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- E-Link to The University of Findlay 1000 North Main St., Findlay, OH 45840 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
November 2006 Welcome to ArchLink!
Greetings, Alumni! Two buses full of UF cheerleaders, Derrick the Oiler mascot, alumni and fans of the University departed on Wednesday, Nov. 1, to Columbus, Ohio, to cheer the mens basketball team against The Ohio State University in an exciting 80-57 exhibition loss. A pre-game reception and short program took place at Holiday Inn on the Lane. President Freed gave some opening remarks followed by comments from Coach Ron Niekamp. The team finished the 2005-06 season ranked 11th in the nation with a 25-5 record. The team will begin this season as the sixth-ranked team, according to the NCAA Division II Bulletin poll. The program concluded with the UF cheerleaders and Derrick the Oiler providing a cheer to get the fans ready for the game. If you missed this bus trip, please join us as we will be taking a bus to Mercyhurst College and Gannon University in January and to Hillsdale in February. See details below. As always, please be sure to keep me updated by filling out the Whats New with You? form at www.findlay.edu, KEYWORD: Alumni. ~~Dee Dee Spraw 93, director, Alumni & Parent Relations _________
In This Issue: 1. Whats Happening On Campus? 2. Academic Update 3. Alumni News & Events 4. Alumni Spotlight 5. Oiler Sports 6. Alumni Support 7. FYI Campus Newsletter 8. Spread the Word
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1. Whats Happening on Campus?
Reports to The University of Findlay Board of Trustees in October showed that the University balanced its budget for the fiscal year ending June 30 with more than a $1 million surplus. Recent construction amounts to $8.2 million, including the Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion expansion for the Mazza Museum, renovation and equipping laboratories of the former Owens Community College property and $500,000 for construction of an additional arena at the Center for Equine and Pre-Veterinary Studies. Five new deans and 19 new faculty members have been appointed. The incoming class included 853 new undergraduate students. For more details, click here. Dr. Micheal F. Anders celebrates his 25th year at The University of Findlay with The Silver Concert at 3 p.m. on Nov. 19 in Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Anders, conducting the 50voice Concert-Chorale, will reprise his favorite musical pieces from past performances since 1981. A sampling will include choral masterworks, sacred choral music, popular music and holiday music. For tickets, contact the box office at 419-434-5335. For more information, click here. Diversity Week will be celebrated on campus Nov. 13-18 with a number of special programs. Highlights of the week include Rose Wurgel on Nov. 14 from the FX documentary series, Black. White., who will talk at 7 p.m. about participating in an experiment where, using expert make-up, a black family and a white family switched races. Daryl Davis, an author and Grammy Award-winning pianist, talks about his experience as a black man in the Ku Klux Klan in Klan-Destine Relationships on Nov. 15 at 9:30 p.m. in Ritz Auditorium. National award-winning actors Sekou and Steve perform on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. in the AMU. The absurdities of racial stereotyping will be presented with the NWC-The Race Show at 8 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the AMU. All are open to students, employees and the community. For more information, click here. William Ruse, J.D., who is the Dana Chair Executive-in-Residence for 200607 and the Students in Free Enterprise team will host a CEO roundtable, Entrepreneurial Success, at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Lape Great Hall in the Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion. This is the first in a lecture series for the 2006-07 year. The event is open to the public. Participants will include Dr. C. Richard Beckett, CEO of Animal Care Centers of America; Michael Needler, CEO of Fresh Encounter; Craig Anderson, retired CEO of Hercules Corp.; Charles Clapper, CEO of Sinks Flower Shop & Greenhouse; Paul Kramer, CEO of City Laundry & Dry Cleaning; Stan Kujawa, CEO of Findlay Ford-Lincoln Mercury; Carl Palmer, CEO of National Lime & Stone Co.; Ian Fenberg, CEO of Hurricane Express; Duane Jebbett, CEO of Rowmark, Inc.; and Kent Rogers, CEO of Factory Direct International. For more details, click here.
