Summer 2022 Alumni Magazine
Front Cover:
Indiana University Kokomo
Legacy
Summer 2022
A Magazine for Alumni and Friends
Lead from where you are
Celebrating the legacy of
IU Kokomo’s 7th chancellor,
Susan Sciame-Giesecke.
ALT Text
IU Bottom tail
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke in a crimson suit
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Legacy
A magazine for Alumni and Friends
of Indiana University Kokomo
iuaa kokomo region board
President
Sharmaine Ellison, B.S.N. ’00, M.P.M. ‘19
Board Members
Stacey Bettegnies, B.S. ‘13, M.P.M. ‘15
Brianne Boles, B.G.S. ‘03, M.P.M. ‘09
Sarah Hartman, B.S. ‘13, M.B.A. ‘17
Robert Hayes, B.G.S. ‘95
Cameron Huffman, B.A. ‘11, J.D. ‘14
Gloyd Johnson, B.G.S. ‘06
Melinda Knudson-Stanley, M.P.M. ‘12
Genie Lalonde, B.S. ‘70
Linda Lotzgeselle, B.S. ‘86
Lucien Madding, A.A. ’10, A.S. ’11, B.S. ’13, B.S. ’14, M.S. ’20
Martha Warner, B.A. ’06, M.A. ’12
indiana university kokomo office FOR UNIVERSITY advancement
Vice Chancellor for
University Advancement
Crystal Jones, CFRE
Director of Alumni Relations
and Campus Ceremonies
Benjamin Liechty
Media and Marketing
Assistant Vice Chancellor
of Media and Marketing
Marie Lindskoog
Creative Services Manager
April Name
Graphic Specialist
Terri Hellmann
Communications Specialist
Danielle Rush
Videographer/Photographer
Mike Glassburn
Writing/Editing Assistant
Shea Lazanzky
For media inquiries contact:
a remarkable leader
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke’s career at Indiana University Kokomo can truly be described as remarkable.
From her beginnings as an assistant professor of communication arts more than 40 years ago, all the way to the chancellor’s office, she has been a leader at all levels. Now, she’s stepping into a new role, as IU’s Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education.
In this issue, she reflects on her legacy at IU Kokomo – what’s been accomplished, and where the campus will go in the future.
Thank you, Chancellor, for your contributions in making IU Kokomo what it is today!
Read more about her legacy, starting on page 12.
table of contents
What does it mean to be an iu kokomo graduate 6
Commencement 2022 8
Athletics update 10
Lead from where you are 12
Donor recognition 20
Alumni happenings 22
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Chancellor susan sciame-giesecke (center) with students
Kurt avergonzado, levi hanny, shanelle majors, mikayla crabtree, andrew pervez, brandi jones, marcus mensah, and nadine tregnago
When i started as a professor at indiana university kokomo in 1977, i had no idea that i would be the chancellor 40 years later. As i reflect on my tenure on campus, i know i am blessed with a career that brought me such joy and reward every day.
As a first-generation college student, it didn’t take long for the mission of this regional campus to capture my heart. At iu kokomo we are founded on the principle that every student matters here.
Students and their success has always been my focus. Knowing how important engagement would be to the growth of our campus and our students, early in my career, i had the pleasure of organizing many of iu kokomo’s first student activities programs. Many of you may have taken part in a carriage house theater production or were on the speech team, i know i had a good number of you in class as a communications professor.
My time as chancellor has been so incredibly rewarding. It has allowed me to share my passion for the students we serve and champion the importance of higher education in north central indiana.
As i transition this summer from chancellor to vice president of regional campuses and online education, i would like to challenge you, our alumni, to get involved and make a difference in the lives of our students and prospective students. You are important to the future growth and success of this campus!
A few years ago, we celebrated our 75th anniversary and it’s my hope i am leaving this campus ready to take on the next 75 years. You play an important role in this success. We need you to be engaged to help make this happen. Take in a musical performance or a theatre production…or come cheer on the cougars in one of twelve varsity sports we compete in. There are many ways you can get involved!
I see each of you as an ambassador for iu kokomo and encourage you to lead from where you are. Take a look around your community; is there a high school student you could mentor and accompany on a campus tour? Or how about that mom who always wanted to complete her degree and could benefit by hearing your success story?
My husband, dan, and i will continue to live in the region, and i cannot wait to see all the great things you will continue to do in the communities in which you live.
A campus is a strong as its alumni base. Knowing this, i know iu kokomo will continue to grow and will make a difference in the lives of many.
Susan sciame-giesecke, ph.d.
Chancellor
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Chancellor susan sciame-giesecke (center) with students
Kurt avergonzado, levi hanny, shanelle majors, mikayla crabtree, andrew pervez, brandi jones, marcus mensah, and nadine tregnago
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke
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Greetings, fellow alumni!
Welcome to the spring/summer edition of your alumni magazine.
This issue focuses on chancellor susan sciame-giesecke, highlighting her 45 years at iu kokomo. Many of you probably remember her in the classroom, helping you to become a better public speaker or in a different communication arts course. I’ve heard from countless of you how much you enjoyed having her as a professor, and the robust knowledge she instilled in you.
I remember when she was the dean of arts and sciences, which is now the school of humanities and social sciences. After transferring to iu kokomo, i didn’t really know any of the faculty here. I heard chancellor sciame-giesecke speak and was immediately drawn into what she was saying, which was encouraging, powerful, and heartfelt. I hoped i would have the opportunity to learn from her in the classroom in an advanced communication course for the communication arts degree. Much to my chagrin, that opportunity was never presented to me as a student.
However, i have had the opportunity to learn from her as an iu employee and experience her transformational leadership. Her mantra, “lead from where you are,” constantly runs through my mind as i am thinking of a new alumni initiative or event. This saying is powerful on many levels. Not only does it allow a person to follow their instincts and try something new, but it also allows one to stretch and challenge themselves, ultimately leading to some spectacular professional development.
Chancellor sciame-giesecke’s impact on iu kokomo and iu will be felt for many years to come. She’s helped so many of you realize your dreams, as well as assisting numerous current and former faculty members to become incredible professors in and out of the classroom. As one chapter of iu kokomo closes, a new one lies on the horizon. Chancellor sciame-giesecke, like you, is an intricate part of the fabric that is iu kokomo and has helped our beloved alma mater become a school of choice for so many, allowing them to achieve their goal of an iu education closer to home.
She will never be forgotten and will always be a part of indiana university kokomo for all time. And for that, we thank her for her undying commitment to all of us and are grateful for her timeless legacy to the university, to kokomo, and the surrounding communities iu kokomo serves, and we wish her all the best.
Sincerely,
Benjamin liechty, b.a. ‘06
Director of alumni relations
And campus ceremonies
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Portrait of Ben Liechty
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Thanks
Thank you to the following individuals for their years of service to the iuaa kokomo region board of directors!
Lucien madding
2016-2022
Sarah hartman
2018-2022
Gloyd johnson
2018-2022
Melinda stanley
2012-2022
The board of directors work to create alumni engagement opportunities, recruit alumni volunteers, and raise funds for the kokomo region alumni scholarships, which benefit current and future iu kokomo students.
Interested in learning more about how you can volunteer
Or serve on the alumni board?
Email benjamin liechty, director of alumni relations, at alumni@iuk.edu and help us continue to make a difference in the lives of students and our fellow iu alumni!
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portrait of Sarah Hartman
portrait of Gloyd Johnson
portrait of Melinda Stanley
Ad for joining the iu alumni association
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What does it mean to be an iu kokomo graduate?
To me, it means anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
Tia chambers, mishawaka
Health sciences
“for me, being an iuk graduate means access to amazing opportunities and accomplishments.”
Tifany burnett, logansport
Math and biochemistry
“it’s obviously something i’m very proud of. To me, it means being part of the community. A lot of campuses are so large, and so overwhelming. Here i always feel like i have a sense of family, of being part of a community of esteemed professionals, or professionals-to-be.”
Jacob barnes, kokomo
Master of science in nursing
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graduate Tia Chambers
grad Tifany Burnett
Grad Jacob Barnes
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Finally being able to call myself an IU Kokomo graduate will forever hold a sentimental value for me. Looking back at my journey here at IU, I’ve slowly come to learn that my sense of pride and accomplishments doesn’t solely come from receiving a degree/diploma. It comes from years of uncertainty, overcoming challenges I didn’t think I could handle, balancing school-work-life, and learning that it’s okay to move at my own pace. Being an IU Kokomo graduate means that I’ve learned to become persistent in pursuing the path I wanted, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself for how far I’ve come.
Jean Redfern, Kokomo
Informatics
“It means everything to me. I was somebody growing up not knowing if I would attend college. Now I’m the first person in my family to do so. It means a lot to me and to my family, especially my mother. She’s the one who really pushed me to pursue a degree and to have the mentality to finish what I started.”
Trequan Spivey, Indianapolis
Sport and recreation management
“I’m proud to be an IU Kokomo Cougar graduate. At the beginning, when I graduated with my associate degree from Ancilla, I did not think I would end up with my bachelor’s. I was going to try to get a job with my associate degree. IU Kokomo made it smooth helping me get to this point that I am able to achieve my bachelor’s degree. I am happy and proud.”
Nicole Sharp, Sharpsville
Criminal justice
“It means I am part of the IU family, and that opens so many doors. Graduating from IU means something to me. I chose IU Kokomo because I’m getting the same IU diploma as someone from IU Bloomington or IUPUI.”
Madi Guffey, Carmel
History and political science
IU Kokomo pushed me in a direction I never would have guessed even five years ago. I’ve found a direction for myself that I wouldn’t have even known was possible without coming here. Even when it’s been frustrating, it’s been an overwhelmingly positive experience.”
Dan Allender West, Logansport
Communication
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Grad Jean Redfern
grad Trequan Spivey
grad Nicole Sharp
Grad Madi Guffey
grad Dan Allender West
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Commencement 2022
Indiana University Kokomo celebrated the academic achievements of 2022 graduates during Commencement on Wednesday, May 11, during an outdoor ceremony at the Pavilion. IU President Pamela Whitten presided over the ceremony. Diana Paola Cubides Matallana, Bogotá, Colombia, represented the class as student speaker. Nathaniel Moore, Kokomo, lead singing of the National Anthem and Alma Mater. Mary-Matalyn Tom, Carmel, lead induction of the class into the IU Alumni Association.
About the Class of 2022
693 Graduates
41 Indiana counties
13 States
18 Countries
32% First generation
24 with a 4.0 GPA
618 Bachelor’s degrees
66 Master’s degrees
20 Associate degrees
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male and female grads in a line
female graduate standing in crowd
female grad smiles and holds diploma cover
female student commencement speaker clapping at the podium
female graduate standing in crowd
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for more commencement photos search @IUKokomo on Flickr
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Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke in commencement regalia
male grad with diploma cover
faculty and grads process into commencement
grad with family
group of male graduates holding diploma covers
IU President Pamela Whitten interacts with graduates
grad hugging a family member
male grad with his finger pointing to the sky
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke hands a diploma cover to a graduate
male grad wearing sunglasses
line art grad cap
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men's basketball team celebrating a tournament win
women's soccer game
women's basketball team on the sidelines with coach during game
women's tennis player
students hold up a sign reading "IUK all the way" as they send the men's basketball team off to the NAIA tournament
javelin thrower
Golfer Brandi Jones holds her conference medalist plaque
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athletic teams earn titles, reach milestones
It has been another historic year for the Indiana University Kokomo Athletics Department. In their first full season since the 2018-19 season, Cougar teams reached many milestones during the 2021-22 year.
In his fourth season as coach, Eric Echelbarger led the men’s basketball team to its most successful season in program history. The Cougars captured both the River States Conference regular season and tournament titles for the first time in program history. The team finished with a 16-1 record in conference play and was selected as an eight-seed in the 2022 NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship. Fifth year senior, Desean Hampton, was named RSC Player of the Year, while Echelbarger was tabbed as the Coach of the Year. Trequan Spivey earned a First Team selection.
The Cougars entered the National Tournament on a 17-game win streak, the second longest streak in the country. After a first-round win over ninth seed Dordt University, the Cougars shocked the nation’s No. 1 team William Penn University, ending the Statesmen’s 20-game winning streak and advancing to the Sweet 16. The Cougars season ended in Kansas City against Concordia University (Neb.). The Cougars earned their highest ranking in program history at No. 22. Hampton and Spivey were both named NAIA All-Americans.
The IU Kokomo cross country programs sent two athletes to the 2021 NAIA Cross Country Championship. Lexi Jackson represented the women’s team while Luis Saldana earned a spot in the field that included 330 runners. Saldana finished 169th place and was the first male to qualify for the Cougars in six years. Jackson capped off her career with a 42nd place finish, tying for the highest finish at NAIA Nationals in program history.
Under first-year head coach, Sohaila Akhavein, the IU Kokomo women’s soccer program had its share of program firsts. The Cougars earned six RSC victories, the most conference wins since the program’s inception in 2019. A 3-0 victory over conference foe, Midway University, was the first time the Cougars have defeated the Eagles. The Cougars’ 6-9-2 record earned them a trip to the RSC Championship where they fell to Point Park, 1-0 in double overtime. Morgan Scruggs and Keely Hoopingarner represented IU Kokomo on the RSC First Team.
The women’s basketball program saw new leadership during the 2021-22 season as John Kenger took the reins. Kenger led the Cougars to nine victories, six of them coming during conference play. Tia Chambers reached 1,000 career points and was named to the RSC First Team, her third selection.
The IUK men’s golf team earned a third-place finish at the 2022 RSC Championship at Belterra Resort Golf Course. Jack Barnes and Harley Pugh earned top 10 finishes at the Championship. Pugh finished in a tie for seventh, earning him a spot on the All-Conference team while Barnes was tied for 10th.
