shot’.” Bornhorst wasn’t even paying attention when it was announced that he’d won the major endowed scholarship. He was thrilled that a student from Eastern could compete and win against peers from big schools like UCLA, Ohio State, Michigan and the University of Kentucky. He has the plaque citing his leadership, character and scholarship on the wall in his Delta office. Before the award he wasn’t sure his parents, both Eastern alumni, liked the idea of him being in a fraternity. “The endowed scholarship, which basically turned into a full ride that paid for everything my senior year, made them very happy,” he laughs. Bornhorst received his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on accounting. Though not in the school’s fledgling

Don Bornhorst has worked in aviation for 22 years but says he’s never seen a better time to get into the industry. That bodes well for students in Eastern’s highly regarded aviation program. The senior vice president of Delta Air Lines expects his company to hire 600 pilots a year for the next decade, a situation he attributes both to industry growth and a wave of retirements. Industry-wide, 14,000 pilots will be hired in the next five years. “It’s a pretty exciting industry to be in,” he says. “Once you’ve been in it you never want to leave. It’s a dynamic setting that offers something different every day – the weather, world events or just riding the roller coaster that is the airline industry.” Eastern’s aviation program is one of only six in the country accredited by the Federal Aviation Administration, a fact Bornhorst attributes to the quality of the university’s leadership, particularly that of Dr. Robert Rogow, dean of the College of Business & Technology. Eastern offers both a professional flight option for students who want to become pilots and an aerospace management option. Since Delta hires only pilots who are college graduates, Bornhorst advises students to get their degrees, work five or six years at a regional carrier, then go to Delta. When Bornhorst was a student, EKU’s aviation program was just getting started. A year after classes began in 1983, a minor in aviation was approved. In 1991, EKU had Kentucky’s first baccalaureate degree program in aviation. This fall, a new aerospace technology concentration will be offered. The new option is designed to be a degree-completion pathway, incorporating 26 semester hour credits of aviation technical electives. It will allow community college graduates with heavily loaded aviation technical courses to transfer to EKU and receive maximum transfer credits. To learn more, visit aviation.eku.edu.

EASTERN AVIATORS MEET INDUSTRY NEED

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aviation program, the airline industry – or at least one company, Comair–held his interest throughout his college years. He credits his father, a teacher, for that. In order to get his son to declare a major, the elder Bornhorst bought him stock in the local company. “He knew I would be interested,” says Bornhorst, who grew up in Erlanger, where the regional carrier was based. As a kid he used to sneak into the airport, lie at the end of the runway and watch planes land in front of him. “For four years in college, every paper I wrote was about Comair,” he says. The stock also paid off in other ways. Sixteen years after his father invested $800, the stock was worth $18,000.

CAREER TAKE-OFF After graduating, Bornhorst was an accountant with Deloitte & Touche. When he was finally hired by Comair four years later as its manager of internal audit and special projects, then-company President David Siebenburgen said he was either perfect for the job or a Comair stalker. Bornhorst rose through the ranks, serving in every department. As chief financial officer, his performance during a Christmas season ice storm that left more than 1,000 passengers stranded at the airline’s terminal was praised in the book, “Winning Nice: How to Succeed in Business and Life Without Waging War” by Dawna Stone and Matt Dieter. Of the 12 members of Comair’s senior leadership team, only three worked through the storm. “I personally went 72 hours without a shower or any appreciable sleep, and it wasn’t much better for the skeleton crew who hung in with me,” Bornhorst told the authors. “Amidst all the pressure that people were under, the perfect storm turned into a national media story. In my unkempt and overtired position, I became the spokesperson for the airline.”

“Several years later Delta Airlines took over Bornhorst’s company,” Stone and Dieter wrote. “The only people of the twelve senior executives who were retained were Bornhorst and the two team members who helped him during the ice storm disaster.” “The real test of a leader isn’t in the day-to-day but in the organization’s most vulnerable moment,” Bornhorst said. “It’s easier to be a leader when things are going well, but it’s in the moments of extreme pressure and chaos that true leadership comes to the fore.” Bornhorst was named president of Comair in May 2006, a job he called “a dream come true.” Three months later, Flight 5191 crashed in Lexington, killing 49 people. Bornhorst got a call at 6 a.m. and worked until midnight, when somebody from the Salvation Army gave him a ham and cheese sandwich. His press conference is still used as a case study to prepare executives on handling corporate disasters when all the details aren’t available. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that “Bornhorst stepped in front of television cameras at least twice that day to express the airline’s regrets about the accident as well as his personal sorrow at the loss of life. He also pledged Comair’s full cooperation with investigators and support for victim’s families.” During his fall visit to Richmond, Bornhorst talked about that day: “I’m a big believer that God doesn’t give you a challenge bigger than you can handle.” “I enjoy leadership,” Bornhorst admits. “I enjoy being a decision-maker. If you are a person who is a servant leader, if you can be humble and hold yourself and others accountable, you’re going to go far.” Perhaps, like Don Bornhorst, you can even reach the sky.

Photo courtesy of the Richmond Register

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Forecast: BrightThe opportunity, optimism and on-air talent of Sam Champion

Sam Champion knows an opportunity when he sees it. That’s what brought him to Eastern in 1979 after the school built two new television

studios. That’s also what drove him to intern at Lexington’s WKYT-TV as a student. While there, he learned the station didn’t have any weekend reporters and volunteered to do stand-up sports reports. “I just remember those were great opportunities,” he told the Lexington Herald-Leader in an interview last fall. “If I had been anywhere else, I don’t know if I would have had those opportunities.”

The same sense of opportunity is why Champion, ’83, left his post as America’s most-watched weatherman on “Good Morning America” in December to become the face and managing editor of a revamped The Weather Channel (TWC). The Atlanta-based network will, he says, help him better serve an audience that looks to him to help plan the day. He debuted at his new job in January during one of Georgia’s coldest winters on record and when snowstorm Janus was piling on the Northeast.

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“This is the most fun in the world but I’ve never run so fast,” he said at the time. Champion enjoys knowing that when a big storm breaks, he doesn’t have to compete with other news for airtime, a fact of life on a major network whose agility he compared to “turning a cruise ship. “I’ve got 220 meteorologists and scientists watching that storm,” he said. “We had crews covering it right away.” “AMHQ,” Champion’s new TWC morning show, began airing in mid-March from 7 to 10 a.m. The flagship program follows “Wake Up With Al,” hosted by Champion’s longtime friend and ratings rival Al Roker, the popular weatherman on NBC’s “Today” show. “We’ve known each other for 25 years, so this is the first chance we’re actually going to get to work together,” Roker said when Champion visited the “Today” show set to plug The Weather Channel, which is owned by NBC. The announcement of his departure from “Good Morning America” was big news in the television industry and among his legion of fans across the country. It was also the first departure from ABC’s flagship morning program since it passed the “Today” show in ratings more than a year earlier.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to do what I love most at a network that lives and breathes the weather,” Champion said at the time. “The Weather Channel is currently undergoing an incredible renaissance, having recently rebranded its look and feel and transformed the way it presents the weather.” The job change marked an end to a 25-year career with ABC News and meant a move from New York to Atlanta. It also brought Champion closer to his spouse, Miami photographer Rubem Robierb, whom he married in 2012. The couple is now based in Atlanta with Miami as their weekend home.

A Good Morning for EKU Champion didn’t leave “Good Morning America” (“GMA”) without providing Eastern with a wonderful opportunity for national exposure. Campus Beautiful entered the national spotlight on Sept. 13 as part of a “GMA” series about the alma maters of the program’s five anchors. “I’ll put this as a slice of heaven for me,” Champion told an estimated 4.3 million viewers during the six-minute segment’s introduction. “It’s gorgeous. Entire roads wrapped with horse farms. Gorgeous white fences. Exciting, happy faces.”

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One of those happy faces belonged to broadcast major Caitlin Jackson, who served as on-air student host while Champion broadcast from the ABC studio in New York. She found Champion to be very friendly and excited to be talking about his alma mater. Jackson, a junior from Dayton, Ohio, bantered on live TV with Champion like a seasoned veteran and was joined by more than 300 maroon-clad students who had flocked to Memorial Plaza before 6 a.m. with signs and big smiles. The segment featured the dance team, cheerleaders, the Marching Colonels, the mascot and, of course, the Daniel Boone statue. “And Daniel Boone’s good luck certainly rubbed off on me,” Champion quickly noted when the tradition of rubbing the toe of the statue’s left boot was explained. To prepare for the segment, a video crew spent nearly 12 hours on campus Aug. 28, retracing Champion’s footsteps. Footage included his former room on the sixth floor of Palmer Residence Hall and the broadcasting classrooms in Combs Building, where Champion said

the typewriters of his day have been replaced by Mac computers. Current members of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha, sang the house song for Champion. Comparable airtime on “GMA,” if Eastern had purchased it for advertising, would have cost an estimated $195,000.

Kentucky Roots Samuel James Champion was born in Paducah on Aug. 13, 1961, to Marine Lt. Col. James and Sylvia Champion. He has one sister, Teresa, an attorney who lives in Virginia. The military family traveled the globe, and when it came time for Champion to attend college, his parents wanted him to choose a school in the Bluegrass State to be close to Kentucky relatives. He chose Eastern. His advisor, James S. Harris, professor emeritus of mass communications, remembers Champion as a very focused student who applied himself.