The University of Findlay will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its founding beginning with a Founding Day celebration Feb. 8, 2007, and concluding with Homecoming in October 2007. All events will be based on the theme, Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future. Many activities will take place in the community and on campus. Pastor Will Miller, director of campus ministry, is coordinating student activities, such as a kick-off dinner in Henderson Dining Hall, a UF history quiz bowl tournament, a campus-wide service project and more. The Hancock Historical Museum is planning a year-long rotating exhibit with five large display cases in the community room, along with a May Day event. Dr. James Houdeshell 53, special assistant to the president, is the chair of the 125th steering committee. He can be reached at 419-434-4551 or [e-mail]. Return to Top
2. Academic Update
A new convocation program designed for all first-year students, called Thinking in New Directions, was held on Oct. 18 with alumnus Jim Steffen 94 as the featured speaker. Steffen is the owner of Jims Gym Family Fitness Center and is known as the fun, family fitness coach. He demonstrated that fitness can be fun and talked about the importance of patience and perseverance in the gym and throughout life. In addition to Steffens presentation, the convocation featured break-out groups, hands-on activities and group discussions among first-year students and faculty. The convocation was coordinated through the First-Year Experience program, which is designed to provide a helpful transition from high school to university life for students. For more information, click here. Heather Meredith of Zanesville, Ohio, who is a graduate student in the weekend occupational therapy program at UF, was awarded the Occupational Therapy Student of the Year award from the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association (OOTA) at its 2006 annual conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was nominated for the award by Dr. Thomas Dillon, dean of graduate and professional studies and associate professor of occupational therapy at UF. Shown are Cynthia Goodwin, interim occupational therapy program director, Heather Meredith, OOTA Student of the Year and Dillon. For more information, click here. UF hosted its fifth annual Information Assurance Forum on Oct. 26 at Winebrenner Seminary. Presentations were given by Loren Wagner, visiting executive director of the Center for Information Assurance Education; Lynn R. Child, CEO of Aardvark Inc. and CentraComm Communications; Matthew Flick, senior security consultant with FishNet Security and Christopher Bomar, president and founder of Boomarang Data Backup and Security. UF students also gave presentations. For more information, click here.
Students in UFs weekend physical therapy masters degree program presented a fall research forum on Nov. 2, in partnership with the Northwest District of the Ohio Physical Therapy Association. Nancy Landgraff, Ph.D., P.T., chair of the physical therapy program at Youngstown State University, gave the keynote address on stroke assessment. Students presented their research in formal presentations and poster sessions. The University of Findlay has the only program in the United States that allows physical therapy assistants to earn their masters degrees through weekend classes. For more information, click here. Return to Top
3. Alumni News & Events
Save the Date o Oct. 12-14 - Homecoming 2007 Upcoming Events o Dec. 8 UF Faculty/Staff Alumni Appreciation Luncheon o Dec. 9 Fall Commencement Activities 10:30 a.m. Baccalaureate Service 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Commencement Brunch 2 p.m. - Commencement Ceremony o Dec. 9 Mens 100-year Basketball Celebration o Jan. 4-6 Mercyhurst/Gannon Bus Trip for Mens and Womens Basketball/Alumni Reception o Jan. 20 Womens Alumni Basketball Game o Jan. 20 Mens 100-year Basketball Celebration In celebration of our 125th anniversary in 2007, The University of Findlay is planning displays in locked cases on campus to show photos and items from our past from all eras. If you have photos (or copies of photos) or items of interest that you are willing to donate or loan during the anniversary year, include your name and address and send to Dr. James Houdeshell at The University of Findlay, 1000 N. Main St., Findlay OH 45840. For information, contact Dr. Houdeshell at 419-434-4551 or [e-mail]. Thanks! Bus trips for the mens and womens basketball games at Mercyhurst College and Gannon University in Pennsylvania and Hillsdale College in Michigan are filling up now. The package includes round-trip deluxe motor coach transportation, two nights accommodations at the Avalon Hotel, hotel taxes, luggage handling and breakfast buffet each morning. Treat yourself to an exciting trip to cheer the Oilers at these away games or give tickets as Christmas gifts to your favorite Oilers fan. Contact the Office of Alumni & Parent Relations at 419-434-4516 or [e-mail] for reservations. Mercyhurst College/Gannon University, Pa. o Jan. 4-6, 2007 o $179/person double occupancy; $250/single occupancy; o $163/person triple occupancy; $155/person quadruple occupancy o For online reservations for Mercyhurst/Gannon, click here. Hillsdale College, Mich. o Feb. 3, 2007 o $36/person bus leaves Koehler Fitness Center @ 10:30 a.m. o For online reservations for Hillsdale, click here.