Brandi Jones, Peru, was named RSC Golfer of the Year, after winning the conference championship at Belterra Resort Golf Course. She is the first IUK golfer (men or women) to qualify for the NAIA National Championship.
In outdoor track and field, the men’s team finished third of 12 teams, with Caleb Vogl (3K steeplechase), Luis Saldana (10k race, 5k race), Nolan Talley (400m hurdles), Drew Caldwell (800m), and the 4x800 relay team of Mason McKinney, Clay Brubaker, Talley, and Julian Wallace earning all-conference honors. Saldana also won Newcomer of the Year.
The women’s team finished 5th of 12 in the conference meet, with first-place finishes by Emma Byrum (javelin), Lanie Pocock (5,000m racewalk), and Shalihn Compton (discus). Also earning all-conference honors were Hailey Law (5k racewalk), Sidney Berry (racewalk), and Casey Lechner (1500m).
The women’s tennis team set a program record for wins, posting a 14-10 overall record for the season. Three players were named to RSC all-conference teams, a program best.
Stay up-to-date on all things athletics at
iukcougars.com
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Lead from where you are
A philosophy. A mantra. A charge.
As Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke begins a new role as IU Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education, we reflect on the impact her leadership has had on our campus and community.
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portrait of Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke
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“I hope I’m remembered as someone who was a champion for students”
Lead from where you are.
This philosophy — inviting those around her to see opportunities and take bold steps to achieve them — has guided Susan Sciame-Giesecke during her 10 years as Indiana University Kokomo’s Chancellor.
It came to her in her first hours as interim chancellor, following the sudden departure of her predecessor in 2012.
“In my own mind, I knew I could not do this by myself,” she said. “I told my colleagues, ‘I need you to come with me.’ It would take all of us to overcome that challenging time. People continued to do what they needed to do. We did not lose our momentum. We really took off after that. We all came together.”
Under her leadership, IU Kokomo has experienced record enrollment and graduation rates, and launched numerous degrees, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Main Building received a $14 million renovation, with the space essentially gutted to create modern new learning spaces, places for students to gather and collaborate, a food and nutrition lab, and more. Additions included the Cole Fitness Center, a greenhouse, and the Student Activities and Events Center, an $8.4 million space that is not only home to Cougar athletics but is also used for campus and community events.
In addition to leading IU Kokomo, Sciame-Giesecke has been responsible for IU’s five regional campuses for the last year, as interim executive vice president, leading collaborative efforts to maximize opportunities for student success. She has been responsible for university-wide academic initiatives and programs, external academic relations and online education.
As she begins a new role as IU vice president for regional campuses and online education, Sciame-Giesecke reflected on how leading from where she was impacted the campus and community — and how she can build on IU’s success with her experience.
Based on a regional campus her entire career, she looks forward to the challenge of leading statewide, with the potential for greater impact.
“To be able to support other regional campuses is a challenge I could not pass up,” she said. “We need to continue to be stewards of place and lift up the regions we serve throughout the state of Indiana. I know we can make a difference in our college going rates and provide the state of Indiana with a well-educated workforce.”
At the end, she said, everything she did was about creating opportunities for IU Kokomo students.
“I hope I’m remembered as someone who was a champion for students,” she said. “That would make me feel good if I knew that everything I did in my career, the work I did, was really all about the students.”
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Leading as chancellor was a role she never could have imagined when she arrived at IU Kokomo in 1977 as a newly hired assistant professor of communication. Coming from a Chicago suburb, and having just earned her master’s degree, she didn’t plan to stay long.
“It’s an unusual story,” she said. “I don’t know that there are too many people who start as a professor and end as chancellor. I thought I was going to stay for a few years and then leave for my doctorate.”
Instead, she began building a community around herself, both professionally and personally.
“It was a little scary at first, coming from a large city,” she said. “Now I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I became committed to the Kokomo community and wanted it to succeed.”
She put down roots, marrying Dan Giesecke, who owned a business in Kokomo, and raising daughters Lauren and Lindsey. She earned tenure and completed her Ph.D. while teaching speech communication to undergraduates.
Sciame-Giesecke also learned from campus leaders, like Chancellor Emerita Emita Hill, “who was probably my first true mentor, who tapped me on the shoulder to say I had leadership potential.”
Stuart Green, who ended his IU Kokomo career as interim chancellor, and Chancellor Emerita Ruth J. Person also played important roles to her.
“It wasn’t what they said,” she recalled. “It was just the fact they invited me into projects and had faith and confidence that I could pull it off. I’ve always had an interest in doing something different, or something more.”
Though she hadn’t formalized her “lead from where you are” philosophy, she lived it. When she saw something missing, she started it, organizing a speech team, a theatre department, a student activities office, freshman learning communities, and the Enhancing Minority Attainment conference.
“I was always working on an interesting project, and that kept me motivated,” she said. “Even though I’ve been here 45 years, I’ve done a lot of different things in addition to teaching. All of it was about getting students involved and helping them succeed.”
She continued moving up the career ladder, as coordinator for the communication arts program, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs, chair of the humanities department, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.
One role that hadn’t crossed her mind was chancellor — until then-IU President Michael A, McRobbie pressed her into service as interim during a sudden change of leadership. With the campus at a crossroads, faculty and staff were looking to her to guide them in how to move forward.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke (center) with Chancellors Emerita Ruth J. Person and Emita Hill, Interim Chancellor Emeritus Stuart Green, and President Michael McRobbie at her installation.
Many gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Student Activities and Events Center.
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Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke (center) with Chancellors Emerita Ruth J. Person and Emita Hill, Stuart Green, and President Michael McRobbie at her installation
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke (second from right) visits Italy with students on a KEY trip.
Many gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Student Activities and Events Center.
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“I know I made the right decision to stay at a small campus for so many years. This is where I belonged”
“I enjoyed the work I did on the academic side of the house,” she said. “I loved being with the faculty and the students, and that isn’t the focus of the chancellor role. After serving in the interim role. I saw I could impact in other ways.”
Sciame-Giesecke became IU Kokomo’s seventh chancellor in April 2014 — a role she valued.
“You know you impact a lot of people’s lives when you sit in this seat,” she said. “You want to move the organization in the right way. You want to leave it better than you found it, so you question your decisions. It weighs on you, and it’s with you 24/7.”
Surrounding herself with strong leaders was a key factor in her success.
“You want to find people who buy into the campus vision, but also will challenge you so you make good decisions,” she said. “That was my blessing, to have those people. I wanted people who were visionary, who looked to the future, weren’t afraid to make decisions, and could collaborate and communicate.”
In an increasingly competitive market to attract students, she challenged her team to find what made IU Kokomo distinctive — which led to the IU Kokomo Experience and You, or KEY Program. KEY experiences are woven through students’ time on campus, from the KEY Summer Institute to prepare them for college success before their first classes, to travel experiences that have included the Field Museum in Chicago, Google Headquarters in San Francisco, Yellowstone National Park, and behind-the-scenes at the Walt Disney World Resort. KEY also includes hands-on internships, using skills learned in the classrooms as consultants to local businesses and not-for-profits, and researching and presenting with faculty at national professional conferences.
Since 2016, more than 1,000 students have participated in KEY experiences — and most are free or low cost, making them available to all students. Removing the barrier of cost, to include the greatest number of students possible, is a point of pride for Sciame-Giesecke, who wants all students to be able to participate.
“Students get so excited when they recount the learning that took place in these experiences, and on these trips,” she said. “They also often mention the number of friends they make, and the connections created with their faculty.”
An influential member of her team was the late Gerry Stroman, who was her first chief of staff. Sciame-Giesecke recalled she could count on Stroman for sound advice, and to be the voice championing diversity, equity and inclusion.
Stroman, who passed away in April 2021, would be proud of the campus’s Multicultural Center, which opened in November 2020 as a resource for all students, and a place for those from underrepresented populations to have their unique needs met. It houses the Black Student Center, the LGBTQ+ Center, the Latinos Unidos: Hispanic Center, International Student Services, and the coordinator for student life and campus diversity.
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The Center was much needed, with a growing number of students of color included in the record-breaking enrollment growth in recent years. The campus reached a high of 3,227 students in fall 2021.
Athletic programs contributed to the growth, by adding a new element of the total college experience. The program began in 2011 with 19 athletes in women’s volleyball and men’s basketball. Today, there are 14 varsity sports, with about 230 athletes participating.
The women’s volleyball team has won multiple River States Conference championships, and the men’s basketball team recently won its first, and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NAIA tournament. Track athlete Grant Gaylor won the campus’s first NAIA national championship, in shot put, in 2021.
“Athletics has added another dimension to a vibrant and active campus,” she said, adding that the student-athletes are among the best students. “The games bring an energy to the campus. The athletes come from so many different states and even countries, so they bring diversity to the campus, too.”
Students also made IU Kokomo a campus of choice for the wide variety of degrees, including new offerings in hospitality and tourism management, sport and recreation management, computer science, new media, art and technology, applied sciences, and the Family Nurse Practitioner graduate degree.
Under her leadership, the campus also experienced its most successful fundraising campaign ever, with more than $16 million garnered during the Bicentennial Campaign. Those funds benefit student scholarships and travel, paid for much of the Student Activities and Events Center, provided a new greenhouse for the School of Sciences, and much more.
While she’s excited to take on a larger role for IU, she also appreciates what the Kokomo campus offers.
“Now that I’m working in Bloomington and on a larger level, I know I made the right decision to stay at a small campus for so many years. This is where I belonged,” she said. “I’ve experienced the larger university, but it’s not the same. When you get to see the immediate impact of your work on students, faculty and staff, it’s more of a family.
Attending recent admissions dinners with potential students and their families brought it full circle.
“I love every minute of this,” she said. “This is what I like to do. It was fun to sit with the families and their students and help them realize their dreams. It’s a great way to come to the end of this part of my career, to re-experience it.”
Women’s volleyball is one of 14 sports adding to the college experience that Chancellor Sciame-Giesecke prioritized.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke (center) joins students and Kingston Cougar to cut cake during the campus IU Day celebration.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke joined students on a KEY trip to New York City.
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Women’s volleyball is one of 14 sports adding to the college experience that Chancellor Sciame-Giesecke prioritized.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke (center) joins students and Kingston Cougar to cut cake during the campus IU Day celebration.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke joined students on a KEY trip to New York City.
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from the desk of
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke
There are three major components to leading from where you are. They are: Culture, People and Vision.
Culture Matters:
The Science of Care
Day after day, people do not come to work for a time clock. They come to work with others. And for them to give anything other than the minimum, they must have relationships. The foundation of all relationships is what we say to one another, both verbally and nonverbally.
I have made it my life's work to try to form meaningful relationships with those I spend hours with at work. It is the foundation of success.
People Matter:
Lead from Where You Are
To thrive, humans need to feel seen, heard, felt and understood. They need meaning and life purpose, including opportunities to collaborate with others and contribute to the society in which they desire to belong.
Vision Matters:
Big Bold Ideas
Having a vision is vital, and just as important is making sure everyone in your organization knows their voice is needed and is heard. I see each person as a leader, and each person needs to be empowered and learn to lead to be successful.
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Chancellor Susan Sciame-Gieseke in a polaroid style frame
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to lead from where you are is to be courageous
Shape Conversations
Leaders initiate and guide important conversations around issues that impact others.
Good talk is unlikely to happen if we do not expect it, invite it into being, and provide inclusive space for the conversation to occur.
Leaders know that the goal of communication is to reach understanding – not necessarily agreement.
Generate and Direct Energy
Leadership is “energy, not control” Astin and Leland, Women of Influence, Women of Vision.
Leaders are proactive not reactive.
Leaders see a need for change and then begin to work with others to direct energy toward that change effort. They are a catalyst for collective action.
Hold the Organization in Trust
Leaders care about their organization.
They own the purpose of the organization.
They understand their own purpose and how it relates to the organization.
Do the Right Thing
Leaders maintain a shift in perspective from “doing things right” to “doing the right thing”.
Leaders see the bigger picture.
They work for the betterment of the larger community.
Build Toward Agreement
Leadership is the subtle process of mutual influence, it is not a single person, position, or action.
It is the fusing of thoughts, feelings, and actions of the whole community to produce a collaborative effort.
When you are leading, you open rather than occupy space-respecting others and understanding how connected and resourceful we all are.
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thank you to our generous 2021 donors
Remarkable legacy Society
$75,000 lifetime
Sita Amba-Rao
Linda Anderson
Aptiv PLC - Kokomo
Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo
Erv and Priscilla Boschmann
Glenna Brown
City of Kokomo
Jean Cole
Randy and Candy Cole
Keith and Carmella Cole
Community First Bank of Indiana
Community Foundation of Howard County
Community Howard Regional Health
FCA Foundation
Tom and Kathy Fingleton
Randy and Esther Fishman
General Motors Foundation
Mike and Judy Golitko
Tom and Kristen Grayson
Susie Grayson
Herrick Foundation
Howard County Government
- William and Nancy Hunt
Lawrence Kam
Harold and Sherry King
Philip Kintzele
Kokomo Grain Company, Inc.
The Kresge Foundation
Bill and Barbara Lambert
Richard and Betty Lasbury
Lilly Endowment Inc.
Herbert Miller
NIPSCO
Pete Rosenau and Kathleen Ligocki
Dana Scruggs
Chuck and Alice Simons
Jeffrey and Lisa Smeltzer
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union
Thrush-Thompson Foundation
Anonymous
Seiberling Society
$5000 and Above
Bill and Sharon Bassett
Don and Gail Beaton
Bill and Marilyn Bersbach
Raymond and Mary Bonhomme
Beth Brooke
Robert and Deborah Christensen
Community First Bank of Indiana
Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc.