Watch as Caity Jackson and the Eastern community take Sam Champion on a tour of his alma mater: youtube.com/watch?v=WjdqH1LTJI0

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It almost felt like an assignment for one of her classes. Only this time, Caitlin Jackson was talking to more than a sound and camera crew comprised of fellow broadcasting majors. The audience included 300 other Eastern students – and a live “Good Morning America” audience estimated at more than 4.3 million viewers. “I was very calm, though I didn’t sleep much the night before,” says the junior from Dayton, Ohio. “Of course it happened on Friday the 13th, which ended up being lucky for me.” Jackson was originally supposed to do a prerecorded segment touring the old haunts of “Good Morning America” weather anchor Sam Champion, ’83. However, the show’s producers loved her so much they invited her to appear live the morning the segment aired, which meant getting up at 3 a.m. She bantered on air with Champion like a veteran broadcaster, which helped her earn an internship with the top-rated talk show this

summer in New York. A prominent New York agent has also approached her about representation after graduation. John Fitch III, an associate professor in the department of communication, says it’s very rare to see a student so comfortable in front of a large TV audience. “Caity is going to be a great success at whatever she chooses to do,” Fitch says. “I see her reporting or anchoring at a news outlet – maybe even at the national network level.” Jackson, who writes a sports column for the Eastern Progress student newspaper, eventually wants to be a sports anchor. “I already have a ‘Good Morning America’ tape for my reel!” she laughs. Like other Eastern students, she knows that from here, she can go anywhere. “I can’t wait to see where this takes me,” Jackson says.

ABC LIKED WHAT IT SAW IN JUNIOR BROADCASTING MAJOR

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“Sam always knew he wanted to advance in the broadcasting business,” Harris says, adding that he had a rare type of drive and focus. After earning his bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, Champion worked as a reporter and weekend weather anchor at WPSD in Paducah, then moved to the Jacksonville, Fla., market. He joined WABC in 1988 before earning a spot on “Good Morning America” in 2006. Champion is glad no early tapes remain of his time interning at WKYT. “Doing TV isn’t a natural skill set,” he says. “The more you do, the better you’ll be.” He’s certainly done a lot since his student days, traveling the globe to report on weather-related stories. He’s been up close and personal with wildfires in California, hurricanes in Florida, winter storms in Denver and tornadoes in the Midwest. As part of “The New 7 Wonders of the World” series he broadcast live from a raft in the middle of the Polar Ice Caps. His on-air reporting during Superstorm Sandy last year in the Northeast contributed to ABC’s Peabody Award for coverage of that historic weather event. Champion has reported extensively on the environment. In 2007 he traveled to Paris for the release of an international report on climate change, and he regularly provides tips on how to be environmentally efficient. During his ABC days, viewers saw Champion not only reporting about storms but scuba diving, zip-lining above water...even riding a bull in Central Park. He regularly interviewed authors, newsmakers and celebrities during the morning program.

In 2010 he did a report on his big sister’s work helping her autistic son and other autistic children. That same year, he drew national attention to the prevalence of skin cancer when he underwent a procedure to have skin cancer cells removed from his shoulder on live television. “GMA” news anchor Josh Elliott calls Champion “the best live broadcaster I’ve ever worked with.” “He was not a stand-alone or aloof student,” Professor Harris recalls. “He always had a good personality and that’s what he needs to be an on-air personality. That has to come through the tube.” Following the announcement of Champion’s latest career move, the Washington Post reported on its The Weather Gang blog that, “TWC’s acquisition of Champion, who spent 25 years at ABC, fits an apparent strategy to dominate the universe of weather news and information in the U.S.” “The Weather Channel is like the holy grail of weather,” says an enthusiastic Champion. Groundbreaking from its inception in its provision of not only national but also localized conditions and forecasts, the network is poised to once again change the way American households get weather information, he predicts. On his final “Good Morning America” appearance, Champion explained his decision: “I think it’s something that people will go through in their life when you want to stay, doing something you want to, and there’s an opportunity that says you gotta take it.” Sam Champion took firm hold of an opportunity when he chose Eastern, and much like his on-air abilities, taking advantage of opportunities is a skill he has perfected over time.

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GIVINGBACK

MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAMEFOR SUCCESSFUL COSTUME DESIGNER

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She’s traveled the world, known the biggest Hollywood stars and received four Emmy nominations for her ground-breaking costume design work on the iconic 1990s television show “In Living Color.” Through it all, Michelle Rene Cole, ’79, says her faith in God and her family’s deep Kentucky roots have kept her grounded. “I still go to church every Sunday,” she says from her Los Angeles home. “I still have the faith of my upbringing. I still go to Bible study. Sometimes people hear that and freak out because I’m in a town and an industry that doesn’t do that.” Though born and raised in LA, Kentucky remains a huge part of Cole’s life. It’s where her parents and grandparents were born. The family visited often and Cole spent her last two years of high school at Knox Central school in Barbourville, living with her grandmother and mother after her parents divorced. When it came time to attend college, Cole’s father, a military man who became a high school principal, wanted her to attend his alma mater, the University of Southern California. That’s also where her mother, a kindergarten teacher, had gone to college. “But I decided to go EKU,” she says. “It was second nature.” Even now, memories of the Bluegrass State bring tears to her eyes. “When I think of Kentucky I think of my grandmother’s garden,” she muses. “I can almost smell the applesauce being cooked, the biscuits in the skillet and bacon on Sunday morning before church. I haven’t been there in five years but whenever I get off the plane, the accent comes back and I talk like I’m from Kentucky.” The state also provided her with an early sense of style. “My maternal great aunt was born in 1901 and had a very classic look,” remembers Cole. “She wore dresses to church. She wore whites at Easter. She had the gloves, the hats, the texture, the seersucker. That was all definitely there, just like the southern ladies you see in the movies. You’re taught that look and it always sticks with you.” While at Eastern, Cole designed costumes for school theater productions, developing an interest in period pieces like the 16th century costume she created for one of Henry VIII’s wives in “Royal Gambit.” She was treasurer of the Textile Clothing and Fashion Club, a member of the student section of the American Home Economics Association and on the homecoming court. The work After getting her bachelor’s degree in clothing and textiles, Cole worked as a buyer in the men’s department at J.W. Robinson’s, a five-star Beverly Hills department store. “My hobby at night was doing theater,” she says. “I loved doing theater so much that I did it for free, just volunteering.” That’s part of breaking into the entertainment business, Cole asserts. She encourages students to do summer internships and, even

after graduation, be willing to take unpaid or low-paying work in their field. “It’s how you get started,” she says. “You go up through the ranks. No one just becomes a designer. You have to learn the business. Everybody starts at the bottom.” Most of all, Cole says, be persistent: “Nothing happens overnight.” Cole’s first break came when she was hired as a personal assistant on the daytime drama “The Young and the Restless.” “David Hasselhoff was there as Snapper,” she recalls of the actor who would go on to international fame starring in the shows “Knight Rider” and “Bay Watch.” “He was great, a lovely man. I had a crush on him. Everyone had a crush on him.” In the mid-1980s she was an assistant for HKM Productions, a major player in the production of commercials. The work took her everywhere from London to North Dakota doing shoots for the likes of Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Nike and others. “That’s when commercials were looked at as art.” The decade also brought the launch of MTV and music videos, which put “a whole new spin on television.” Before long, Cole was putting her own spin on the industry.

In Living Color When producer Keenen Ivory Wayans was looking for a costume designer for his new show “In Living Color,” a woman who knew her work suggested Cole. “I was having a great time in commercials and figured I’d do ‘In Living Color’ for a couple of months and go back to commercials,” Cole laughs. “Everything was original. I had to design everything. That was the selling point and it brought back the theater bug in me.” The sketch comedy show, produced before a live Hollywood audience, featured a predominantly black cast–in contrast to “Saturday Night Live,” which was made up of mostly white performers. It launched the careers of actors Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey and actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, who was one of the show’s dancers, or Flygirls.

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The Los Angeles Times described the Flygirls as “having a look that might best be described as a combination of street chic, haute couture and Kmart blue-light special. The mishmash of styles has inspired designers worldwide to clone the look, and legions of wanna-bes canvass the racks of Los Angeles boutiques in hopes of doing the same thing.” Cole ended up staying all five seasons the ground-breaking show was in production, from 1990 to 1994, earning four Emmy nominations for costume design in the process. “It ended up making history, but when you’re doing it, you’re in it. You’re not thinking about what’s going to happen in five years,” she admits. “Television moves really fast and you just go. And it just takes you.”

Career today Prior to “In Living Color,” Cole never imagined herself working in comedy but today she’s still at it, designing for two sitcoms, “Instant Mom,” starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict on Nick at Nite, and “The Soul Man,” starring Cedric the Entertainer on TV Land. Her long list of costume design credits also includes such TV series as “Kickin It,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and “Martin.” “It’s a constant revolving door,” says Cole. “You don’t stay at a job for 15 years – not that it’s a bad thing to do that. We go from project to project to project. It’s a gypsy lifestyle. Most people don’t like that, but in entertainment, that’s how we roll.” She’s constantly around celebrities and in their dressing rooms. She compared studios to college campuses.