This year is a very special year in Oiler mens basketball history. The 2006-07 season will mark the 100th season of the varsity sport. Former players and their families are invited to come back to UF this season and be honored at either of two games: home Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. against Ashland University and Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, at 3 p.m. against Northwood University. The womens games tip off two hours prior to the mens games, and the Presidents VIP Room (which overlooks the floor) will be the host room for the celebration attendees. Please stop in and mingle with former players, coaches and fans before the game. Appetizers will be served and a recognition ceremony will be held at half time. Make sure that you R.S.V.P. - for tickets and a special gift for each player - to the Alumni & Parent Relations Office [phone] or [e-mail]. Nearly 80 western equestrian studies alumni, faculty, staff and students gathered at the AllAmerican Quarter Horse Congress Oct. 14, 2006, in Columbus, Ohio, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of UFs western equestrian studies program. After a warm welcome from Steve Brown, director of the western riding program, guests enjoyed a dinner buffet followed by a history of the program, recognition of graduates and a look at todays western equestrian program. A reception on Stallion Avenue followed. A few of the alumni in attendance included (left to right): Laura (Cappello) Smith 85 of Findlay; Patricia (Kessler) McCartin 82 of Williard, Ohio; Brenda (Jolliff) Alliman 85 of McComb, Ohio; Jody (Sherman) Brown 83 of Findlay; Ellie (Green) Quinlan 78 of Findlay and Janet (Moran) Huff 83 of Evansville, Ind. Welcome UF newest little Oilers: Mark & Jenny (Golding) 01 Scherer Logan Anthony, born May 12, 2006 Congratulations newlyweds: Elizabeth (Schweinfurth) 98 & Timothy O'Jack Married Oct. 14, 2006 Return to Top
4. Alumni Spotlight
Ralph C. Smothers II 83 is promoting the good life with two Ralphs Joy of Living stores in Tiffin and Fremont, Ohio. The stores feature 16 brands of appliances, kitchen design and cabinetry, kitchen cookery and gadgets, gourmet foods and beverages, and home theatre systems. Functional kitchens are used for popular culinary classes. The Tiffin store was greatly expanded to 15,000 square feet in 2003, and the Fremont store has been renovated and will have a grand re-opening on Nov. 16. People have so much fun with this, Ralph said, adding that the joy of living concept adds so much spice
to our personal lives. Ralph and his wife, Julie, live in Tiffin with their children, Ralph III Will, 8, Sean, 5, and Lucy, 4. Pictured at right, Ralph II participated as a vendor at UFs Cruise, Cuisine and Travel Show on Family Weekend Sept. 22-23, shown with Paula Wolper, assistant professor of hospitality management. Prof. Wolper also has hosted cooking demonstrations at Ralphs. For more information, see ralphsjol.com. George Tuttle 36 celebrated 70 years since graduation when he returned to campus in October for Homecoming weekend and served as grand marshal of the golf cart parade. A graduate of Liberty High School in Hancock County, Tuttle remembered that Findlay College President Homer Dunathan gave him a half-tuition scholarship for being a salutatorian. In return, Tuttle played the piano for chapel several times a week and worked in the Music Conservatory after classes where he greeted visitors and answered the phone. He fondly remembered playing spring piano concerts in which he and five other students played three pianos, two to a piano. After graduation, he taught math and science for five years at Vanlue and Mansfield schools before being drafted into the Army. After World War II, he taught vocal music in Richmond, Va., for five years. Returning to Ohio, he taught math at Kettering, near Dayton, Ohio, for 22 years, retiring in 1974. For the past 21 years, he has resided at Friendship Village in Dayton. Return to Top
5. Oiler Sports
The Oilers mens basketball team that finished the 2005-06 season ranked 11th in the nation with a 25-5 record will begin this season as the sixthranked team, according to the NCAA Division II Bulletin poll. Findlay returns four starters from last year, including three all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) performers. The Oilers also will welcome back 11 letter winners to a squad that won its fifth consecutive GLIAC South Division title and made its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. During the 2000s, the Oilers have the fifth-highest winning percentage of all teams in NCAA Division II competition at .788. The womens cross country team, ranked 21st in the nation, qualified for the 2006 NCAA Division II national championships by finishing third at the Great Lakes regional on Nov. 4 in Kenosha, Wis. This will be the teams first appearance in the national championships. Head coach Marc Arce was named the 2006 Womens Cross Country GLIAC Coach of the Year and Great Lakes Region. Senior Emily Gauger was named first team all-GLIAC, while junior Brittaney Zellner was named second team all-GLIAC.
The Roughnecks, who finished eighth at the 2005 national wrestling championships in Findlay, are ranked 17th in the nation, according to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Preseason Poll. Individually, senior Andy Uhl is ranked second in the nation in the 133-pound weight class, while junior Antonio Guerra, who moved up a class after claiming a national title last year at 149, is ranked second in the 157-pound class.
Senior Erin Puthoff was named first team all-GLIAC in volleyball for the second consecutive season after leading the Oilers with 430 kills (4.17 kpg) during the 2006 campaign. She finishes her career with 1,637 kills and 1,154 digs, becoming the first player in the history of UF volleyball to reach both the 1,500 kills and 1,000 digs marks. Senior setter Kelly Byrnes, junior outside hitter Mallory Fleming and sophomore opposite hitter Kelsey Wesaw also received recognition for their outstanding play during the 2006 season, garnering second team all-GLIAC honors. Byrnes led the conference in assists with 1,242 (12.42 apg). She leaves the Oilers program as ...