Steve and Barb Conner
First Farmers Bank & Trust
Dan Giesecke and Susan Sciame-Giesecke
Rex and Kara Gingerich
Michael and Judy Golitko
David Gossman
Grow Wabash County
Daniel Grundmann and Julie Paris
Joe and Susan Hendricks
Indiana Black Expo
Harold and Sherry King
Philip Kintzele
Robert and Angela Knowling
Richard and Betty Lasbury
Herbert Miller
NIPSCO
Brian and Angela Shockney
Jeffrey and Lisa Smeltzer
Craig and Susan Smith - Smith-Fuqua Foundation
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union
Gregory and Melinda Stanley
Paul Stanley, Jr.
Shirley St Michel
Susan Szep
Jack and Pam Tharp
Page 21
Elwood Haynes Society
Planned and Estate Gifts
Donald Almquist
Linda Anderson
Don and Gail Beaton
Robert and Betsy Blossey
Beth Brooke
Robert and Deborah Christensen
Betty Das
Robert Mullen and Dianna Delgado
Melissa Ellis
Kelly Goad
Marc and Tonya Goodier
Mary Ellen Harnish
- William and Nancy Hunt
Philip Kintzele
Pete Rosenau and Kathleen Ligocki
Ruth J. Person
James Plew
Allan and Ann Reeves
Glenn Rodgers
Allen Safianow
Dana Scruggs
Marilyn Skinner
Jeffrey and Lisa Smeltzer
Pat Williams
Chancellor’s
Guild Society
$1000 - $4999
Theresa Anglin
Andy and Mary Baker
Bill and Tess Barker
William and Michelle Bosworth
Mary Bourke
Kurt and Emily Brandstatter
Mark and Lisa Canada
Karl and Cathy Clearwaters
Donna Davis
Rosalyn Davis
Timothy and Dana Davis
Stuart and Teresa Devaul
Chad and Christina Downey
Jim and Janetta Duffy
Duke Energy
Eric and Ericka Echelbarger
Melissa Ellis
Joseph Fagen and Trish Davis
Frank and Peggy Faulkner
Greg Fletcher and Jackie Kennedy-Fletcher
Court French and Dawnya Upchurch
Meg Galasso
Marc and Tonya Goodier
Florence Goodyear
Mary Ellen Harnish
Dan and Ann Harrigan
Lynette Hazelbaker and Doug Eglen
IUK Staff Council
Kent Kauffman and Jan Halperin
Mike and Kim LaFollette
Sura Levine
Susan Mann-Hitchcock
Megan Mathews-Wine
Robert Mullen and Dianna Delgado
Sonnie Neal
Greg and Carole Ogle
Doug and Gloria Preece
Quality Plumbing & Heating
Larry and Irene Rolland
Christina Romero-Ivanova
Pete Rosenau and Kathleen Ligocki
Robert and Annette Rush
Steve and Annette Russell
Stephen and Julie Saam
Allen Safianow
John and Sarah Sarber
Heidi Sebastian
Security Federal Savings Bank
Marilyn Skinner
Milt and Judi Stewart
Doug and Tracy Stout
Willie Stroman
Terry and Mary Unger
United Way of Howard County
Paul and Julie Wagner
Martha Warner
Pat Williams
Paul and Shelly Wyman
Phoenix Society
$400 - $999
Alpha Delta Kappa Tau Chapter
Richard and Susan Ardrey
Eric and Laura Bain-Selbo
Nancy Battaglia
Nicholas and Carrie Baxter
David and Donna Brownfield
Bucheri McCarty & Metz LLP
Bruce and Ann Cameron
Michael and Cynthia Campbell
Henry and Phoebe Carter
Thomas and Lori Collins
Greg and Megan Cooper
Joel and Peggy Detchon
Laura Ditty
Robert Ford, II
Four County Counseling Center
William and Margot Fox
Leon and Patricia Gerber
Glenn and Nancy Grundmann
David and Jeanne Hamernik
Hearn Construction, Inc.
David and Janyth Heilman
John and Karen Holman
Rachel Holy
John and Karen Hughey
Clifford Hunt
Anthony and Mary Iacobucci
IU Health Tipton Hospital
J&J Electric of Indiana Inc
Thomas and Gail Jones
Kokomo New Car Dealers Association
Ronald and Genie LaLonde
David Larkin
Neil and Cynthia Lipken
Gail MacKay
Richard and Heidi Martin
Jim Martin
Kyle T. McAninch
Eugene and Nancy McGarvey, Jr.
McGavic Outdoor Power Equipment
James McIntyre
Ann Millikan
Rodney Padfield
Vijaya Pendse
Ruth J. Person
Phillip Petty
Kyle and Lisa Rayl
Realtors Association of Central Indiana Inc.
Ralph and Victoria Rhees
Allan and Dianne Roden
Michael Scheidler and Sharon Calhoon
Dana Scruggs
SGD Enterprise Rozzi’s Food Service
Jay and Emily Sichting
Joseph and Shirley Smaha
Matthew and Juli Spielman
Stellantis
William and Carolyn Stifle
Jeffrey and Karla Stouse
Flora TenBrook
Matthew and Stacey Thomas
Dan and Cathy Valcke
Anthony and Lisa Weaver
David Williams
Anonymous
Become a donor today! Learn more about ways you can give at go.iu.edu/3Q8f
Page 22
alumni happenings
- & 7. IU Day
Students, faculty, staff, and even Kingston Cougar enjoyed taking and sharing selfies during the IU Day celebration. We raised nearly $6,000 in scholarship money during the celebration, breaking a previous record, and Kingston won the all-IU mascot talent show.
- & 4. Chancellor’s Guild Dinner
Donors and friends of the campus went back to the 50s, enjoying the atmosphere of Sue’s Diner, during the annual Chancellor’s Guild dinner.
- Alumni and Friends Distinction Celebration
The School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions recognized the third class of Nurses of Distinction, and the first honorees as Allied Health Professionals of Distinction and Distinguished Friends of the School.
- & 6. Night Under the Lights
IU Kokomo alumni cheered on the Cougar baseball team at the Night Under the Lights, at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.
Alt text:
- Kingston poses with students
- chancellor's guild attendees enjoy dinner
- alumni enjoy an IU Kokomo baseball game
- Chancellor's Guild Society members at the Chancellor's Guild Dinner
- award presentation during School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions Alumni and Friends of Distinction Celebration
- alumni enjoy an IUK baseball game
Page 23
celebrate her legacy
Join us as we celebrate Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke’s incredible legacy. Throughout her time at IU Kokomo, she has been an advocate for supporting students and their success. Please consider joining her in supporting IU Kokomo students with a gift to one of her favorite funds:
IUK Scholarship Program: 0380010584
IU Kokomo Student Activities and Events Center: 0320014303
Havens Auditorium Rehabilitation Fund: 0380010580
Giesecke Family Men’s Golf Scholarship: 0380014262
Or give to your fund of choice by going to: go.iu.edu/4pJU
Fundraising Disclosures: go.iu.edu/89n
Alt text:
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke speaks at a podium
IU Kokomo Office of Development logo
Back Cover
Learn for life
Indiana University Kokomo was there for you when you were a student, and we will continue to support your educational needs and interests as an alum.
KEY Academy
The KEY Academy features short-term opportunities to learn about favorite subjects, such as sports, religion, and history or to explore career opportunities through job shadowing, meetings with professionals, and more.
iuk.edu/keyacademy
Microcredentials
Microcredentials are badges you can earn for completing trainings in narrowly defined areas, such as “Leading Change” and “Responsive Strategies for K-12 Student Behavior.”
iuk.edu/microcredentials
Look for upcoming announcements about both of these forms of lifelong learning in the months ahead.
Alt text:
Indiana University Alumni Association Kokomo Region Logo
2300 South Washington Street
P.O. Box 9003
Kokomo, IN 46904-9003
Visit us on the web at
iuk.edu/alumni
social media icons
indicia
Legacy: A magazine for alumni and friends of Indiana University Kokomo
Winter 2021 issue
Page 1: Cover
Purpose & Parternship
School of Education cultivates teacher succes
Alt Text:
Alumnus Brayton Mendenhall, Indiana Teacher of the Year nominee, stands with his class at Ben Davis High School.
Page 2:
Teaching on Purpose
The last few years have been challenging for educators.
With a looming teacher shortage, the demands of both virtual and in-person classrooms amidst a global pandemic, and the everyday stresses that go with the job, it’s no wonder these essential workers are feeling the effects.
In this issue of Legacy, you will be inspired by our School of Education and its efforts not only to recruit and prepare future teachers, but also to support its alumni in the field, as well as our local schools. From the Tomorrow’s Teachers program, to wellness mentoring, and lifelong learning, our faculty are making an impact on education in north central Indiana.
Read their stories, starting on page 10.
Table of Contents
Winter 2021
Inauguration of IU President Whitten 6
Reflection: Notebook holds more than just words 7
There’s no place like home(coming)! 8
On Purpose Through Partnership 10
The Presidents Circle 20
Athletics Update 22
Page 3:
Imagine being offered a job interview,
but not having appropriate clothes to wear to it.
This is a reality for some IU Kokomo students. You may have even experienced it yourself when you were a student here.
Now, however, students have access to free professional clothing on campus. The recent opening of the Cougar Closet provides a variety of business attire at no cost. That’s right! No cost.
A partnership between the Women in Business and Student Marketing Organization made this dream a reality. The closet offers clothing not just for job interviews, but special events, internships, KEY trips, and more.
These successes are what make this campus such a special place to be. Students collaborating, meeting needs of other students, all while igniting their entrepreneurial spirits. They even applied for funding through IU Kokomo’s Women of the Well House philanthropic group and the IU Regional Economic Development fund for start-up costs.
Help me applaud their efforts by making clothing donations to this wonderful cause. There’s bound to be a suit or two in your own closet that you don’t wear anymore. You can bring your gently used professional attire to the Main Building, room 180, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We have a small gift for you as a token of our appreciation.
This is just one example of the community spirit here at IU Kokomo. It’s all about the students and their success. This is our mission.
Susan Sciame-Giesecke, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Alt Text:
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke, faculty and students cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Cougar Closet, located in the Main Building.
Handwritten signature of Susan Sciame-Giesecke
Page 4:
Happy Holidays,
my fellow alumni!
Welcome to the winter edition of your alumni magazine. We have all been through a lot over the past 2 years. Our resiliency in the face of loss, grief, and normalcy has taken its toll on all of us in different ways.
This issue focuses on our education alumni, who have been working diligently to continue to educate our future doctors, nurses, lawyers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives. We all have fond memories of teachers that had a positive impact on us during our formative years. Perhaps they were a teacher who challenged you to push forward or helped you when you needed it the most. Our teachers help us realize our dreams, our strengths, and assist us in honing our skill sets to prepare us for what lies ahead. Our School of Education is working with our education alumni and various school corporations to combat teacher burnout. Throughout this issue, you’ll read about these important initiatives but also get a glimpse of what life is like on campus now that students, faculty, staff, and alumni have returned.
Highlights include the recognition of Brayton Mendenhall (B.S. ’11) who was recognized as a finalist for the Indiana Teacher of the Year. We are so proud of him and the positive impact he, and so many of our education alumni, make on students each day. We also celebrate the students who received the alumni scholarships. These bright, kind, motivated students were so appreciative of being selected to receive a scholarship that is funded by you, their soon-to-be fellow alumni. And I enjoyed welcoming you back to campus for homecoming. It was wonderful to see so many of you, and I look forward to seeing more of you throughout the year.
As we reflect on the past year and prepare for the next, let’s continue to lift our teachers, and return the favors they did for many of us when we needed it the most. One way we will be celebrating our education alumni is by hosting our Teachers of Distinction on June 14, 2022, on the IU Kokomo campus. I hope you will join us and nominate a deserving colleague like the ones featured in this issue. They need it now more than ever.
Benjamin Liechty, B.A. ‘06
Director of Alumni Relations
and Campus Ceremonies
Alt Text:
Portrait of Ben Liechty
Handwritten signature of Benjamin A. Liechty
Page 5:
I want to pay it forward
I probably wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t been honored to receive an alumni scholarship.
While working toward my degree, there were many semesters that I found myself with an extended class load. I held various offices on campus such as student body vice president and ambassador, plus participated in student life activities. IUK pulled me into the world of academia and stretched my capacity. Because of organizations such as the alumni association, which offered financial support, I was able to stay focused on my university experience without the distraction of financial encumberment. It wasn’t until I was on the receiving end of the endowment that I realized the profundity of those investments. One of my life goals now is to be a generous, and hopefully substantial, financial contributor to empower students. I want to pay it forward as a tribute to those who had never met me but supported me.
For me, personally, a significant impact of receiving an alumni scholarship was also receiving the vote of confidence from the alumni board. This recognition from a group of highly respected alumni who believed I was worth the investment gave a thinly stretched senior the boost needed to finish strong to receive my first degree. I am now teaching sixth graders to begin to dream about crossing their own educational finish line.
Your generosity can make a huge difference in the lives of our IUK students.
Contact Alumni Director Benjamin Liechty at alumni@iuk.edu to discuss giving options.
Alt Text:
Amber Moore, B.A. ‘17
Former IUAA Kokomo Region Board Member
Page 6:
Congratulations President Whitten!
IU Kokomo Campus celebrates Pamela Whitten’s Inauguration
Indiana University inaugurated Pamela Whitten as its 19th president during a November 4 ceremony attended by more than 1,000 people at IU Auditorium.