“You’ll see Denzel or Sandra Bullock on a golf cart and it’s no big deal,” she says. “We’re not in awe of it.” She also understands that stars aren’t so different from other people. “When actors have drug problems or marital problems, the public may sometimes forget that they’re real people,” she asserts. “They have real problems. They have kids with real problems. They have deaths in their families. Their grandmothers die. Their favorite aunts die. They’re human – they’re just rich!” Cole typically works 65 to 70 hours a week. “It’s hard,” she admits. “It’s not the work so much as the personalities. You come across so many personalities. A lot of people come into this business...and a lot get out. At the same time, I can’t imagine doing anything else. The fact that I am rooted and have my strong beliefs has helped me get through anything: the hard knocks, the haters. When you’re the head of a department you’re going to have people who like you and who hate you. I think that goes with any business, especially when there’s money involved.” Cole remains humble, attributing responsibility for her success to the Lord. In fact, she didn’t want a picture of herself to accompany this story. “It’s about the work,” she insists. “Not me.” Cole has remained single, which she attributes to the amount of time she spent working over the years. “I was very driven in my career; now I’m looking to have a life,” she says. “I encourage my assistants to get married and have children. If you talk to a lot of costume designers, a lot didn’t get married or

16 Eastern

have children. We were the first generation of women to really make money. I think that’s the reason so many of us were so devoted to our careers.”

Giving back Cole is also determined to give back. In 2012, she established a scholarship at Eastern to benefit African American students and strives to be a role model for others. “I would rather that be my legacy than as a well-known costume designer,” she maintains. “That’s what I would like to leave behind, that I helped open doors for minorities. I pride myself on hiring a diverse team wherever I work.” Cole has also given a scholarship to Berea College in the name of her great aunt, Elizabeth Jane Goins Perry, and one at USC in honor of her parents, Marcellus and Margaret Cole. “I’ve had a good life and a pretty amazing career,” Cole says. “I felt it was necessary to give back. I came from a background where education was very important. Giving back and our faith – that goes hand in hand for our family.”

Eastern 17

s t e w a r s h i P

Managing ongoing support of Eastern experiences

The STRUCTURE of STEWARDSHIP

18 Eastern

Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, EKU exceeded its 2013 year-end fundraising goals, topping $1.2 million in total dollars raised from the July 1 start of the fiscal year through December 31. The figure surpasses the previous year’s total by more than 30 percent. According to Vice President for University Development and Alumni Relations Michael Eastman, the importance of these gifts cannot be overstated: “The commitment of our donors helps almost 80 percent of our student body receive an Eastern education and ensures that hallmark EKU experiences continue. Everyone in the Eastern family can be proud that our graduates are equipped to meet the needs of an ever-changing society and thrive in rewarding careers.” Eastman, who arrived on campus in August, has embraced the seriousness of purpose he’s found at EKU and built on an already strong commitment to stewardship. A key component of that stewardship focus is the EKU Foundation, which generates, acquires and conserves the resources needed to protect the University’s future. The Foundation’s board of directors manages funds both for ongoing support of institutional priorities–like scholarships–and investment capital to continue to generate that support. In February Timothy C. Brown, ’72, of Goshen was named chairman of the 16-member board. The former chief executive officer of Thomas Industries has served on the board since December 2004 and is joined by five new members:

• Maribeth McBride Berman, ’92, of Louisville, who has worked in human resources at Eastern and at Neace Lukens, Chard Snyder and Western Kentucky University

• Donald T. Bornhorst, ’87, of Excelsior, Minn., a CPA and senior vice president of Delta Air Lines

• Matthew A. Evans, ’91, of Lexington, president and CEO of Bankers Service Corporation

• Don McNay, ’81, an annuity consultant, chairman of McNay Settlement Group and CEO of RRP International Publishing who splits his time between Central Kentucky and New Orleans

• James Moore, ’73, an investment professional with The Glenview Trust Company in Louisville

To see a comprehensive list of Foundation board members and their qualifications, visit www.development.eku.edu. Eastern’s Philanthropy Professionals The Foundation’s work is supported by a strong professional development team under Eastman’s leadership. A veteran fundraiser, Eastman completed a $70 million campaign at Indiana’s Manchester University and subsequently helped launch a $100 million effort, which has raised more than $87 million to date. As President Michael Benson unveils a bold blueprint for Eastern’s future, Eastman is assembling a staff to equip the effort and help donors find paths to achieve their philanthropic goals.

Several experienced professionals have already been recruited: Melissa Grinstead, executive director, comprehensive capital campaign; Carol Ford, foundation scholarship coordinator; Lu-Ann Farrar, prospect researcher; Betsy Power, development support specialist; and Kirk David Jr., Kristen Bennett, Chris Cannon and Rachel Cromer, development officers. Three existing team members have moved into new positions that capitalize on their talents: Jackie Collier has been promoted to executive director of alumni relations, Kari Martin has been named executive director of development, Jennifer Ott has been named assistant director of alumni relations, and Johnna Whittamore has assumed leadership of the annual fund. Whittamore is spearheading significant technological upgrades to the annual fund program designed to enhance Eastern’s connection with its alumni and friends. “Of course, no matter what technology we employ,” says Eastman, “our primary goal remains the same: to help make Eastern Kentucky University an even better place for students, alumni, faculty and staff.” To learn more about how your commitment to Eastern Kentucky University will help make Eastern experiences possible for deserving students, visit www.development.eku.edu or contact Director of Annual Fund Johnna Whittamore at 859/622-1516 or johnna.whittamore@eku.edu.

• Tuition alone covers about half of the actual cost of an Eastern education.

• Nearly 80% of Eastern students receive financial aid.

• 44% of Eastern students qualify for need-based financial assistance.

BY the NUMBERS

• Provide an Eastern education to deserving students, regardless of their financial circumstances

• Recruit top students to be taught by outstanding professors

• Enhance our campus learning environment

• Support student-faculty scholarly collaborations

STEWARSHIPMAKES IT POSSIBLE TO:

of donor gifts

Eastern 19

Upset win makes Colonels OVC champs

A 79-73 surprise victory over Belmont University earned the Colonels basketball team the Ohio Valley Conference championship for the first time since 2007. On their way to the title, the No. 3-seeded Colonels won three tournament games in three days, defeating Southeast Missouri State, No. 2-seeded Murray State and top seed Belmont. They trailed for only 41 seconds during their time in Nashville, host city of the OVC tournament. This is the second time in head coach Jeff Neubauer’s nine seasons and only the eighth time in school history that the Colonels have clinched an NCAA Tournament berth.

Plans unveiled for Model School, College

of Education complex

Architectural renderings have been drawn for an $83 million complex that would put Model Laboratory School at the center of

the College of Education, physically as well as conceptually. Dr. Verna Lowe, dean of the College of Education, says its part of a new “clinical” approach to education and teacher training that will benefit not only Eastern students but also teachers from across Kentucky who seek updated, 21st century skills.

The 279,000 sq. ft. building will be constructed at the corner of the Eastern Bypass and Lancaster Avenue. Although funding and construction details are still being discussed, EKU President Michael Benson emphasizes that the commitment is in place. The College of Education-Model Lab complex is the University’s second highest ranking state-funded capital construction priority, behind only Phase 2 of the New Sciences Building.

Closing the loop on learning improvement

EKU is among only three schools nationally to receive the 2014 Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) provide students detailed statements of what they will know and be able to do as a result of completing a course. Since 2005 Eastern has systematically implemented SLOs across all 150 academic programs. An annual

From the Campus Beautifulc a m P u s n e w s

20 Eastern

Assurance of Learning Day encourages faculty to share ideas about program strengths and weaknesses, learning outcomes and changes that might enhance learning.

More than mere assessment, the Assurance of Learning concept asks, “What improvements should we make based on how students are performing?” rather than simply “How are we doing?” Provost Janna Vice says taking action based on data “closes the loop.”

Men’s Cross Country honored at state capitol

A record-breaking 2013 season earned Colonels Cross Country Coach Rick Erdmann and his team a standing ovation from the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate. Resolutions put forth by Madison County legislators Rita Smart and Jared Carpenter recognized the program for sustaining “a pattern of dominance over the last decade.” (See “Coach Erdmann’s 33-Year Run” in the Summer 2013 issue of “Eastern.”)

After winning the NCAA Southeast Region Championships for the first time in program history, the team went on to place 15th out of 31 top teams at the Division I NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. It was the highest finish in program history. For the second consecutive year, All-America honors were awarded to Senior Soufiane Bouchikhi, who finished 26th out of 254 competitors at nationals. Six Colonels earned All-Southeast Region honors.

For the second consecutive year, veteran head coach Rick Erdmann was chosen NCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year. In 34 seasons at EKU, he has won 63 Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) cross country and track and field titles and 60 OVC Coach of the Year awards.

Keen Johnson carillon restored

In a few weeks the 37-bell carillon atop the Keen Johnson Building will once again ring in the splendor of the season. Dedicated in 1971, the carillon was heard on campus for decades but grime and the need for a new supporting frame structure silenced the bells in recent years. In December The Verdin Company, the original installer, removed the cast bronze bells, which range in weight from 25 to 1,000 pounds, and transported them to their Cincinnati plant. There they were cleaned and a new structure-steel frame constructed based on modern engineering standards.