IU Kokomo celebrated Whitten — the university’s first female president — with a viewing party in the Kelley Student Center Commons. Students, faculty and staff gathered to watch a live stream of the historic event on the IQ wall, and enjoyed cake, chili, and cornbread.
Student Rene Semple of Lafayette represented the campus in President Whitten’s platform party, while Mattie Tom of Carmel, 2020 student body president, and Lanie Pocock, a cross country and track athlete from Fort Wayne, were among the student leader and athlete delegation in the procession.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke participated in the ceremony as part of the platform party. Sciame-Giesecke serves on Whitten’s cabinet as interim executive vice president of university academic affairs.
A visionary scholar and accomplished educator and researcher, Whitten has held a variety of leadership roles, beginning at Michigan State University where she served as a dean for five years, and most recently as president of Kennesaw State University.
Alt Text:
IU President Pamela Whitten
Students enjoyed chili, cornbread and cake.
Alumni board members join in the celebration.
Shelly Eisaman (senior) and daughter Lexi (freshman) cut the cake.
Staff celebrate during the ceremony.
Page 7:
Reflection: Notebook holds more than just words
A small leather-bound three-ring notebook embossed with the IU crest is the only memento Robin DeWitt kept from her time at Indiana University Kokomo.
“It represented the fact I got my degrees from IU,” she said.
It lay forgotten in a box for decades, unpacked as she purged boxes from her shed when she retired from her long teaching career in 2016. She discarded her 1970s-era textbooks from the same box. But for some reason, this notebook stood out.
“It still appealed to me as something special,” said DeWitt, B.S. ’71, M.S. ‘78. “I held onto it and threw everything else away. I thought, ‘I’ll just keep it.’”
She remembered seeing someone else with the same notebook while visiting a friend on the Bloomington campus in the late 1960s, and decided she needed one as well.
DeWitt took notes in it for her undergraduate classes in education, and then again when she returned to earn her master’s. While most of those notes are gone, a few remain, including a neat, cursive reminder, “need to get application to graduate.”
As one of the first 60 graduates from the School of Education, a favorite memory of IU Kokomo includes founding a chapter of the Student Education Association, a college affiliate of the Indiana State Teachers Association where she served as the student coordinator.
After earning her degree, she moved to Indianapolis where she taught second graders at Bridgeport Elementary School in Wayne Township for three and a half years. After a move and some life changes, she returned to Kokomo – completing her master’s and taking a teaching job with Kokomo schools for eighth and ninth grade students with emotional disabilities.
“That was a different kind of teaching,” she said. “It was nothing like before, with lesson plans you could adhere to. It was flexibility to the max.”
She used her interest in arts to build relationships with students, over quilt making, stained glass creations, and latch hooking rugs. There weren’t a lot of teachers with expertise in her area, so as she grew her skills. DeWitt began mentoring others, including in an internship program with the Indiana Department of Education.
She noted there weren’t a lot of career options for young women when she went to college, and sometimes thinks she might have chosen law if that option had been more viable at the time.
“It was a different generation,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done. I might have been a lawyer. I can argue now with the best of them. For the time period I was in, education was a good fit.”
In 2016, DeWitt learned she was to become a grandmother and decided it was time to retire after 26 years. Now, she keeps in touch with a group of former colleagues and is working to relearn Spanish in her spare time. She also enjoys sewing, quilting, and is president of the Greentown Research Club.
Alt Text:
Red leather notebook with gold IU seal
Page from the notebook with a handwritten note of “need to get application to graduate”
Portrait of Robin Dewitt
Page 8-9:
There’s no place like home(coming)!
Indiana University Kokomo hosted a Wizard of Oz-themed homecoming celebration the last week of October — complete with tethered hot air balloon rides, the annual Angel Walk, a pumpkin patch and a pep rally!
Alumni were invited for a tailgate and some volleyball action at the Student Activities and Events Center as the Cougars saw a 3-1 victory over the Grenadiers from IU Southeast.
Saturday rounded out the homecoming celebration with two more wins. Women’s volleyball knocked off Midway in straight sets, avenging their lone conference loss on the year. The win gave IU Kokomo their fifth River States Conference regular season title and seventh straight NAIA National Tournament bid.
Men’s basketball won their season opener later that evening with a narrow 69-68 victory over the Lynx of Lincoln College. Go, Cougars!
Alt Text:
homecoming banner hanging from the ceiling
close up shot of the IUAAKR logo on a white tshirt
group of students posing during the tailgate
woman speaking into a microphone
Red and white checkered hot air balloon floats over campus
volleyball player in the game
adult male laughing and smiling
three female students hold pumpkins and treat bags
alumni director Ben Liechty speaks to the group
volleyball players celebrate together during the game
IUK community walks in the Angel Walk to raise awareness of domestic abuse.
tailgate attendees enjoy the buffet line
game spectators stand with their hands over their hearts for the national anthem
two female students posing together
paper table decoration featuring the IU Trident and the words Indiana University Alumni Association
Page 10:
“I hold much hope for the future because of teacher candidates like the ones we support.”
-Leah Nellis, dean, Indiana University Kokomo School of Education
Alt Text:
Portrait of Marlie Chaffee
Portrait of Brayton Mendenhall
Portrait of Leah Nellis
Portrait of Tayler Sampson
Portrait of Ashlely Hunt
Portrait of Amy Henderson
Page 10:
On Purpose through partnership
School of Education cultivates teacher success
Is there a teacher who made a positive and lasting difference in your life? Perhaps one who helped you discover your talent in art, music, or academics? Or, one who listened and supported you through a challenging situation, believed in you, or who helped you navigate a conflict with a friend?
Mr. Wells was one of those teachers for me and what my second-grade self learned from him was that teachers are smart, caring, creative, energetic, and resourceful. I’m reminded of that every day as I work alongside faculty and staff in the School of Education at IU Kokomo and interact with our students. These individuals, officially considered teacher candidates, seek to make a difference in the lives of others – your son or daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, or neighbor’s child – and have a positive impact in our shared community.
This is their Why, their purpose. Young adults in our communities are choosing to be part of something larger than themselves by committing to this noble profession.
Despite a state and national decline in the number of individuals preparing to become educators, enrollment in the School of Education has steadily increased in recent years reflecting diverse backgrounds and experiences.
This hopeful trend can be partially attributed to our Tomorrow’s Teachers program for high school juniors and seniors who are considering a career in education and want to get a head start on college coursework in their intended major. Co-developed with several local school corporations, the program is thriving because of school administrators and classroom teachers who have been encouraging, supportive, and affirming of the important role of a teacher.
After high school graduation, these students begin full time on campus with a sense of confidence, commitment to their future profession, a budding professional network, and college credit hours already in place. They progress through the program in an accelerated way.
While optimistic about our future impact on P-12 education in the region, it goes without saying that there are many challenges associated with being an educator that, unless addressed, continue to threaten the quality of teaching and learning that happens in these classrooms. Over 90 percent of Indiana schools struggle to find qualified candidates for teacher openings, and national surveys of teachers have found teaching to be one of the most stressful jobs in the United States, a concern that has only grown since the pandemic.
Teachers report high levels of stress, which negatively impact both physical and mental health. Linked to the learning environment teachers create for their students, student behavior and learning outcomes as well as teacher burnout and turn-over, educator wellness is at the heart of the solution. We know that in order for teachers to be able to teach at their best, they have to feel their best.
We strive to prepare our teacher candidates for the challenges of the profession through continual hands-on experiences throughout their training and mentoring from IU Kokomo faculty and local classroom educators, as seen in the Teacher Residency program – a year-long student teaching experience. Through coursework and experiential learning, our students learn about the science of stress, the mind-body connection, and skills to promote personal wellbeing.
The Emerging Educator Mentor Network connects teacher candidates, recent alumni, and seasoned educators for the purpose of creating a space for self-care, affirmation, and resilience. Our goal is not only to help teacher candidates earn a degree and a teaching license but to support them into their first teaching position, one that launches a professional career in which they find meaning, value, purpose, and has the type of impact that Mr. Wells had on me so long ago.
I hope the articles in this magazine bring you a sense of hope and appreciation for those who serve our communities as educators.
-Leah Nellis
Page 11-12:
Providing a safe environment
2022 Indiana Teacher of the Year nominee inspires students
As a teacher, Brayton Mendenhall wants his classroom to be a place students feel like they can be themselves.
“I want my students to be able to speak French, of course, but at the end of the day I also want them to know that I care about them,” he said. “When I hear from a student, ‘You made me feel safe, you made me feel loved,’ or when a parent reaches out and says, ‘You were such a role model for my kid,’ that’s the ultimate. When they know they can come to my class and they will be cared about and loved, whether they learn French is important, but it’s not the number one thing in my classroom.”
Mendenhall’s dedication to his students, as well as his excellence in teaching at Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, earned him recognition as one of the top 10 finalists for Indiana Teacher of the Year for 2022.
“It’s an exciting adventure, and I’m excited to have made it that far in the selection process,” said Mendenhall, B.S. ’11. “Its validating. It makes me feel like I’ve achieved something.”
While the last 21 months has been challenging as a teacher because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mendenhall says focusing on the connections he makes with students are what keeps him in the profession.
“If teachers allow themselves to define success in the numbers (test scores), that’s what’s going to burn them out,” he said. “It’s always about the kids. If I focus on why I went into teaching, I don’t see myself getting burned out. I don’t think I could leave the classroom to become an administrator because I love the connections with the kids. I love to watch them grow, and see them get excited. They become my kids after all the years we have together.”
The positive environment provided by his school also plays a role.
“I’m in a place where diversity is celebrated, where the student and teacher relationship is important, and teachers are respected,” Mendenhall said. “I’ve felt supported here. I feel like I understand the reason why we do things. It’s a school that cares about the student as a whole, and not just about the numbers or the curriculum. There’s a whole student mentality at Ben Davis that has kept me going and kept me in education.”
It’s especially important to him to provide the role model he wished he had as a teenager.
“Being an out gay teacher is very important to me,” he said. “In high school, I had nobody to look up to. There was nobody like me in my high school. I want students to see you can be gay, you can be successful, and you can be respected by your peers. There are students who are trapped in those situations, and they don’t feel like they have anybody.”
Mendenhall didn’t take a direct path into being a French teacher — he first enrolled at IU Kokomo after graduating from Taylor High School in 2000, as a 21st Century Scholar. After one semester, he dropped out and worked as a color guard instructor in the area.
He learned from that experience that he enjoyed teaching, so when he returned four years later, he enrolled in the School of Education. He chose secondary education, with a focus on English, after testing out of all the French available at IU Kokomo at that time.
He’s grateful to have earned a degree close to home, and for the relationships he built with faculty like Karla Stouse and Terri Bourus.
“My interactions with my professors really helped me,” he said. “I was able to make real connections with them, and they really encouraged me. It’s something I probably would have missed out on at a larger campus. This kind of school is conducive to those in-depth, personal relationships.”
He went to England with Stouse for the Innovation Symposium, and repeats her wisdom about grades with his own students now.
“She told us constantly, ‘It’s not always about the grade, it’s about the learning,’” he said. “She’s the kind of teacher I want to be. It’s all about the relationships with the students, and pushing them to think and grow.”
After graduating in 2011, he accepted a job teaching English and French at South Vermillion High School, near Terre Haute. A year later, he was hired at Ben Davis High School, as a French teacher and color guard instructor.
“What I always wanted to do was French and color guard, so it worked out eventually,” he said. “I took the long way around to teaching French. I tell my students, the path you have laid out before you, the idea that you are going to graduate and study exactly what you want to study, and get a job right away, it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes you have to make your own path. As long as you keep focused on doing what you love, it will work out.”
“In high school, I had nobody to look up to. I want students to see you can be gay, you can be successful, and you can be respected by your peers.“ -Brayton Mendenhall
Alt Text:
Brayton Mendenhall teaches French to students at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.
Page 13:
From high school to college
Program gives sneak peek to teacher life
During the last few years of Randy McCracken’s career in education, it was getting harder and harder to hire teachers.
“Finding teachers in the sciences, math, and even English was far more difficult than it had been, and some areas it was even harder,” said McCracken, an IU Kokomo adjunct faculty member who retired as superintendent of Western School Corporation in 2020.
He noted that while he used to have between 60 and 80 applications for an open elementary teaching job, that number dropped significantly as well.
Western’s situation wasn’t unique — according to a study by Public Impact, 92 percent of Indiana School Corporations struggle to find qualified teaching candidates to fill openings. That trouble is made worse by a 60 percent drop in individuals entering the state’s teacher preparation programs.
McCracken heard about a program in a Chicago-area school that brought college-level education classes to high school students. He shared the idea with Leah Nellis, dean of the School of Education, about starting a similar program to encourage high schoolers in the region to consider becoming teachers.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to be involved, to see if that’s the direction they want to go, and to earn college credits as well,” he said. “The more we can grow this program, the better chance we have of taking care of the teacher shortage we have now. As teachers in high schools are working with their students, they can encourage students who they think would be great teachers.”
In fall 2018, the Tomorrow’s Teachers program began not only at Western, but at Caston, Kokomo and Logansport school corporations. It allows high school juniors and seniors to complete entry-level School of Education classes, taught by IU Kokomo faculty, and get some early experience assisting in classrooms in their district. They also participate in on-campus events, getting a taste of college life at the same time. The program has expanded since then to include Alexandria-Monroe and Clinton Central schools.
Marlie Chaffee, now an IU Kokomo junior, was among the first to enroll at Western High School. She was nervous about taking college classes in high school, but said it confirmed her desire to teach elementary school.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher because I love kids,” she said. “I loved my teachers growing up, and I wanted to be just like them. I knew I wanted to go to IU Kokomo, too, and I saw it as a great opportunity to get my foot in the door.”