Once restored to Eastern’s bell tower, the carillon will serenade the campus community with melodies, celebration peals, tolls, and time strikes (eliminating at least one excuse for being late to class).

“Ringing bells to signify events such as graduation or even the passage of time is a tradition we intend to establish at Eastern,” says President Michael Benson.

Water tanks proclaim town-gown pride

Through a joint effort of EKU and the City of Richmond, four area water tanks have been repainted to demonstrate proudly the connection between the University and the community that is its home. Two water tanks on campus display the Keen Johnson clock tower and Colonel image, respectively. Near the interstate, a water tank is emblazoned with both the City of Richmond and EKU logos, noting that the city is home to EKU. A tank on the Eastern Bypass also boasts both logos, declaring “Partners in Progress.” Eastern President Michael Benson and Richmond Mayor Jim Barnes stress that the water tanks offer a unique opportunity to promote the two brands and convey a sense of unity.

c a m P u s n e w s

Eastern 21

c a m P u s n e w s

Tourism to help transform ailing coal town

Significant declines in traditional coal mining have led to economic hardship for many eastern Kentucky towns, but a partnership with EKU is helping Pike County’s Elkhorn City (pop. 982) promote its many natural assets and develop tourism potential.

Already a renowned whitewater destination, Elkhorn City sits at the intersection of two major cross country trails: the Great Eastern hiking trail that runs from southern Alabama to the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, and the Trans-America bike trail extending from the Virginia coast to the Oregon coast. Students and faculty from EKU’s departments of recreation and park administration, and anthropology, sociology and social work have helped develop a commercial recreation plan, signage for trail access points, and a user assessment tool to measure tourists’ expenditures and satisfaction. Environmental education is also provided to insure long-term viability of the revenue stream.

“We are very excited (because) students can add an age-group perspective we target in adventure marketing,” says Elaine Wilson, executive director of the Commonwealth’s Office of Adventure Tourism.

Zero to hero

He may wear No. 0 but to Eastern basketball fans senior guard Glenn Cosey is a hero. Cosey’s 37-foot three-pointer with 0.4 left on the clock gave Eastern a 79-78 victory over Southeast Missouri State Feb. 3. It earned Cosey the No. 1 spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays list and Adidas Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors for the second time in the season. The three-point ace was later named first team All-District 19 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

A late addition to the Colonels team in the fall of 2012, Cosey got number zero by default when all the numbers he wanted were already taken. He kept it, he says, to show every school that passed on an opportunity to recruit him that “they missed out on something good.”

Cosey finished with 20 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals against Southeast Missouri. “Glenn plays a huge role in every win that we have,” says Coach Jeff Neubauer.

Watch Cosey’s big play at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY3_ub36W5s.

Lady Colonel scores school record

Senior Marie Carpenter made Eastern sports history January 25 when she broke the all-time record for three-point baskets scored by a Lady Colonel. Playing in her hometown of Nashville, Tenn., she entered the game needing two three-pointers to top the record of 170 held by Angie Cox (1988-92). Carpenter sank six against opponent Belmont on her way to a game-high 27 points.

No blowing smoke

It may be located at the heart of the state with the highest tobacco use rate in the nation, but Campus Beautiful will become tobacco-free as of June 1. Supported by the results of an April 2012 campus survey, Eastern’s tobacco-free policy will eliminate the use of tobacco products throughout campus, including outdoor areas. The University is sponsoring smoking-cessation programs, counseling and other services to aid members of the campus community who wish to stop their tobacco use. EKU employee insurance plans have covered in excess of $900,000 for preventable health conditions associated with tobacco use.

22 Eastern

c a m P u s n e w s

Staging a comeback for downtown Richmond

As part of a Richmond/EKU partnership to revitalize the city’s downtown business district, Eastern students put their heads together with city mayor Jim Barnes, brainstorming ways to enhance the retail, dining and entertainment appeal of the area only a few blocks north of campus. It is believed to be the first time a sitting mayor has formally solicited input from students on campus.

Ideas included a mini grocery, more downtown green space, and alcohol-free nightlife options. Even EKU President Michael Benson got in on the act, suggesting ways to improve Lancaster Avenue: “Get those utility lines buried, widen it, make it more pedestrian friendly...kind of like a promenade that then takes you into campus.”

Although Barnes cautions that big changes won’t happen immediately, developing a vision for a downtown renaissance guides business recruitment efforts and site usage plans.

EKU-Danville students uncover African-American history

Fifty unmarked graves found in an African-American cemetery have been identified, thanks to the efforts of students from EKU’s Danville campus. Many of the graves belong to slaves born in the early 1800s.

The students, members of EKU-Danville’s Genealogy Club, uncovered the graves while clearing overgrowth and debris from the cemetery near Junction City. They were in a part of the graveyard particularly difficult to access because of downed trees from a 2009 ice storm. Student Eric Howard managed to pinpoint the GPS locations of several graves, “which means we can begin to send those to the Lincoln County Property Valuation Administrator’s office, where they will plug them into the plat map,” says Cindy Peck, Danville campus director and advisor to the Genealogy Club. Club members also hope they’ll begin to see a pattern to the burials, even before the entire cemetery is cleaned up. Owners of adjacent properties confirm that more unmarked graves exist on the cemetery’s south side.

Additional American history classes from EKU-Danville are getting involved as the scope of the project increases.

“This is an amazing opportunity for students to use primary source materials to ‘do’ history,” says Peck, “and perhaps make a contribution of their own to African-American history in Lincoln and Boyle counties.”

Students make new residence hall home

The first new residence hall on campus in almost 40 years opened its doors last fall. Dubbed “New Hall” by its 255 residents, the 84,000-square-foot facility on Kit Carson Drive offers suite-style living. Bedrooms are connected by a common living space, including kitchenette, for two to four people.

A balance of environmentally sustainable and economically responsible design and construction make New Hall the first residence hall on a state university campus in Kentucky to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. The building’s energy performance is 28 percent better than a baseline residence hall.

Grants support community projects in service region

EKU is awarding five $10,000 grants to support community initiatives within its 22-county service region in eastern and central Kentucky. Administered through the University’s Center for Appalachian Regional Engagement and Stewardship (CARES), the funds will help address economic and workforce development, educational, environmental, collaborative government, and health, wellness and safety concerns, particularly in those areas designated as “distressed” or “in transition” by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Of the 21 counties in Eastern’s service region that are included in the Appalachian region, all are considered “distressed,” “at-risk” or “transitional.” Grant awards will be announced in May.

Eastern 23

a l u m n i m a t t e r s

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Aristotle said, “Change in all things is sweet.” The EKU International Alumni Association will soon benefit from a big change: by early summer the Association offices will relocate across Lancaster Avenue to Blanton House! We are delighted that this stunning 1886 residence of Central University’s last chancellor, Lindsey Hughes Blanton (1832-1914), will become our new home. Although the historic residence has officially been part of Campus Beautiful since 1912, because it served as the private residence of Eastern’s first family, many alumni and members of the campus community have

not run their hand along the polished finish of its solid walnut grand staircase, witnessed the sweep of its high-ceilinged rooms, or warmed themselves at one of its three fireplaces. The Alumni Center at Blanton House will open the door of Lancaster Avenue’s last surviving Victorian to all members of the Eastern family. The first floor will be used for small dinners, receptions and other special events. The upstairs will house our offices. When you are on campus for Homecoming this October, please come by for a tour. Not only is Blanton House being readied to welcome you but also the Hall of Distinguished Alumni in the Keen Johnson Building is being renovated. Join us during Alumni Weekend on April 25-27 for the grand unveiling of this updated space which gives apt recognition to some of our most inspiring alumni from throughout the decades. Alumni Weekend will kick off with a Friday evening concert by legendary country and bluegrass music artist Ricky Skaggs at the EKU Center for the Arts. Purchase your tickets at ekucenter.com. Keen Johnson will be abuzz with activity Saturday, beginning with a continental breakfast for the reunion classes of ’44, ’49, ’54, ’59, ’64, ’69, ’74, ’79, and ’84. College of Education alumni will gather later in the day for a reunion, and, of course, the capstone event of the weekend is Saturday evening’s annual Alumni Awards Banquet. Make plans to join us for an exciting weekend with friends. Reunion class members, watch the mail for details of your class event. Information will also be available online at alumni.eku.edu. As always, I love hearing from alumni and friends. Contact me at jackie.collier@eku.edu or 859/622-1260.