She especially enjoyed her experience in classrooms ranging from kindergarten all the way through middle school, which opened her mind to levels she hadn’t considered.
“It was a great opportunity to see what teaching different ages is like,” she said. “I thought I didn’t want to do middle school, but I learned it wasn’t what I thought it would be.”
The connections she built during that program helped her transition successfully to college. Plus, she plans to graduate a semester early.
“When I came to campus, I was more comfortable taking classes,” she said. “I felt comfortable reaching out to faculty when I had questions because I was able to do it during Tomorrow’s Teachers.”
Chaffee was especially impressed when Dean Nellis contacted her to see how her first semester was going.
“You don’t expect the dean of the School of Education to know who you are when you are just a freshman. I felt like I was home when I came to campus.“ -Marlie Chaffee
Alt Text:
Randy McCracken with Marlie Chaffee.
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Around the classroom in 180 days
First-day-of-school jitters. Pre-Christmas break slump. Standardized testing time tensions. End-of-year traditions. And everything in between.
Student teachers don’t always get the full picture of a typical school year. But through the Teachers in Residency program, it’s an opportunity for future educators to get a real taste of those 180 days.
For Tayler Sampson, B.S. ‘21, it makes all the difference.
“By being there the whole year, I experienced all the highs and lows,” she said. “I never felt like I was a student teacher. I was part of the class and it was my classroom.
Last year, Sampson joined a group of students who piloted the program, in place of traditional student teaching experiences that last a semester at a time.
“This program made me realize this is what I want to do. I really do want to be a teacher,” said Sampson, who taught a third-grade class at Green Meadows Intermediate School in Frankfort.
In fact, she had such a great experience and performed so well that before the school year ended, she was hired.
Joining Community Schools of Frankfort in Clinton County in the newly launched venture included two schools within the Maconaquah School Corporation in Miami County. Administrators have discovered the benefit goes both ways.
By observing these future teachers at work in the classroom, there is potential to have the first chance at hiring them — a critical advantage during a teacher shortage.
Lindsey Bright, Green Meadows principal, said the program is impressive, choosing to participate to prepare teachers more fully for the profession.
“I think back on my own teacher preparation, and we certainly didn’t get this kind of student teaching experience,” she said, noting that most are in the schools for less than a semester. “Seeing the school year from start to finish is a great benefit.
“They are learning from the best of the best, in my opinion,” Bright added. “They really get to dig in and see start to finish what the school year looks like.”
The year-long, hands-on approach helps these students form realistic expectations going in, making them more likely to stay in the classroom long term. According to the U.S. Department of Education, nearly 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession within the first five years.
The School of Education began offering this extended program after the two school systems applied for and received a grant from the Higher Education Commission. The grant funds stipends to the students and their mentors.
Leah Nellis, dean of the School of Education, explained that when student teaching takes place for a semester the student cannot be paid. However, a year-long residency allows for payment in the form of a stipend.
“It allows for teacher candidates to receive some compensation and can devote time, attention and energy to student teaching, instead of also trying to have a part-time job to pay expenses,” Nellis said.
It’s a win-win for everyone.
“When these students spend time in the classroom with an experienced teacher, they emerge with better skills and are more confident in themselves,” she added.
The experience has been a positive one for Sampson. Now, she’s taking that confidence and applying it to her first teaching job.
“I knew that within a month I would love to be a teacher here if there was an opening,” she said. “I was very blessed when a job opened up and I was able to accept it. I already knew the culture, and that I would fit in with the team.”
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Tayler Sampson teaches students in her classroom at Green Meadows Intermediate School in Frankfort.
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Teacher wellness
Mentoring program supports new teachers
Early in her teaching career, Ashley Hunt questioned if she had made the right choice.
“The stress got to me my first and second years, and made me question if education was for me,” she said. “Going into it, you’re always told you’re going to use what you learned in college, but it’s a totally different ballgame when you have your own classroom. I found that out quickly.”
Hunt, B.S. ’19, is not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Education, nearly 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession within their first five years under normal conditions. Add in the stress and uncertainty of a global pandemic, and nearly 1 in 4 teachers were considering leaving their jobs, according to a survey in early 2021 by RAND Education and Labor’s American Teacher Panel.
She has hope, however, because she truly isn’t alone. She’s one of 11 early-career educators in the IU Kokomo School of Education’s Emerging Educator Mentor Network, which began with a self-care and resilience retreat on campus in June and continues to provide alumni veteran teachers as mentors throughout the school year.
The retreat, facilitated by trained educators and social workers, focuses on the importance of one’s own well-being and the impact teachers have on shaping their classrooms, students and families. The monthly mentoring curriculum includes a book titled, “The Onward Workbook: Daily Activities to Cultivate Your Emotional Resilience and Thrive.” Participants meet to discuss a chapter as well as their use of the practices and strategies outlined in the book.
Hunt, who teaches at Lincoln Elementary School in Huntington, receives support from Nicole McDorman, Kokomo Central Middle School, and retired Kokomo teacher Ann Millikan.
“It’s been so helpful,” the Wabash resident said. “It’s nice to be able to talk through what’s going on in my school and classroom, and bounce ideas off each other. Even though we teach different grade levels, we can talk about some of the stresses we’re going through. They’ve helped me figure out if I am stressing over areas that aren’t worth stressing over, and shared how they have coped with that as well.”
In addition to offering the support for the first three years of a new alumni’s career, lessons in stress management, mindfulness, and coping skills are being woven into the School of Education’s curriculum. This program pays particular attention to students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in teaching, so future graduates will be prepared for the challenges.
“We want to give these future educators the tools to be resilient, to be mindful, to have self-awareness to know when they are stressed, and coping skills,” said Cheryl Moore-Beyioku, lecturer in special education, who helped launch the wellness program with Dean Leah Nellis.
“We’re preparing students now so they can step into those careers with these strengths,” she said. “We’re also supporting our alumni during their first three years. We want them to know we are still here for them, and want to help them be successful in their new careers.”
Moore-Beyioku added that as teachers handle their stress appropriately, they continue to teach by modeling that action.
“We’re investing in the future, in the wellness of our students and teachers. It is an investment that multiplies,” she said.
The School of Education provides guidance for the new teachers and their mentors, with wellness curriculum they work through in their regular meetings.
McDorman, B.S. ’12, M.A. ’16, said while she’s been guiding Hunt, she’s also benefitted from the program.
“I don’t typically do self-care,” she said. “I just run at all cylinders until I crash. This is allowing me to pause and look at why I’m doing the things I’m doing, and making myself relax, so I can be calmer and less stressed when I go home to my family. I’m trying to build new habits from what we’ve learned.”
Millikan said teachers from a variety of generations working together benefits the students, because they can share ideas.
“We can get new ideas from everybody, and make connections,” she said.
Hunt said it’s already making a difference for her. “I definitely feel like I’ve been able to handle my stress better using some of the tools we were taught,” she said. “The stress in education doesn’t really go away, but I don’t feel like it’s impacting my body the way it was or impacting my life outside of school anymore like before.”
“It’s been so helpful. They’ve helped me figure out if I am stressing over areas that aren’t worth stressing over, and shared how they have coped with that as well.” – Ashley Hunt
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L-R Nicole McDorman, Ashley Hunt, Ann Millikan and Cheryl Moore-Beyioku
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“If you’re not learning and growing, the world is going to leave you behind.” – Amy Henderson
Lifelong learning
Education journey continues for teacher
“If you’re not learning and growing, the world is going to leave you behind.”
This describes Amy Henderson’s passion to keep her nose in the books while asking her students to do the same.
As she works on her master’s in educational technology, she’s reminded of how quickly things can change. All the more reason to keep on learning.
“So much has changed even from when I started teaching. I don’t know if Google classroom was around. Right now, I can’t imagine teaching without it,” she said.
Her path to education was an untraditional one, first earning a degree in communication in 1998 and trying out the corporate world for a while. However, deep down she knew she always wanted to be a teacher.
“My second job after graduation was with ADP, where I worked in software support and training. Here, I’m training payroll clerks on how to use software and I realized it wasn’t what I wanted, which was teaching children,” said Henderson, who returned to IU Kokomo and completed her teaching degree in 2011.
Some may have questioned starting her graduate degree during a global pandemic, while also teaching full time, with students both in her classroom and online. It’s helped keep her from getting burned out.
“Teaching and going to school means I have to really compartmentalize and prioritize my time,” she said.
“It helps me that I know I have this project due for a class, or this assignment, so I need to leave school at school,” she said, a third-grade teacher at Lafayette Park Elementary, Kokomo. “People might think I’m crazy but working on my classes has been a bit of a brain break. It takes me out of teacher mode, and into time for me to learn and grow to be a better teacher.”
Henderson’s students sometimes are surprised when she tells them she hasn’t graded their papers yet, because she had 130 pages to read and a paper to write in just a few days.
“It’s fun to watch their faces, and help them realize schooling doesn’t ever need to end,” she said.
She’s proud to have set an example for her daughters, noting they used to have “homework nights,” in which the girls sat with her and colored or looked at books while studying for her college courses. Her older daughter, Emily, is now an IU Kokomo freshman, and enrolled with 15 credits already earned through the Tomorrow’s Teachers program.
Younger daughter Molly is a senior at Kokomo High School, and plans to major in journalism.
“They both value education, because my husband and I have made it the expectation that you have to do something beyond high school,” she said. “We have raised our girls that learning doesn’t stop once you graduate.”
She’d been considering earning a master’s degree, and said during the COVID-19 pandemic, she had more time to think about that goal.
“I had a goal to get my teaching license before I turned 40, and I did that,” she said. “I missed the boat on earning my master’s before I turned 50, but it was a good time to start. The Master’s in Educational Technology was perfect with everything I’ve been doing virtually, and finding resources.”
Henderson’s next step in her career is to become a technology coach or work for Kokomo’s elementary education technology department.
“I definitely see it as a bridge out of the classroom and into more of a coaching position, whether that’s working with other teachers, families, or a mix of the two.
“I always said if I hit the lottery, I would take a class every semester,” said Henderson, “There are so many options IU Kokomo offers, and if you aren’t learning, you’re kind of stuck.”
Learn more about the School of Education and its programs
at iuk.edu/education, and grad programs on page 23.
Alt Text:
Portrait of Amy Henderson
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Honoring Excellence
Nominate outstanding alumni who go beyond, give back and make a difference in their professions!
The IUAA Kokomo Region partners with the School of Education and School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions this spring to recognize their own who exemplify the best in what they do. Please consider submitting a nomination and saving the date for these special events.
Nurses of Distinction
Allied Health Professionals of Distinction
Friends of the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions
These awards honor alumni and friends who have shown a commitment to the values and support of these professions. More criteria and information can be found on the online nomination form:
go.iu.edu/4ab4
Recognition ceremony:
February 25, 2022
IU Kokomo campus
Teachers of Distinction
This award recognizes alumni who have had a positive and meaningful impact on their students and school community. More criteria and information can be found on the online nomination form:
go.iu.edu/4a5M
Recognition ceremony:
June 14, 2022
IU Kokomo campus
Follow the IU Alumni Association Kokomo Region on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on all alumni news! Facebook @IUKAA Instagram @IUKAlumni
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The Presidents Circle honors Indiana University's most generous donors. Members are people who have helped define the very character of IU.
JUDITH AND MICHAEL GOLITKO
Judy Golitko believes that education is the key to turning dreams into reality. Judy spent 30 years raising her family and working as a paralegal before becoming a first-time college student. After seeing her children graduate and begin their professional careers, Judy was inspired to do the same.
She attended IUK and earned her associate’s degree in 2001 and B.S.N. in 2003, both in nursing. While working as an R.N., Judy realized she could better serve her community in a different capacity. With her newfound purpose, she enrolled in the IU School of Law and graduated with her juris doctorate in 2006.
Judy’s passion for learning and love of IUK led her to establish the Judy Golitko It’s Never Too Late Scholarship to assist other non-traditional students in their pursuit of a college degree. Her favorite quote is, “If you love what you’re doing, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Judy believes in IU and in education. She is excited to give back to her alma mater and help others achieve their goals.
Judy has worked with her son, Matthew, at Golitko Daly PC in Kokomo for 15 years. Her focus is medical malpractice, and she returns to IUK often to speak to nursing students about the subject.
Judy has served on the Kokomo Rescue Mission board for the past seven years. She has also held the IUK Alumni Association President position, receiving the President’s Award in 2010, and was inducted into the Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2013.
HAROLD W. KING, DDS AND SHERRY KING
Sharon and Harold King have dedicated their lives to serving others. After earning her B.S.N. at DePauw University in 1963, Sherry completed her clinical training at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Having graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with his bachelor’s degree in 1961, Hal completed his DDS in 1964 at IUPUI. He then served for two years in the U.S. Air Force before the couple moved to Kokomo, where Hal practiced family dentistry from 1966 through 1999.
While working as a dentist in Kokomo, Hal served in the Air Force Reserve for eight years. In retirement, he has volunteered and served his community in a number of capacities, including with the American Cancer Society, which awarded him its Quality of Life Volunteer Award in 2001.
Eager to give back to their community and invest in its future, Sherry and Hal decided to support higher education in their hometown by giving to Indiana University Kokomo.
They are “very proud of IU Kokomo” and are “excited about its expansion, its new athletic programs, and its ability to attract students from other parts of Indiana.” In memory of Hal’s mother, who was a teacher, the Kings established the Zula Mae King Memorial Scholarship at IU Kokomo for education students. To support students as what they consider “one of the best nursing schools in Indiana,” they also established the Sharon “Sherry” H. King, R.N., B.S.N. Nursing Scholarship.