This brings my best to you,

Jackie CollierExecutive Director of Alumni Relations

AlumniMatters

EasternThe Magazine of Eastern Kentucky University

Dr. Michael T. Benson, President michael.benson@eku.edu

Dr. E. Michael Eastman, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations michael.eastman@eku.edu

Alumni Relations StaffJackie Collier, ’12, Executive Director of Alumni Relations 859/622-1260, jackie.collier@eku.eduJennifer Ott, ’11, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations jennifer.ott@eku.eduDonna Lazzara, Administrative Assistant II donna.lazzara@eku.eduBarbara Howard, Senior Office Associate barbara.howard@eku.edu

Alumni Association Board 2013-14Glenn Raglin, ’80, President Birmingham, Ala., glennraglin@yahoo.comThomas M. Martin, ’93, ’01, Vice President/ President-Elect, MBA Chapter Danville, Ky., tmm144@gmail.comDana Daughetee Fohl, ’07, Secretary Lexington, Ky., dana.daughetee@gmail.com Tonya Tarvin Crum, ’95, Past-President Nicholasville, Ky., tonyacrum@yahoo.comStefanie Drury Ashley, ’96 Richmond, Ky., Stefanie@ArtfullyYoursStudio.com Felecia J. Ballard, ’95 Berea, Ky., felecia.ballard@eku.eduJoshua J. Bleidt, ’00 Nashville, Tenn., joshbleidt@aol.comAnthony Cole, ’93 Nicholasville, Ky., fyrguru@me.comMarc Collins, ’97, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Chapter, Walton, Ky., mrc115@aol.comDavid “Doc” Fifer, ’07 Richmond, Ky., david@fifer.netAmy Jo Smith Gabel, ’06, ’09 Nolensville, Tenn., amyjogabel@gmail.comMichael Earl Hay, ’94, ’97 Richmond, Ky., michael.hay@eku.eduIsaac Kain, Student Alumni Ambassador PresidentDonna Black Kenny, ’72, ’82 Berea, Ky., Donna.Kenny@eku.eduAndre Kinney, ’74 Lexington, Ky., andre.kinney@eku.eduJeff Klein, ’07, ’11 Lexington, Ky., Jeffrey_Klein@yahoo.comJudy M. Layne-Wood, ’82, ’83 Yorktown, Va., hey_jude_layne_@yahoo.com Mary Lou Wilson McCarthy, ’86 Harlan, Ky., mlwm1977@yahoo.comCynthia Miller, ’84, ‘86 Richmond, Ky., cynthia.miller@eku.eduPaul Motley, ’64, ’69 Richmond, Ky., paulmotley41@yahoo.comCharles Neal, ’98, Louisville (Ky.) Chapter, Jeffersonville, Ind., cf.neal@live.comDonald Pace, ’62, ’64 Winchester, Ky., donaldwpace@yahoo.comKara Vass, ’09 Richmond, Ky., Kara.Vass@eku.eduRobert Vickers, ’65 Richmond, Ky., vickers.rc@gmail.com

24 Eastern

1950sTeresita Bunag Tronqued, ’51, received her master’s degree in education at Eastern after earning a bachelor’s from Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines. She taught home economics at University of the East College of Education for 36 years and was chairperson of the department for 16 years. She was a national and regional member/trainer in home economics for the Private School Reorientation Program and lecturer and resource person throughout the country. Tronqued wrote widely on education and home economics for several publications and co-authored “Technology and Home Economics for First and Second Year Levels,” which is still in use. A retired grandmother of two, she lives in Quezon City, Philippines, and writes: “I enjoy being 88 years old.”

Shirley Spires Baechtold, ’52, ’81, has published “The Unqualified Widow,” a memoir about the author and her late husband, Jim Baechtold, ’52, and a novel about a girl growing up during World War II, “I’ll be Looking at the Moon.” She lives in Richmond.

Guy E. Daines, ’58, of Tarpon Springs, Fla., is chairman of the board of the 7th Infantry Regiment Association.

Patsy Hoskins Lowe, ’59, has published a children’s book. She and her husband, Larry, live in Covina, Calif.

1960sKayce McConnell Crenshaw, ’60, is a volunteer substance abuse counselor with addicts in recovery. She lives in Owenton.

Ernest C. Dalton, ’63, retired after working as a parks and recreation leader, teacher, counselor, assistant principal and principal. “Fifty-three

years working with young people and I loved it!” He and his wife, Judith Schneble Dalton, ’64, live in Dayton, Ohio.

Michael Gilbert, ’64, ’67, retired from New Albany-Floyd County Schools in 1999 and retired from Kroger after 12 years in 2011. He and his wife, Mary, live in New Albany, Ind.

Dr. James T. “Tom” Hennessey Jr., ’65, ’73, recently retired after 20 years at George Mason University. After serving as the university’s chief of staff for 15 years, the board of visitors recognized his service by awarding him the university’s first chief of staff emeritus title. He’s also retired from the U.S. Army. Tom and his wife, Barbara Nolan Hennessey, ’64, spend their time between their homes in Northern Virginia and Gainesville, Fla., where Tom serves on multiple public service boards and commissions. The couple has three daughters and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2013.

Michael H. Rachford, ’65, and his wife, Bonnie, of Fort Thomas are the proud grandpar-

ents of three boys: Michael, Luke and Caleb Tincher.

William Raker, ’67, of Eagan, Minn., has been named to the board of directors of AccountAbility Minnesota. He was also elected to the board of directors of the Inver Hills College Foundation and named to the research council of Filene Research Institute.

Linda Grace DeAngelis-Chumas, ’68, has retired after teaching physical education for 32 years.

Charlene S. Phelps, ’68, ’69, has recently completed Book 11 of her historical work “Dawning of The Cumberland, la riviere Chauanon.” Book 1 covers the opening of the Eastern Continent by such men as De Sota, La Salle, Marquette, John Lederer and Lucas Vasquez De Ayllon. Book 11 covers the opening

CLASS ACTS Spring 2014

For the RecordDon’t forget to keep us up-to-date with your latest news items—family additions, job changes, relocations, promotions—anything you’d like us to know! Include your photographs†, too.

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Send to:Eastern Kentucky University Magazine Telephone: 859/622-1260Richards Alumni House, EKU E-mail: alumni.relations@eku.edu521 Lancaster Avenue Richmond, KY 40475-3102

All submissions to Class Acts are edited for style and brevity. †Computer printouts cannot be accepted; please include a SASE for photo return. *Please include; this information will not be published.

c l a s s a c t s

Eastern 25

WHERE IN THE WORLD

C l a s s a C t s

Diane Gallagher, ’12, took a break from her assistant coaching duties with Sweden’s National Softball Team to show off her Maroon and White at the historic Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

Judy Layne-Wood, ’82, ’83, yoga

instructor to U.S. military personnel experiencing post

traumatic stress disorder, contem-

plates the Power of Maroon before the

Lotus Temple at Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville

in Buckingham, Va.

Garnett Phelps, ’10,

former Colonel

Football team

captain, shows his

Eastern Pride atop

Runyon Canyon in

Los Angeles, Calif.

Go Colonels!

In the Summer issue of Eastern, we invited you to share photographs of the places you’ve

been wearing your Eastern gear. Congratulations to the following alumni who will receive

an Eastern Colonel to take on their next adventure:

YOU’RE WEARING

MAROON!

26 Eastern

of Kentucky, with such topics as George Rogers Clark, the Wilderness Road, the Great Awakening and the Salt Works on Goose Creek. It also covers the settlement and development of Pulaski County. A map book is included.

Charles Siemon Jr., ’68, of New Carlisle, Ohio, was one of only two athletes inducted into the Shawnee High School Hall of Fame in Springfield during its inaugural year.

Lynn Hawks Burnette, ’69, of North Tazewell, Va., was named an honorary citizen of Bluefield, Va., and given the keys to that city in recognition of her community work.

James D. Ishmael Jr., ’69, has been a Fayette circuit judge for nine years. He and his wife, Susan Benton Ishmael, ’69, live in Lexington.

Carolyn Lundsford Mears, ’69, has received the Colorado Book of the Year award for her anthology “Reclaiming School in the Aftermath of Trauma: Advice Based on Experience.” The book is based on extensive interviews with families and educators at Columbine High School, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, New York Law School (eight blocks from the World Trade Center), Katrina-damaged areas in New Orleans and other locations experiencing community-wide tragedies. As a mother of a Columbine student at the time of the 1999 shootings, “I watched helplessly as my son, his schoolmates and the entire school community struggled to find a way through what seemed to be a never-ending nightmare,” Mears recalled. Her book describes the ways schools can have a healing effect after tragic events. She and her husband, Connally, live in Littleton, Colo.

1970sCarol Williamson Jones, ’70, ’73, retired after 35 years of teaching: 11 years in Kenton County and 24 in Grant County. She and her husband, Larry, live in Williamstown; their son, Scott, lives on the family farm.

Dr. Ed Nolan, ’70, ’72, is consulting as an executive coach and leadership

development specialist. He and his wife, Renne Kennedy Nolan, ’71, live in Clearwater, Fla.

John Noland, ’70, a lawyer at Henderson, Starnes & Holt and chair of the firm’s commer-

cial litigation practice, is one of 5 percent of Florida lawyers included in the 2013 Florida SuperLawyers® magazine and has been recognized by Florida Trend magazine’s “legal elite” and The Best Lawyers in America®. A past president of the Florida Bar Foundation, he is active in the Florida Bar and has served on its board of governors. He and his wife, Pamela, have two children.

William “Bill” Taylor, ’71, and his wife, Diana Dibble Taylor, ’71, celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary Aug. 15, 2013. They live in Orlando, Fla.

Cheryl Marmillot Metcalf, ’72, ’75, and Leo Metcalf, ’72, are celebrating 45 years of marriage. Leo retired from the real estate appraising business. Cheryl retired from 40 years of teaching elementary school. They live in Tampa, Fla., and are the parents of two sons and have five grandchildren.

Dr. Nancy Burch Moody, ’72, ’74, president of Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., is the fall 2013 recipient of the Texas Woman’s University Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award. She has been at Tusculum since 2009 and received its inaugural Founder’s Award in February 2013. She served as president of Lincoln Memorial University for seven years. Under her leadership, LMU’s enrollment increased by 90 percent. The university also initiated the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and expanded the Caylor School of Nursing to include a master’s in nursing degree. Other programs initiated under her leadership included a master’s degree program preparing physician’s assistants and a doctorate of education degree. A registered nurse, she began her academic career as a nursing instructor for LMU in 1974 and was dean of the school of nursing prior to being named president. She has served as executive director of the Tennessee Center for Nursing and as an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University. She received her associate’s and bachelor’s

degrees in nursing from Eastern and earned a master’s from the TWU Institute of Health Sciences-Houston Center in 1978. She earned a doctorate in nursing from the University of Alabama School of Nursing at Birmingham. She and her husband, Tom Moody, ’72, live in Greeneville.

Roscoe Denney, ’73, was honored as the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s 2013 Assistant Coach of the Year for boys’ sports. Denney, an assistant coach for North Laurel High School, has coached basketball for 41 years at both the high school and collegiate level. In 2012 he was named Kentucky Assistant Basketball Coach of the Year. “I’m still trying to learn,” said Denney, who lives in London. “Basketball still intrigues me. That’s why I’m still coaching.”

Hardin M. Egerton, ’73, closed his business as a licensed professional land surveyor in Kentucky and Tennessee. Retirement plans include working on home improvement projects, RV camping and enjoying his new granddaughter. He and his wife, Patty, live in Rugby, Tenn.

Help Us Celebrate Your Little ColonelLet your Alumni Association know about your Little Colonel’s arrival, and we’ll send you an EKU baby bib—free! It’s our way of saying congratulations. We will also run your announcement in an issue of Eastern magazine. Information, including parent’s name and baby’s name and date of birth, can be submitted using the form on p. 25. If sending a photo, please note that computer-generated photos cannot be published.

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Earl “Robbie” “No Sweat” Robbins, ’73, of Richmond has published two novels, “These Precious Days” and “Nefarious.” He is an operator at Eastern’s heat plant and swam for Eastern.

Edward de Rosset, ’73, of Barbourville received the Distinguished Service Award from Union College. He has served on the Downtown Barbourville Revitalization Program, was coordinator for the Appalachian Rural Wellness Initiative and vice chairperson of the Barbourville Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency Board. He has also served at the state level as vice chair and member of the executive committee for the Kentucky Humanities Council Board.

Sylvia Lee Watson Siffel, ’73, of Walton retired from Grant County Schools in June 2010 after 37 years. She taught first grade for 18 years and kindergarten for 19 years.

Garnett S. Huguley, ’74, retired from Pfizer Pharmacia Upjohn Co. as medical sciences

liaison for pharmaceutical research. He and his wife, Cynthia, live in Marietta, Ga.

Herbert “Butch” Bennett, ’75, is proud of his daughter, Kelsey Bennett, who received her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Eastern in December.

Walter Bonvell, ’76, grounds foreman at Xavier University, became president of the Profes-

sional Grounds Management Society for 2014 at the Green Industry and Equipment Expo in Louisville. He and his wife, Connie, live in Independence.

Stephen W. Crenshaw, ’76, received the poetry gold medal of excellence in the

Louisville Defender newspa-per’s Salute to Real Black Men. He lives in Louisville.

Constance “CJ” Parrish, ’76, was inducted into the Communicators Hall of Fame in Louisville. She

was selected for advancing the practice of public relations and communications. Since 2007 she has served as senior vice president/communications and chief communications officer for Masonic Homes of Kentucky.

Thomas Zgela, ’76, retired from the Mel Lanzer Company in June 2012. He is helping coach football for a local high school. He and his wife, Charlotte, live in Deshler, Ohio.

Dean Caldwell, ’79, ’81, has been senior administrator at Wolf Creek Academy for nine years. He and his wife, Janet, live in Mars Hill, N.C.

1980sBradley Bishop, ’80, and his wife, Ruth, celebrated 30 years of marriage in 2013. They live in Auburn, N.Y.

Laura Schulte Babbage, ’81, co-authored the book “Life Lessons From Cancer” with her brother-in-law, Dr. Keen Babbage, a well-known Lexington educator who survived a rare form of nasal cancer. During his illness, she served as his caretaker. A minister, she had a previous career as a health care executive and registered nurse. She lives in Lexington with her husband, Robert Babbage, ’73.

Jacinta Payne Merimee, ’81, of Owensboro is a planning and logistics analyst at Swedish Match. She sends a shout-out to her friends from Beta Theta Pi!

Kevin Cornelius, ’82, ’84, ’86, of Stafford, Va., has been named special agent in charge of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division. Cornelius most recently served as chief of the tactical section and commander of the hostage rescue team. During 2008 and 2009 he was the FBI’s on-scene commander in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has a bachelor’s of science in police administration and a master’s of criminal justice degree from Eastern. He also received a master’s of education from the University of Virginia. He has been an adjunct faculty member with the University of Virginia at the FBI Academy’s Leadership Development Institute. Before joining the FBI, Cornelius served as a captain in the Military Police Corps in the U.S. Army.

Irving Schoenacker, ’82, is stepping down as chess coach after eight successful seasons at Keshequa High School in Nunda, N.Y. Many of his players were in middle school and one was in second grade. In the 2012-13 school year, Schoenacker’s varsity team won 15 matches and lost 11, often playing schools whose senior classes had more students than Keshequa’s entire high school. His elementary and middle school squad won the year-end tournament, finishing 13-2.

Dr. Jeff Andersen, ’84, was awarded his doctorate in education from East Tennessee State University in May 2013. He received his master’s degree in parks and recreation administration from Eastern. He is the coordinator of recreation and sport management at Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, N.C.

Leigh M. Rose, ’85, published a suspense/mystery novel called “The Third Floor,” set in Winchester. It’s the Clay City resident’s first novel. Rose works as a quality manager at TE Connectivity.

Jan Vaughn Quigg, ’86, of Richmond was named Volunteer of the Year by Eastern’s retirees association for her work with the Richmond Powwow and Kentucky’s Native American Heritage Commission. She and her husband, Dan Quigg, ’75, have secured sponsors for the powwow for 20 years. The award was presented by Ron Wolfe, ’63, of Richmond.

Derrick Single-ton, ’87, has been named vice president for operations and sustainability at

Berea College. He joined Berea in 2011 as associate vice president for operations and sustainability. Prior to that he served in various management roles for 26 years with compa-nies such as Sherwin-Williams and Coors. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Eastern, he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky and an Executive MBA from Sullivan University. He and his wife, Kimberly, live in Mt. Vernon.

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Refer a Prospective StudentWe invite you to submit the names of relatives and friends who you think would be great Eastern students. Each referred student will receive useful information about Eastern programs and admissions procedures. Tell us about future Colonels by completing the online form at http://admissions.eku.edu/referral.

28 Eastern

1990sCarla Crawford Thomas, ’92, of New Salisbury, Ind., has released a new book, “Southern Indiana Ghost Hunters Chronicles, Volume One” under the name CC Thomas. She is a resident of Harrison County and works as a reading specialist at Highland Hills Middle School in Georgetown, Ind.

Dr. Yousuf J. Ahmad, ’94, ’96, received the inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Kentucky College of Public Health. He is a 2008 doctoral graduate of the college. Ahmad is president and chief executive officer of Mercy Health in Cincinnati, a division of Catholic Health Partners (CHP). Previously, he was senior vice president and chief network transformation officer for the central division of CHP. Ahmad joined CHP in 2004 as senior vice president and chief information officer for its Southwest Ohio region, Mercy Health Partners. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern, as well as a master’s of business administration. He holds a doctorate in public health from the University of Kentucky, as well as a master’s of health administration from Xavier University. He lives in Villa Hills.

Debra Locker Griffin, ’94, president of Locker Public Relations, is on the board of

directors of Lexington Chil-dren’s Theater, now in its 75th season and annually serving 130,000 children statewide. She lives with her husband, Ronald Griffin, ’03, in Lexington.

David Dean, ’95, has been appointed to the Kentucky Board of Housing, Buildings and

Construction. Dean, of Winchester, is president and general contractor at Dean Builds, a commercial and industrial construction company.

Dr. Holly K. Sheilley, ’95, the former assistant director of championships for the NCAA, is now Transylvania University athletic director. She managed four Division I and five Division III NCAA championships. “Holly will be an outstanding addition to Transylvania,” said President R. Owen Williams. “Her extensive and varied experience will enhance our already strong athletics program.” After receiving a master’s in health education from Eastern, she earned her doctorate in sports administration from the University of Louisville. At Lindsey Wilson College, Sheilley coached softball and volleyball and was a four-time Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year.

Jennifer Almjeld, ’97, is in the English and rhetoric department at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., where she lives.