The King’s incredible generosity will ensure the future of countless IU Kokomo students in the years to come. Welcome to the Presidents Circle, Hal and Sherry!
TED LINDSAY GRAYSON, M.D. AND ROSANNA SHOE GRAYSON
Rosanna and Ted were both born and raised on family farms in Tipton County, Indiana. Together, they shared a lifelong involvement in and passion for agriculture. As skilled educators, Ted and Rosanna also shared an equally vocal passion for education and all the opportunities it can provide. Their intentional estate planning reflected this firm commitment to academic scholarship.
Rosanna earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Ball State University in 1952 and served as a public-school educator in Indianapolis and St. Louis. Ted was farming full time when Indiana University opened an extension campus in Kokomo. He was a proud and grateful member of the first class at IU Kokomo.
Throughout his life, Ted attributed the opening of the Kokomo campus as giving him both the opportunity to first attend college and then to become a surgeon. He was honored to speak at one of IU Kokomo’s 75th Anniversary events in 2019. Ted’s journey then continued to Bloomington for a bachelor’s degree (’50), IU Medical School (M.D. ’52), and Washington University in St. Louis for six years of internship and surgery residency.
Next, the Graysons chose to return to Indiana to make their home. Ted’s 30-year private practice focused on abdominal and thoracic surgery. Throughout his career, he also trained hundreds of interns and residents as a clinical associate professor at IU’s School of Medicine.
Shortly before his death, Ted was awarded an IU Bicentennial Medal.
Both Ted and Rosanna joyfully, completely embraced life! They remained steadfastly grounded in the values that guided everything they so thoroughly enjoyed together. Now, their shared values will provide academic scholarships for students attending Ball State University, Purdue University, Indiana University, and IU Kokomo.
Learn about ways to provide unique and valuable learning experiences to IU Kokomo students. Contact Vice Chancellor Crystal Jones at crmjones@iu.edu.
Alt Text:
(L-R) J.T. Forbes, Judith and Michael Golitko, IU President Pamela Whitten
(L-R) J.T. Forbes, Harold and Sherry King, IU President Pamela Whitten
The Presidents Circle logo
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Cougar athletics sees continued success during fall competition
As fall sports return, Cougar fans noticed a few differences. New coaches, new student-athletes, and full capacity at all home sporting events. But one thing has not changed; the Cougars continue to have a high level of success.
IU Kokomo volleyball captured the River States Conference regular season championship and earned their seventh consecutive NAIA National Tournament berth. Erinn Adam leads the conference in hitting percentage and blocks per set, while Alyvia Smith leads the league in digs.
The women’s soccer team posted a 6-4-1 conference record, giving them the most RSC wins in program history. The six wins earned the Cougars the fifth seed in the conference tournament.
Brandi Jones, a graduate student on the women’s golf team, won three tournaments including the River States Conference Fall preview. Jones now has 10 tournament wins in her career, the most in program history.
In cross country, many records have been broken during the fall. The men’s team is ranked first in the River States Conference for the first time in program history. Lexi Jackson won the JennaStrong Invitational with a time of 18:21 and finished second at the NAIA Great Lakes Invitational with a time of 17:56.9, breaking her own school record by 25 seconds.
Stay up-to-date on all things athletics at iukcougars.com
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soccer team stands arm in arm on the field
men's cross country team running in a meet.
women's cross country team running in a meet.
cougar head logo
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Real world experiences
KEY will get you there.
If you have visited Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Yellowstone National Park, or Disney World over the past few years, you might have seen students raising the IU flag or wearing “I Turned the KEY” T-shirts. Those students were among the many hundreds of IU Kokomo students participating in the KEY (“Kokomo Experience and You”), our signature experiential-learning program. Through these trips—as well as research, retreats, simulations, internships, and community projects—students are getting their hands on their learning. Employers value this kind of applied learning, and so do students, who have raved about their KEY experiences.
As an alum, you can help us create enriching experiences. Look for invitations to join students, faculty, and staff for future KEY trips. Also, we welcome your suggestions for activities and destinations, perhaps your own place of business! Either way, you can help your fellow Cougars turn the KEY to learn, connect, and thrive.
Let us know you’re interested by emailing, alumni@iuk.edu.
Graduate programs offer career growth
Perhaps you've been thinking about changing careers or you've been encouraged to return to school to advance in your current position. Whatever your story or motivation, we offer several graduate programs at Indiana University Kokomo to help you succeed. It's our goal and our mission to help you gain the theoretical foundation, experience, and skills you need no matter what your goal may be.
IU Kokomo offers in-person learning:
Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling
Master of Business Administration
Master of Public Management
Master of Science in Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Administration
Nursing Education
Online graduate programs are available. For a complete list of master's degrees, visit iuk.edu/graduate-programs.
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group of students on a KEY trip to Nashville pose with Alumni Doug Showalter.
group of students on a KEY trip to Google headquarters in California.
two women talk while looking at a laptop
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Fitness for you
Join the Cole Fitness Center at a special Alumni rate! $180 per year
The Cole Fitness Center is excited to welcome back IU Kokomo Alumni to the facility after a two-year hiatus.
If you’re an IUAA member, you qualify for this special rate that includes access to the entire gym, plus fitness classes!
Memberships run from August 1 to July 30 and are prorated based on when you sign up. We look forward to seeing you in the Cole Fitness Center soon!
For more information, please contact the Cole Fitness Center by email, colefit@iuk.edu or by phone, 765-455-9419.
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fitness class
male running on a treadmill
dumb bells and other weight lifting equipment.
dumb bells and other weight lifting equipment.
Cardio machines
Cover Page:
Rise & Lead
Alumnae lead the way and inspire others to achieve their dreams.
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Alumni Amanda Bagwell stands in the brick paved alley across from the Howard County courthouse with her guide dog Buddington sitting sweetly at her side. The courthouse in the background has the words "Justice to all" engraved across the top which appears just over Amanda's head.
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Lead from where you are.
That’s the challenge IU Kokomo’s Chancellor, Susan Sciame-Giesecke, is known to give to faculty, staff, and students. Leadership isn’t just for the chancellor, the CEO, the manager, or the person with the big title.
Leadership is for everyone, if they accept the challenge.
In this issue of Legacy, you will meet amazing alumnae who are doing that every day in their careers. Women like Amanda Bagwell, who fights for equal employment opportunities for all, based on her own difficulties as a blind woman finding employment. Or Priyanka Singh Deo, who had the courage to move across the world to chase her dream job.
There’s also Brianne Boles, who transitioned her love of volunteering into serving as CEO of one of Howard County’s largest employers, and Alexius Babb, who returned to school out of desire to transform her family’s future, and now plans to lead change for people of color in the health care system.
Read their stories, starting on page 12.
Table of Contents
Summer 2021
2021 Commencement 6
Athletics Update 9
SAEC Dedication 10
Hoops Forges Friendship 11
Rise & Lead 12
Just Keep Running 20
Congratulations to the IU Kokomo class of 2021!
While earning a college degree is a challenge in the best of times, this class has confronted obstacles none of us could have imagined when they first enrolled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In earning their degrees, these graduates have shown remarkable persistence and flexibility, and I am proud beyond measure of their success.
This class went on spring break last March expecting only one additional week away from campus, as the pandemic began. Instead, they finished the spring 2020 semester from their homes, adapting to remote learning nearly overnight. I would be remiss if I did not commend our faculty, who completely reworked their classes during spring break, to be ready to continue high-quality instruction in a new format.
Amidst these challenges, IU Kokomo did not just survive — we thrived. We built our new Student Activities and Events Center (SAEC), and hosted volleyball and basketball games. When we returned to campus August 24, we offered the largest percentage of in-person classes of all IU campuses, and saw record-breaking enrollment of 3,227 students, thanks to the diligent efforts of our admissions and academic advising offices.
I am especially excited about the opening of our new Multicultural Center last fall, which provides resources for our growing population of students of color, international students, and those in the LGBTQ+ community. The Center promotes a welcoming and positive campus climate, and cultivates a diverse, inclusive environment that supports equal access, participation, and representation on our campus.
We celebrated our 75th anniversary, and IU’s Bicentennial, even if the commemoration had to be cut short. Our Bicentennial campaign netted more than $16 million, far surpassing our original goal. Funds raised created more than 140 undergraduate scholarships, while also providing funding for the campus greenhouse — which also opened in fall 2021 — student international travel, athletic teams, a fitness center, and the SAEC.
We were also ranked among the top regional campuses in the Midwest, in the 2020 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges Rankings, tied for the 7th through 11th spots in the Top Public Schools Regional College Midwest.
As we prepare to return to a more “normal” year this August, we look forward to the accomplishments ahead. A large percentage of our graduates stay and work in this region, teaching in our schools, providing health care in our hospitals and health care centers, starting and leading new businesses to grow our economy, and much more. We couldn’t be more proud.
Congratulations, graduates!
Susan Sciame-Giesecke, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Indiana University Kokomo
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IU trident tab
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke walks in line with other members of the platform party dressing in her commencement robe, cap and stole.
handwritten signature of Susan Sciame-Giesecke
Page 3:
What’s your story?
Looking back on this past academic year, I have been impressed with the stories I have heard of our recent graduates, as well as alumni, and how they have persevered through unusual times.
Many have overcome obstacles, tried new things, and reached milestones they never thought possible. Others have dug deep into their careers and found ways to continue to excel.
This issue of Legacy highlights a few IU Kokomo alumnae who have risen to the top, despite what has been going on in the world around them. These stories are most likely very much like your own.
These leaders have made strides to lead from where they are, and plant themselves in places where they can flourish. You’ll get a glimpse of their leadership styles and what drives them on a daily basis. I hope you’ll enjoy reading about these amazing women.
So, I’m curious. What’s your story? I’m always eager to learn more about you, your career path, your growth and accomplishments. Please drop me a line to share your journey. Who knows, you may be featured in the next edition!
Until then, I hope you’ll take advantage of the warmer weather, get outside and breathe the fresh air! I know I’m ready!
Benjamin Liechty, BA ‘06
Director of Alumni Relations
and Campus Ceremonies
Meet
Bill and
Barbara
Lambert,
IU Alumni and donors.
The Lamberts met at Indiana University in 1957, when they were both in the School of Business. They were athletic, and played golf and tennis together. Bill invited Barb to the Indy 500 with his family. During the race, there was a crash in front of their seats, and Barb was hit with a flying chunk of rubber from a tire, and received several stitches. Bill said I’ll take you home and she replied, “Oh no, I’m staying for the race!” That was it for him.
Their daughters were both in the medical field, and the Lamberts recognize the importance of nursing. They wanted to support a scholarship for the nursing students at IU Kokomo. To accomplish this philanthropic goal, they have generously given $100,000, establishing the William P. Lambert and Barbara A. Lambert Charitable Gift Annuity, (CGA) which will ultimately fund the Bill and Barbara Lambert IU Kokomo Nursing Scholarship.
What is a Charitable Gift Annuity?
A Charitable Gift Annuity is a simple agreement in which a donor makes a gift of cash or securities in return for a fixed income stream for life. The annuity rate is based on the age of the annuitant(s) at the time of the gift.
Based on their ages, the CGA rate offered by IUF for two lives is 6.6%. This means that for a gift of $100,000, IUF will provide a fixed payment of $6,600 per year to them for the remainder of their joint lives. The Lamberts also will receive a generous charitable income tax deduction.
We are grateful to the Lamberts for their generous gift which helps them do well while also doing good. Thank you!
Interested in learning more?
Please contact the IU Kokomo development office at 765-455-9485.
Fundraising Disclosures: go.iu.edu/89n
Alt Text:
portrait of alumni director Ben Liechty in a white dress shirt, black tie and crimson suit jacket.
Portrait of Bill and Barbara Lambert
logo for Indiana University Kokomo Office for University Advancement
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Commencment 2021
Indiana University Kokomo celebrated the academic achievements —as well as the resilience and dedication to persevere in the face of a global pandemic — of both 2020 and 2021 graduates during Commencement on Tuesday, May 11, during an outdoor ceremony at the Pavilion.
Class of 2020
654 Graduates
41 Indiana counties
12 States
16 Countries
34% First generation
Class of 2021
706 Graduates
39 Indiana counties
10 States
17 Countries
34% First generation
For more commencement photos search @IUKokomo on Flickr
Alt Text:
view from the back of the crowd of graduates sitting in chairs in their commencement cap and gown facing the outdoor pavilion at IU Kokomo.
female graduate in her cap, gown and colorful stoles awaiting the commencement ceremony.
two female graduates take a selfie on their cell phone while in their caps and gowns waiting for the ceremony to start.
Female graduate and male with their arms in the air celebrating her graduation.
commencement grand marshal Kristin Snoddy leads the platform party including President Michael McRobbie on their way out of the commencement ceremony. They are dressed in colorful robes and she holds a golden sceptre with an eagle on top.
male graduate holds his crimson diploma cover
shot of the graduates from the back with a white arrow on the ground pointing towards the pavilion in the background.
male graduate in cap and gown making a peace sign with his fingers.
two female graduates hug one another after the commencement ceremony while wearing their caps and gowns.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke speaks at the podium.
female graduate wearing an IU mask
a group of masters graduates pose together for a photo wearing their caps and gowns following the commencement ceremony.
female graduate poses for a photo with three family members following the ceremony.
Three female and one male graduate pose together for a photo.
male graduate at the podium singing the alma mater.
Page 5
Student Address
Mehreen Tahir B.S. ‘21
“You are blessed to be born in a country that values freedom, your universities that value students, and your professors that value your success, so never forget to give back to this entire community.