Mike Bewley, ’98, strength and conditioning coach for Georgia Institute of Technology, has recently created nutracarina.com, an app to help athletes (and others) manage sports nutrition, enhance productivity and lead healthier lives. Student-athletes, parents, students and coaches are welcoming the easy-to-use program. Bewley lives in Atlanta.

2000sEileen Kohlmeier Townsend, ’03, is in her 11th year in education. She is now a guidance counselor at Woodland Elementary School. She spent the previous ten years as a math and science teacher for middle grades. She and her husband, Dan, live in Elizabethtown.

Josh Crutcher, ’04, ’06, has been promoted to senior accoun-tant in tax services at

Lattimore, Black, Morgan & Cain in Nashville, Tenn. He lives in Antioch, Tenn.

Spencer Rodg-ers, ’04, has opened Spencer Rodgers CPA in Danville. A graduate of the

University of Kentucky, he holds an MBA from Eastern. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 2012.

Andrea Cleveland, ’07, is communications manager for Richard Childress Racing. She lives in Mooresville, N.C.

Laura Kersey Rudolph, ’08, was named sports informa-tion director at Transylvania

University after serving as digital recruitment coordinator. Her Eastern degree was in journalism, with an emphasis in sports journalism; she’ll complete a master’s in integrated marketing commu-nications from West Virginia University this year. She was communications coordinator at Indiana University and covered NCAA Division I athletics, the Ohio Valley Conference, major league baseball, OVC championships, and NCAA FCS tournaments as a sports editor in Richmond. She also covered and photo-graphed local high school and college athletics as a sports reporter and society editor at the Corbin News Journal. Rudolph and her husband, Mike, live in Frankfort.

John David Wilmhoff, ’09, of Bristol, Conn., has started his second year at ESPN as an editor for mobile applications.

2010sLyndi Huddleston, ’10, received her real estate license in February 2013. Her degree was in communication studies. She lives in Lexington and is a realtor with Keller Williams Bluegrass Realty.

Non-degreed Alumni or Alumni of Unknown Class YearDr. Sherry J. Roberts received the 2013 Southern Business Education Association’s

Outstanding Leadership Award from the National Business Education Association. She served on the boards of the Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee business education associations. Her awards include Arkansas Business Education Association Teacher Educator of the Year, Southern Business Education Association Collegiate Teacher of the Year, and the Bridgestone/Firestone Outstanding Assistant Professor for Middle Tennessee State University. She has published widely in textbooks and professional journals and is a frequent presenter at the international, national, regional and state levels on instructional technology, business communication, business education and teaching personal finance. Dr. Roberts is an associate professor at Middle Tennessee State University and received her Rank One Kentucky Teacher Certification at Eastern.

NewlywedsMaleena Douglas Streeval, ’82, married Kevin Nevels on Jan. 18, 2013.

Junior Alumni Xavier to Denise Ball, ’03, on Oct. 22, 2011, joining sibling Blake at their home in Corbin.

Lincoln Emmanuel to Steven Riley, ’07, and Charissa Foster Riley, ’09, on Aug. 29, 2013,

in Lexington. Doting grandma is Mary Riley, ’81, and proud uncle is Chris Riley, ’12.

Casen Evan to Megan Ecklar Fields, ’09, and Joshua Fields of Georgetown on April 8, 2013.

Belle Raeanne to Kaitlyn Smith Mason, ’11, and Benjamin Mason of Lexington on May 28, 2013.

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Losses in the Eastern Family

Marie Anderson Abney, ’41, on January 7, 2013, in Richmond. Retiring from The Bluegrass Army Depot after 30 years of service, she spent the next 27 years volunteering for such community organizations as Pattie A. Clay Hospital and Open Concern as well as working part time for H & R Block. For more than 60 years she was an active member of Richmond’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was an avid fan of Colonel athletics, regularly attending games with her family: sons Gary Abney, ’70, former chair of Eastern’s board of regents, and life partner Adrienne Millet, M.D.; Bill Abney, ’73, ’75, ’78, retired EKU administrator and professor, and wife Bev Hart Abney, ’80, EKU Foundation Professor of nursing; and grandchildren Susan Abney Creamer (Philip), Brian Abney, ’01, (Jennifer), Melanie Hart and Leah Hart.

John “Jack” Duvall, ’56, ’57, of Winchester, Va., on Aug. 14, 2011. He owned Duvall Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, was a member of the Manassas Moose Lodge and enjoyed hunting, fishing, the Redskins and his family. He is survived by his children, John Duvall Jr. and Angela Gueriera, and extended family.

Laura Jean Campbell Jackson, ’59, on May 9, 2013, in Corbin. She taught home economics in McCreary County and was an avid quilter, genealogist, pianist and local historian. She leaves her husband, Lemuel; and two children, James W. Jackson, ’87, and Lisa Ann Jackson Siler, ’91; and two grandchildren.

Pauline Rambeau Tincher, ’61, ’72, of Berea on Feb. 5, 2013. She is survived by her son, Robert, and a granddaughter. She was a retired teacher with 22 years of experience at Silver Creek Elementary and the Berea City School System. She loved children, supported education, literacy, civil rights and educational equality.

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alan Baldwin, ’68, of Morehead on July 14, 2013. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1968. He was a Commandant’s List graduate of the U.S. Command and General Staff College and the Defense Language Institute, and held a master’s degree in adult and higher education. Army postings included Ft. Sill, Okla., three tours in Germany and a year in Vietnam. He served as chief of the ROTC Programs Division at Fort Knox before his appointment as chair of the military science department at Morehead State University in 1985. He left the military in 1989 and joined the staff at Morehead. MSU dedicated the Lt. Col. Alan R. Baldwin Veterans Center in 2013. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Yvonne Honeycutt Baldwin, ’71, son Matthew Alan, daughter Amanda, and two grandchildren.

Dr. Claudia Click Harris, ’69, on Oct. 31, 2013, in Chapel Hill, N.C. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Eastern, she earned an MBA and Ph.D. from the University of Utah. She taught business management at several universities, including the University of North Carolina and Duke. She was also an artist and played the oboe in her college symphony, sang with church choirs and taught herself the violin to participate in the Durham Symphony. She is survived by her partner of 21 years, Kathy Schenley, daughters Alexis and Jessica and extended family.

Kathie Bettler, ’73, ’74, on May 31, 2013. She was a teacher and local arts supporter who, in her retirement, opened the Spotlight Acting School for children. She also worked as a part-time faculty member in Eastern’s Upward Bound program from 2003 to 2006. She is survived by her husband, retired EKU faculty member Dr. Alan Bettler.

Linda Joyce Witt, ’75, on Dec. 20, 2012, survived by her husband, Malcomb Witt, ’75, son David

(Jenna), and a large circle of family and friends. She worked

for Kentucky Central Life Insurance (later bought by Jefferson Pilot), introducing innovative management techniques. She later served as treasurer for Carter & Witt. She loved farming, gardening and landscaping, applying principles of her interior design degree from Eastern. Active in church and community, she participated in outreach programs to the elderly and often opened her home to children in need.

Elijah “Lige” Clark, ’75, on June 9, 2013. A former vice president at Toyota Tsusho

American and most recently logistics manager at Vascor Company, he was a past master at Dave Jackson Masonic Lodge, a Kentucky Colonel and member of Kappa Alpha at Eastern. He is survived by four brothers, two sisters and wide extended family. He lived in Georgetown.

Stewart Lynn Napper, ’77, on June 18, 2013. He was a member of Sigma Nu and leaves his wife,

Sue Stuart Napper, ’77, ’78, Sigma Nu Sweetheart of ’76. He graduated from Eastern in industrial electronics and retired from General Electric in 2002. Napper volunteered as a youth baseball, basketball and soccer coach in his hometown of Owensboro.

Scottie Saltsman, ’91, ’10, on June 9, 2013. Saltsman, who earned a bachelor’s degree in police studies and a master’s of public administration degree from Eastern, worked for EKU Public Safety while a student and later as a police officer from 1992 to 1998. He then joined the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training as a trainer. He is remembered by colleagues for his strong commitment to community-oriented policing. He is a former member of the Richmond Human Rights Commission and was active with the Richmond Pow-Wow Association.

Non-degreed Alumni or Alumni of Unknown Class Year

Nancy (Short) Minton on July 20, 2013. She worked at Fort Boonesboro State Park and retired from EnerSys, where she managed the human resource department. She directed the Madison County Fair and Horse Show, directed the Bluegrass Pleasure and Walking Horse Association and was secretary of the ladies auxiliary of the Kentucky Walking Horse Association as well as showing horses and tabulating horse show results throughout Kentucky and in surrounding states. Minton leaves her husband, Harlin “Pooch,” and many family members and friends.

Former Faculty & StaffDr. Robert (Bob) Adams, retired professor and chair of the department of psychology, on May 30, 2013. He joined EKU as professor and chair in 1979, served as chair until 2003, then taught part-time before retiring in 2006. His tenure as chair was marked by considerable growth – faculty more than doubled and two graduate programs were added – and national acclaim for the program when it was recognized for its undergraduate research opportunities by the American Psychological Association. In his leisure time, he enjoyed coaching youth baseball and softball, playing racquetball, motorcycle trail riding and vintage motocross racing. He is survived by his wife, Connie, children and extended family. The family requests donations be made to the William H. Knapp Memorial Scholarship Fund for psychology majors through the EKU Foundation, Coates CPO 19A, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, Ky. 40475.

Dr. William Browne on Nov. 11, 2013. He taught at Eastern from 1975 to 1997 and served as director of the University’s Traffic Safety Institute.

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30 Eastern

Dr. William (Bill) Wilson Hume Clay, ’60, on April 11, 2013. He taught in what was then EKU’s department of social science from 1966 until the early 1980s.

Nancy Lee Curra on Aug. 31, 2013. She was an EKU Libraries employee from 1982 to 1990 and the mother of Dr. John Curra, Foundation Professor of criminal justice and police studies. Friends and family remember Ms. Curra for her delightful sense of humor.

Harold Denham, ’71, ’92, on Aug. 5, 2013. He retired from Eastern’s facilities services in June 2013. After initially retiring as office manager in 2002, he later returned to serve as assistant director of administrative support services, managing office staff, family housing and all student employees. He was also in charge of the facilities services work order system and processing payments to vendors and contractors, among other responsibilities. He joined the EKU staff in 1985 and is remembered as a good-natured, helpful colleague who never lost his composure or had a bad word to say about anyone.

Dr. David D. Gale on July 28, 2013. Under his leadership Eastern’s College of Health Sciences grew to national stature. Dr. Gale joined EKU in 1973 as dean of what was then the College of Allied Health and Nursing and retired from the position in 2011. In 2000, he was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to direct the human genetics curricula for the Health Professions Project. From 2002 to 2005, Dr. Gale served as president of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions. In 2007, he was named to the American National Standards Institute Advisory Panel, composed of national leaders in education, industry and government who have interest and expertise in issues regarding the education, recruitment and deployment of personnel and the role accreditation systems can play.

Bobby Howard on April 12, 2013. He served in EKU facilities services for 32 years until his retirement in 2007. He worked in the carpentry shop. His father also worked at Eastern, and his son, Omer, and Omer’s wife, Brenda, both currently work for facilities services.

Dr. Heino Luts on Oct. 27, 2013, in Florida. He taught chemistry at EKU from 1966 to 1989 and was the University’s second Fulbright Scholar. A noted research chemist, he fled his native Estonia for freedom during World War II. He and 10 of his countrymen and four children sailed on a small sailboat from Stockholm, Sweden, to Norfolk, Va.

Ruth McCann on Aug. 24, 2013. She taught business education courses in EKU’s department of curriculum and instruction and at Model Laboratory School from 1962 until her retirement in 1990. She was granted faculty emeritus honors shortly after retirement. She was a long-time member of the National Business Educators Association, a founding member of the Richmond Choral Society and active in her church.

David Midgett on Nov. 16, 2013. The former database administrator at EKU retired in 2012 after 23 years of service. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, serving on the USS Worden. He was preceded in death by his wife, Devera, also a long-time EKU employee.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Miller, retired professor of science education at EKU, on May 27, 2013. Miller, who taught at Eastern from 1969 until his retirement in 1999, was instrumental in the establishment of a science education center at the University, worked with colleagues to develop inquiry-based science courses, and helped develop an Activity-Centered Elementary Science (ACES) curriculum for the Commonwealth. He also served as regional coordinator for Project Wild and received many grants to further his work with educators in aerospace education and other initiatives in science and

mathematics. In recognition of his efforts, the Kentucky Science Teachers Association presented Miller with its Outstanding Post-Secondary Science Teacher award in 1998.

Chuck Orttenburger on Oct. 1, 2013. He served the university from 1972 until his retirement in 1996 as assistant director of the human resources office.

David Parke, ’78, on Nov. 16, 2013. He was the long-time business manager for

EKU Athletics. In addition to serving his alma mater, he managed high school sporting events on campus such as the All A Classic, Girls Sweet 16, and 44th District and 11th Region basketball tournaments. He also had worked on the statistics crew for Colonel football and basketball games. He was active in the community, serving as a board member and coach with Richmond Little League, and in his church. Survivors include his wife, Linda, and two children.

Dennis Pinkston, ’89, ’91, ’92, on January 27, 2014, at the Markey Cancer Center. An equipment technician in EKU’s information technology department from 2002 until his retirement in 2013, Pinkston was formerly employed by IBM and Lexmark.

Ida Mae Hutchens Powell on January 25, 2014. She was a retired custodian who had served Eastern faithfully for 27 years.

Dr. Nancy-Lee Riffe on June 18, 2013, in Sugar Land, Texas. She received her B.A. in Greek from Agnes Scott College, graduating first in her class, then received her M.A. in English from Radcliff College/Harvard University and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Kentucky. She taught English at Eastern and was active in The Arc of Madison County and The Berea Friends Meeting.

Tim Robertson on Jan. 26, 2014, in Ashland. An adjunct faculty member in Eastern’s department of counseling and educational

psychology for 20 years, he was the first mental health counselor licensed in Kentucky and the primary author of the initial Kentucky Licensed Professional Counseling law. He served four terms as chair of the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and was respected throughout the Commonwealth for his contributions to the counseling profession. At the time of his death, he was pursuing a doctoral degree at Ohio University, expecting to graduate in May.

Lori Droddy Robinson, academic administrative assistant in the College of Justice and Safety’s Academic Advising Center, on Dec. 18, 2013. She joined the EKU staff in 2000 as an academic recorder in the office of student financial assistance and moved to the registrar’s office in 2008.

Pearl Etta White on Jan. 14, 2014. She was a retired night hostess at Eastern, where she served for 30 years. She was active in her church and in Madison County Homemakers.

Diana Stapleton on January 17, 2013, in Richmond. She was an EKU Libraries staff member from 1972 until her retirement in 1996. Her family roots ran deep at Eastern: her late father, Bill, formerly served as Eastern’s bursar; and her twin brother, David, graduated from the University.

James Zabawa, Eastern’s director of purchases and stores, on Dec. 4, 2013. He had served Eastern since 2004, initially as assistant director of purchases and stores and for a time as associate director. He also had served as vice chair of the EKU staff council and as its representative on the strategic planning council. Three survivors are employed at EKU: wife Debbie, who works in the EEO Office; daughter, Krista Zabawa Rhodus, ’07, ’12, a Libraries employee; and son-in-law, Zach Rhodus, an OSHA training coordinator. Mr. Zabawa is also survived by son Jared Zabawa, ’13.

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32 Eastern

You have to check your ego at the door if you want to learn American Sign Language. “Everybody is going to make mistakes,” says Dr. Laurence Hayes, chair of the department of American Sign Language (ASL) and interpreter education, since ASL is both physically and mentally challenging. “The key to learning this language – or any other – is to go to class and participate.” Exposure outside class is also important. That’s why Eastern added a living-learning community in the fall focusing on ASL and deaf culture. Nineteen students – sixteen female and three male – lived in part of two floors of Walters Hall, where they used sign language in the hallways and common areas. As word gets out, the community is expected to grow. Hayes became interested in ASL as a teenager after visiting his mother at the Oregon State School for the Deaf, where she worked as a dorm supervisor. “She was at the door, talking with a group of girls,” Hayes recalls. “They looked at me, looked at her, then looked back at me and laughed. I had no idea what they were talking about. I was so humiliated that I had two choices: to never go back or to learn sign language.” He came to Eastern in 1989 as coordinator of the interpreter training program and was named chair when the department of American Sign Language and interpreter education was created in 2008. The acclaimed interpreter training program is one of only nine with national certification at the baccalaureate level. A key to Eastern’s success, Hayes says, is that of the 14 faculty members and

full-time professionals working with students in the interpretation lab, nearly half are deaf. “You can’t talk the talk unless you walk the walk and invite the people you are supposed to serve into the program, helping train students and taking the lead in many areas,” he says. The program offers ASL courses to the general student population, which can fulfill a foreign language requirement, along with interpreter education that focuses on obtaining a bachelor’s degree in interpreting and becoming a professional interpreter. A minor in ASL is also available. Graduates find employment in education, government, business and the legal, medical and mental health professions. Bryan Grubb, ’10, works as an interpreter in the nation’s capital and regularly hears from Hayes. “He’s never one to be sitting still,” Grubb says. “He always wants to be progressive and see how the interpreters he trains can better satisfy the community we serve.” A big part of the program is its internships. “We will try to send them anywhere in the United States to help them meet their goals,” Hayes says. “Some go to Washington, D.C., to be government interpreters. Others may want to work in entertainment and have gone to Disney.” The ASL interpreting community is small and tight-knit. “We had thought that the demand might level out at some point,” Hayes says. “However, the need still seems to be increasing. Upon graduation, we can predict a 95 to 100 percent placement rate for our students.”

Mission statementThe mission of the department of American Sign Language and interpreter education is to increase the understanding, respect, and equality of deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing people and their diverse communities by providing high quality ASL instruction, preparing professional interpreters who are competent, ethical, and lifelong learners and promoting excellent resources, service, and scholarship to the state of Kentucky, the region, and throughout the United States.

EKU’s Interpreter Training Program 95 percent retention rate

95 percent job placement rate

20-22 students pursue bachelor’s degrees in interpreter education each year

275-300 students take ASL classes

For more information visit www.aslie.eku.edu

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