I pray you never face the adversity of oppression or a situation where your right to freedom of speech is threatened.
I urge you to passionately pursue your dreams and never give up on your goals. May you always be the pride of your campus, family, and your country.”
Mehreen Tahir represented the graduates as class speaker. She grew up in a small village in Pakistan and came to the United States because of her dream of an education. An honors graduate in biochemistry, she will continue her studies at Arizona State University, pursuing a Ph.D. in environmental biochemistry.
To watch Mehreen’s powerful speech, as well as the rest of the commencement ceremony, visit go.iu.edu/3Pde.
Grant Gaylor Makes School History as First National Champion
When Grant Gaylor enrolled at Indiana University Kokomo, he thought his days throwing shot put were likely behind him.
The campus’s track team was new, and only included running events at that time.
Not ready to give up throwing and hoping it might be added before he graduated with his nursing degree, Gaylor continued to train on his own, with help from his Northwestern High School coach and some video instruction programs. When he was asked to be on the first throwing team last spring, he was ready.
Two weeks after graduation, he secured his place in campus history, winning shot put at the NAIA men’s outdoor track and field national championships.
“My story is unique, but almost anyone could do this,” he said. “It just takes the right motivation and drive. People can be a lot more than what they think. It just comes down to you. An outcome isn’t promised, but are you willing to do the work to get the outcome you want? I was willing to do the work and hope it would be meaningful and impactful.”
Gaylor dominated the field at nationals. His throw of 18.74 meters in the finals was 72 centimeters better than the next competitor and beat his previous school record of 18.02
He also won River States Conference (RSC) titles in shotput and discus, and was named its Outstanding Field Athlete of the Year. He was runner-up in shot put at the NAIA indoor championships.
He’s balanced a full training schedule with his senior nursing program, throwing and then lifting weights after class each weekday, and then competing in meets on Saturdays.
“It’s been challenging, but it was rewarding at the same time,” he said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to compete and represent my university and be part of the team atmosphere again. It’s an important individual thing for me, but also to be part of something greater than myself.”
After graduating in May, and with nationals behind him, he looks forward to beginning his career as an emergency room nurse at Community Howard Regional Health. He also hopes to continue to impact IU Kokomo’s track program as a volunteer coach.
Stay up-to-date on all things athletics at iukcougars.com
Alt Text:
class speaker Mehreen Tahir speaking passionately at the podium.
word "cougars" in a handwritten script style
cougar head logo
Grant Gaylor stands in the middle of the championship podium.
Page 6:
SAEC Receives Official Welcome
The long-awaited Student Activities and Events Center received its official welcome to campus during a dedication ceremony led by IU President Michael A. McRobbie.
“This much needed and very welcoming center will further strengthen the already vigorous spirit of community, scholarship, and fellowship at IU Kokomo,” McRobbie said, noting that it is “at least a dozen facilities in one,” because not only is it a gym, but also a resource center, a commons, a classroom, a training center, a proving ground, a lounge, and more.
The SAEC opened for the fall 2020 semester, just in time to also serve as a much-needed classroom space due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke added that the campus has needed a gathering space for many years and is pleased to finally have it.
“This truly is something to celebrate,” she said. “In my mind, the campus is now complete. We’re ready for the 21st century.”
Representing student athletes, Jaela Meister, from the women’s basketball team, said they are grateful for the gymnasium.
“I cannot wait until we are able to fill up this gym with hundreds of students and staff, while also competing in front of our friends and families,” she said. “I hope to be able to raise another banner to represent this university, and to show how thankful I am to have witnessed the building of our new facility, and to play in it.”
Located southeast of Hunt Hall on the eastern edge of campus, the 26,000 square-foot building accommodates up to 1,200 spectators, and offers athletic offices, athletic training and locker facilities, a large lobby/reception area, and a three-story-high assembly space/gymnasium.
For more information go to iuk.edu/eventscenter
Hoops Forges Friendship Office named in honor of first basketball coach
The friendship between Dr. Richard Lasbury and Cliff Hunt began with a shared love for Indiana University basketball.
The two recall both attending IU Bloomington in 1953, and the excitement of attending basketball games there. Both have become IU Kokomo sports fans and have supported the programs with scholarships funds, while also funding student travel programs.
When IU Kokomo announced plans to build the Student Activities and Events Center (SAEC), Lasbury and his wife, Betty, knew they wanted to support it — and that their gift should honor their friend. When the SAEC opened in fall 2020, it included a men’s basketball coach’s office named for Hunt.
“Cliff has done a lot for IU Kokomo,” Richard Lasbury said. “He was the first basketball coach, and he’s important to the campus. I’m happy we did it.”
Hunt called the honor “overwhelming and surprising,” but appreciates it.
“I have a long history at IU Kokomo, and I even took some classes there when the campus was at the Seiberling Mansion, in 1952,” he said. “I wanted to lay a base for IU Kokomo to compete in the NAIA. I think I placed a foundation for that to happen.”
Hunt coached the IU Kokomo Knights from 1981 to 1991, starting the team as a club sport, and growing it to play against other schools. The campus’s athletic programs, now branded as the Cougars, earned NAIA membership in 2013.
He hopes to see the stands packed with student fans when games can go on without COVID-19 restrictions.
“This is something IU Kokomo has needed, and I’m proud to be part of it,” Hunt said. “I could never have imagined it when I was borrowing gym space for games from elementary schools and the Armory.”
Lasbury said he drove by regularly during construction to watch progress, and is happy with the finished center.
“IU Kokomo’s growth is amazing,” he said. “It used to be just one building, and now look at it. It’s a real campus.”
Alt Text:
IU Kokomo officially dedicated the Student Activities and Events Center on May 11.
IU President Michael A. McRobbie accepts a ceremonial key to the SAEC.
Faculty, staff, students, and donors attended the ceremony.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke said the SAEC is the gathering space the campus community needed.
Cliff Hunt, (left) with Dr. Richard Lasbury (right) in the new Student Activities and Events Center.
Men’s Head Basketball Coach Eric Echelbarger, (left) shows Cliff Hunt (right) the plaque outside his office.
Page 7:
There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise
—Bosa Sebele
writer, activist, and law scholar
Integrity.
Accountability.
Empathy. Humility.
These are just a few qualities of a great leader. And many alumnae of Indiana University Kokomo exude these traits every single day.
Often times, it’s a person like Alexius Babb, who is about to complete her Ph.D. to become a counselor, so she can be a trustworthy face of a health care system to other people of color. Or it’s someone like Amanda Bagwell, who has overcome great obstacles to attain employment, and now reaches a hand back to lift others.
Brianne Boles also qualifies, as CEO of Bona Vista, where she leads one of the largest employers in Howard County, as they impact the lives of people with special abilities. And Priyanka Singh Deo heads up a team of Microsoft Engineers, in a field typically dominated by men.
Continue on to be inspired.
Alt Text:
the word "Rise" hand drawn in a script style
a series of pink and red triangles pointing up
three hand drawn dotted vertical lines
Page 8:
Equality in the workplace tops alumna’s goals
With a law degree and an impressive resume that includes a Congressional internship and recognition as one of the top law students in the country, Amanda Bagwell shouldn’t have had difficulty finding a job. Her blindness, however, complicates matters.
After a lifetime of battling for her rights, she’s taking her experience and using it to make a difference for others with disabilities.
“I want to break down stigmas on the front line,” said Bagwell, 28. “I want to be the person helping employers understand what they can do to reasonably accommodate people with disabilities, to help them reach their maximum potential.”
It's a daunting task.
According to the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17.9 percent of persons with a disability were employed in 2020, down from 19.3 percent in 2019. By comparison, 61.8 percent of people without a disability were employed during that same time period, down from 66.3 percent the previous year.
These numbers do not shock Bagwell, as a person who has lived this reality.
In addition to her bachelor’s degree in psychology from IU Kokomo, Bagwell graduated from the Valparaiso University School of Law in 2018, and was recognized by The National Jurist magazine as one of 20 law students nationwide who contributed the most to their law schools and communities in the previous year.
Even with these accolades, “I struggled getting a job,” she said. “I’m educated, I have experience, I have a wonderful resume.
“I know how it feels to be told, very diplomatically, ‘Well, we have other candidates,’” she continued, “I’m sure they do. They don’t understand how I can do the job. I know how that stings.”
Understanding those challenges, Bagwell has made it her life’s mission to help. She co-owns a web accessibility compliance business, and also works as a counselor for vocational rehabilitation through Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration. Her goal is to earn her law license to help write policies that make employment easier.
“Just because we have disabilities doesn’t mean we don’t deserve a life,” she said. “I want to help. I believe the best way I can do that is to help adjust existing policies, write new policies, and bring my knowledge to the table regarding regulations. Whether I’m blessed to do that in vocational rehabilitation or somewhere else, I want to serve.”
Bagwell said many times, there are small accommodations that can make a huge difference. For example, she uses a larger computer monitor. She also has a guide dog, a yellow lab named Buddington.
“Most people, I have found, once they are given the correct tools in their toolbox, can do very well,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed helping them have their basic needs met, and then watch them grow and develop, to become their own advocate for their rights, handling it professionally moving forward. It’s fulfilling to me to see they can stand on their own and move forward and be part of society.”
Bagwell sets an example for her clients, with her own persistence, tenacity, and independence.
“There’s a creative way for everything,” she said. “I’m used to doing things by myself. When my parents got sick, I would walk to the school bus by myself. I’ve cooked, cleaned, and walked home from law school. It’s all by trial and error. You have to figure out a way to do something, when push comes to shove.”
Bagwell has challenged herself since she lost her sight, shortly after her fourth birthday, due to a connective tissue disorder .
“I had to re-learn how to live,” she said. “I had to learn how to feed myself, and how to navigate my surroundings. I was already reading and writing, but then had to learn to read Braille with my hands.”
Her mother and stepfather pushed for her needs at school, but when their health struggles left them unable to do so, she had to take that job on herself at a very young age.
“When they got sick, I learned that someone had to get up and do it, and it was going to have to be me advocating for myself,” she said.
After graduating from high school, she first earned a community college degree, then enrolled at IU Kokomo. She found a welcoming environment while earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, graduating in 2015 — with her guide dog, Roscoe, accompanying her across the stage.
“It set the trend for what I should ask when I went to graduate school,” she said of her IU Kokomo experience. She was able to receive documents in an electronic format, allowing her to read them on her computer, which she was allowed to use in class for note taking. She also received extra time on tests, to accommodate for her screen reader, which was essentially talking software, to read the information.
“I got the hands-on help I needed, which allowed me to mature and grow up in a more family-based setting,” she said.
Law school was harder, because she had to push for many of the accommodations she needed. On top of the rigorous class schedule and hours of study she and her classmates had to do, she also spent countless hours scanning print textbooks into a program that read them to her, or contacting publishers to send her PDFs to scan. She took exams either in Braille or on a Word document where she could type answers — often folding the screen down so her classmates couldn’t read her answers, because of professors’ concerns.
Sarah Sarber, IU Kokomo’s chief of staff, who is also a law school graduate, talked her through career options, leading her to policy and regulation. Bagwell gained experience in that area as an intern with Congresswoman Robin Kelly in Chicago.
In her role, she drafted policies for local companies, networked, helped with programs to get children from low income families access to college, spoke with constituents, and organized educational events.
“How else can you be part of your society, unless you have knowledge?” she said. “If you don’t know what you’re advocating for when you talk to your employer, you can’t protect yourself.”
Alt Text:
Amanda Bagwell with her guide dog Buddington.
three red and pink triangles pointing up
Amanda Bagwell works in her office with guide dog Buddington close by.
the word "equality" in a hand drawn script style
Page 9:
Family drives
education journey
A conversation around her kitchen table changed Alexius Babb’s life — and the lives of her family.
Her husband, Leon, asked her if there were any goals she wanted to achieve. She wished she had finished college, and he suggested she just go back — and pointed out Indiana University Kokomo was just a few short miles from their home.
Less than 10 years after that conversation, Babb has gone well beyond her initial wish, with a Doctor of Psychology nearly completed, and a move for a job in Hawaii on the horizon.
It hasn’t come easy for any of them.
After graduating from IU Kokomo, she started her graduate program in Chicago, then moved to Tyler, Texas for her internship. She and Leon agreed they wanted their children — a son, 14, and 11-year-old twin daughters — to stay in one place until she finished school and had a job. So, he stayed in Kokomo and took on the majority of the child raising, while also earning his bachelor’s degree in Medical Imaging Technology.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice, and a long journey,” she said. “The fact we will be reunited, and our family will be in a better position than we were before, makes it worth the sacrifice. We’re thinking of where we are generationally. When we had these discussions in our family, I don’t think anyone in our extended family could imagine that any of us would go this far.”
They all look forward to being together again in their new home in Hawaii starting in September. Alexius will do her post-doctoral training as a primary care psychologist at Hilo Hospital, where Leon will work in his new profession. They’ve already chosen schools for their children, and are working on the other logistics of such a big move. It’s a bittersweet moment, she noted, as they leave behind friends who have become family in Kokomo.
“It’s been a real good journey to what feels like a long pursuit of making things better for our family,” she said. “Just to see where we started from, and the culmination of our hard work, it’s really profound and shows where education can take you.”
While she originally planned to start a career immediately after earning her bachelor’s degree, Babb said faculty members including Rosalyn Davis, clinical associate professor of psychology, encouraged her to dream bigger, and assured her she was more than capable.
As a doctoral student, her research focuses on physician empathy, and how it impacts treatment success for Black people who manage diabetes and hypertension. She’s also considering health care discrimination and patient satisfaction, to see how those variables affect the outcome.
“These are two of the more common illnesses in the Black community that lead to overall poor health outcomes,” she said. “The relationship between the doctor and patient is very important to keep people on their treatment regimen. It’s important for physicians and other medical institutions to have this information, so they can moderate the relationships and make changes to have better outcomes.”
Her ultimate goal is improving minority health care, noting that there is long-established distrust for the medical community. As a fellow minority herself, she hopes to show that there are people within the system working to make it better.
That goal prompted her to apply for the job in Hawaii, to do her part to improve the overall health and well-being of native Hawaiians, and other minorities who live there.
“They have a very troubled legacy relationship-wise with the United States,” Babb said. “Years of generational trauma can cause a lot of trauma to the human psyche, and to overall health outcomes.”
Babb hopes that she and her husband have set an example not only for their own children, but for others in their family, about the possibilities education opens for them.
“The most important thing we hope we instill in our children is hard work and good effort, because that will help you master many things in life,” she said. “We really hope they see how hard we worked, and they would pick up that same drive, perseverance, and resiliency we have.”
CEO finds growth
through challenges
If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing.
That’s the leadership philosophy at the heart of Brianne Boles’ professional success. As Chief Executive Officer of Bona Vista, a Kokomo-based not-for-profit, she leads a team that provides services for pre-school children, and children and adults with disabilities.
“We serve, or could serve, people from birth to death, complete life wraparound services, depending on what someone needs, and where they are in their current situation,” said Boles, B.G.S. ’03, M.P.M. ’06.
“Even with 13 years at this agency, and three years in the CEO position, I challenge myself to find ways to push myself, to stretch my abilities,” she said. “We’re responsible for thousands of lives, and I’m running a company that is one of the larger employers in the city of Kokomo and Howard County. I take great pride in that.”
While her original plan was to be an elementary teacher, Boles reached back to childhood experiences, volunteering in the community with her mother, Vicki Boles, a long-time Kokomo teacher.
“Giving back to our community was in my blood,” she said. “When I decided to switch, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I turned to what we did as volunteers, began working for the American Red Cross, and fell in love with it.”
As she figured out her career, mentors from campus all advised her, leading her to the Master of Public Management program as it was getting off the ground.
Armed with her graduate degree, Boles began her career at Bona Vista as a vice president in communication and development — with plans to continue growing into new roles. She discussed these goals with Jill Dunn, the CEO who hired her.
“I told her that I would want to grow. I had professional goals and that Kokomo was near and dear to my heart, and I would like nothing more than to grow and give back to my hometown professionally,” she recalls telling Dunn.
She began stretching herself by moving from communications into programming for the individuals served by the organization, starting out in the employment division. In that position, she helped people with disabilities secure and maintain employment.
“What I liked about it, and what I think grabbed me, was the ability to still network and meet people,” Boles said. “I like the opportunity to do something different every day in this job. Regardless of what position you are in here, it is definitely not the same thing every day.”
She found she enjoyed working more directly with Bona Vista’s clients than her previous role allowed.
“What has kept me here is I can walk into any of our buildings and see clients, and see the difference we make, and that the staff makes. That’s what’s locked me in and has kept me here 13 years later,” she said.
“For many of our persons served, we are their family. We handle everything someone would handle for their son, their daughter, their parent, like haircuts, grocery shopping, teaching grooming etiquette, and helping with daily hygiene. That is what we do every day. We develop relationships and bonds grow organically. The staff loves the persons served, and it’s hard not to. They are very, very special people.”
Having the ability to see the impact Bona Vista has is how she knows she’s grown as a leader during her career.
“It’s inspiring to work for a company that provides essential services every single day, regardless of what’s going on in our local community, let alone nationally,” she said. “I definitely have grown in the area of patience, and celebrating the small moments. It’s important to celebrate those small victories, and we have a lot of them here.”
She encourages other women to look for opportunities to serve, both personally and professionally.
“If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing, in my opinion,” she said. “Put yourself out there, challenge yourself, be open to anything that comes your way.”
Alt Text:
Alexius Babb (left) with husband Leon (top right), and daughter Jordan (center), son Joseph (middle right) and daughter Jayden (bottom right).
the word "drives" in a hand drawn script style
the word "growth" in a hand drawn script style.
Brianne Boles at Bona Vista
Early Childhood Services
two red and pink triangles pointing up
Page 10:
Grad feels ‘pride and joy’
at Microsoft
No dream is too big, if you aren’t afraid to reach for it.
That philosophy has led Priyanka Singh Deo to success in her ideal job, in a city she’s come to love as home — on the other side of the world from where she started.
“Sometimes, when you think about things, they seem impossible. But, if that’s what you want, you find a way,” said Singh Deo, M.B.A. ’14. “I’m pretty much living my dream job.”
As a project manager for Microsoft, one of the world’s largest and most successful technology companies, she currently works from her apartment overlooking downtown Seattle. She is responsible for managing a team of 21 engineers who work with start-up developers to implement their entire technical needs on the Azure cloud platform.
“This is my pride and joy at Microsoft,” she said. “At this point, I’ve helped more than 5,000 start-ups be successful. When we started Azure, I saw an opportunity to help developers adopt our program and founded Azure Consultants. It started as a pilot program, and now it’s an integral part of Microsoft and Microsoft for Start-Ups.”
It almost seems like too much for a woman who grew up in a British boarding school in India — but that background gave her the tools she needed to seek out the next opportunity.
“Moving away and starting new was instilled in me from a really young age,” she said. The experience was similar to what Americans see in the Harry Potter movies, she said, with students assigned to houses, and earning points for their house in the classroom and on the athletic fields.
“It was really wonderful,” she said. “In a sense, it taught me to be independent at a young age. I learned to make friends quickly. When you are away from home, your friends are your everything. I’ve never had to work on learning interpersonal skills, because they just came naturally from this experience.”
With that sense of independence, she left India for the very first time shortly after graduating for college in the United States. That led to her first job, working for an engineering firm in Munich, Germany. She noted that her colleagues all had advanced degrees, and knew she would need more school to achieve her career goals.
That led to IU Kokomo, where she was a graduate assistant in the Office of Student Life while earning her M.B.A. She missed the atmosphere of Munich, with its big city lifestyle and opportunities for outdoor adventures, however, and kept her eyes open for a city with a similar vibe.
She found what she was looking for on a fall break trip to Seattle, and began intentionally using LinkedIn for connecting and networking, building towards getting her foot in the door at Microsoft.
“I knew I wanted to be a program manager, so when I saw someone on LinkedIn who had that title, I would message them and say, ‘I’m in college, and I want to get to where you are. I would appreciate it if you would take some time to talk to me.”
LinkedIn is where she learned about her first job at Microsoft. Within a week of receiving a job offer she packed everything she owned into her Toyota Corolla and set off on a marathon 32-hour drive to the west coast — with no place to live lined up, but with plenty of faith in her own ability to work out the details, because she wanted it badly enough.
“I feel truly fortunate with coming this far, and finding a job I love,” she said. “I’ve worked other places where it was just a job. Now, I can wake up in the morning and start doing something that’s almost second nature. This is my passion, this is what I want to do.
“I do feel really blessed and lucky to be here.”
“Finding good mentors is really important,” she said. “They are already where you want to go, and can give you the best direction for how to get there.”
Lisa Taylor-Weaver
BS’99
Major:
Finance and Economics
Current Occupation:
Director of Engagement at The Cellular Connection. I have held several positions over my 22 years with the company including accounts receivable, accounting team lead, assistant controller, and director of administration.
What advice would you give a woman
who is starting her career?
One nugget of wisdom that I was given when I began my career after graduating was to be flexible. This still stands true today. You must be willing to be flexible with your approach to projects and people. Change is inevitable and necessary for growth and innovation. I would also encourage having a mentor. Identify someone you define as successful and ask them to lunch. We all need someone to be our cheerleader, sounding board, and shoulder to cry on when needed. Gerry Stroman, who I met as a student at IUK, was all of those things for me. I will forever cherish my mentorship and friendship with her.
Emilee Miller-Norris
BA’13, MPM ‘16
Major:
Communication, Public Management
Current Occupation:
I’m the Chief Executive Officer at Clinton County Family YMCA. I do a little of everything. It’s a nonprofit, so anyone who works in that world knows you wear many hats when you do any job there. I do strategic thinking, long-term planning, and overall long-term health of the facility.
What advice would you give a woman
who is starting her career?
I think the biggest thing is to advocate for yourself. You hear about women trying to break the glass ceiling and, really, I’ve found more that it’s women trying to make sure that they don’t shatter in these positions. It’s tough to be a woman in male-dominated fields. It’s difficult to sit in a room and be sure of yourself, speak up, and advocate for your own worth. You’re the only one that’s going to do it. Nobody is going to swoop in on your behalf and advocate. You need to be well rounded and very well prepared to have fierce conversations.
Ann Millikan
BA’59
Major:
Elementary Education
Current Occupation:
I was a first-grade teacher for 19 years at Bon Air Elementary, worked with the school to develop elementary guidance program, and the administrator for Kokomo Schools’ Title 1 program.
What advice would you give a woman
who is starting her career?
Look at all the options and take all the classes that you can take. Do everything you can to help clarify what you really want to do. It’s wise to get every opportunity you can to do any kind of job or volunteer experience in any area you think you might be interested in. Look around and see what options are available.
Faith Renken
BA’18
Major:
Humanities with minors in English and Sociology, and a concentration in Performing Arts
Current Occupation:
I’m the Assistant Director for Programing at Ball State University. I oversee the university program board where they host weekly events such as Alcohol Alternatives, which encourage students to come to programs rather than go out on a Thursday evening.
What advice would you give a woman
who is starting her career?
I would say that there’s really not going to be a direct path to where you want to be. It’ll all take time to figure out the best way to adjust and to probably fail at times, so that you can figure out the best way for you as a person to succeed and the way that you define your own success. It’s really important to enjoy the journey and to not forget to keep your cup full as well. Without having your own cup filled, it’s really hard to give your whole self to others and to even encourage others to do better.
Alt Text:
Priyanka Singh Deo at Microsoft in Seattle, WA
the words "pride & joy" in a hand drawn script style.
portrait of Lisa Taylor-Weaver
portrait of Emilee Miller-Norris
portrait of Ann Millikan
portrait of Faith Renken
grid of dotted red lines
Page 11:
Just Keep Running
Everyone can agree that this last year has been different. Everyday life has changed. The way we see each other. How we all interact with each other. How we handle our stresses.
Now more than ever, it’s extremely important to take care of our mental and physical health. My way prior to COVID was running.
Due to this pandemic, everything was closing and cancelling. All races were put to a stop and I was over halfway through a marathon training period. I would have people say, “Tyler, you run! Nothing is changing too much for you.” Well, sure. I run, but I only like running when there is a race on my calendar. And given the circumstances, there were no REAL races on the horizon. Virtual races became a big thing.
My motivation was completely drained. The crowds, all the runners lining up, the water stations, GONE. Not to be seen. Not only that; my job traveling was put to a stop AND my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful baby girl during this time. My life was (and is) crazy and it felt okay to put running on the back burner. But as time went on, I could definitely tell that stress and anxiety were becoming more common in my everyday life.
About a month and a half passes into being at home and I had decided that running had to come back. It also helped that my father-in-law was running more than me (and he is good at letting me know that). So the process began of getting back into running. Wake up, get my coffee, work, and immediately after that, RUN. It doesn’t matter how far or how long, I just had to do it. And having my wife cheering me on was a definite motivator.
With races slowly coming back, it is easier to find the motivation. If you’re looking for an easy way to start running for better physical and mental health, here are some tips to get started:
1
Don’t worry about distance,
Just focus on your time.
Aim for 10 minutes. Get used to that and throw in more time once it feels natural to your body. Countless ‘Couch to 5k’ programs exist online with a simple Google search that can be helpful to beginners!
2
Put runs in your calendar.
It gives you a goal to get out the door.
3
Tell friends that you are starting to run.
They may become supportive and be a source of motivation!
4
Don’t start off sprinting!
You are trying to become a runner, not break any world records.
5
Sign up for a race. Even if it’s virtual, it will give you something to look forward to (and chances are you will get a t-shirt).
6
Push through.
Just remember, it is important to have time to decompress through these hard times. And putting yourself through a workout may be tough, but you won’t regret it after.
Alt Text:
portrait of Tyler Lucas
Tyler running while he was a student athlete at IU Kokomo
Tyler running a race with a competitor not far behind
Page 12:
Thank you to our generous 2020 donors
Seiberling Society
$5000 and Above
Anonymous
Sita Amba-Rao
Don and Gail Beaton
William and Marilyn Bersbach
Button Motors, Inc.
Robert and Deborah Christensen
Community First Bank of Indiana
Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc.
First Farmers Bank & Trust, Inc.
Randall and Esther Fishman
Michael and Judy Golitko
David Gossman
Daniel Grundmann and Julie Paris
- William and Nancy Hunt
Philip Kintzele
Richard and Betty Lasbury
Pete Rosenau and Kathleen Ligocki
Eugene and Nancy McGarvey
Mike Anderson Auto Group, Inc.
NIPSCO
Brian and Angela Shockney
Charles and Alice Simons
Jeffrey and Lisa Smeltzer
Craig and Susan Smith - Smith-Fuqua Foundation
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union
Paul Stanley, Jr.
Jack and Pam Tharp
Elwood Haynes Society
Planned and Estate Gifts
Anonymous
Donald and C. Gail Almquist
Don and Gail Beaton
Elizabeth Tocco Billman
Robert and Betty Blossey
Robert and Deborah Chistensen
Amal and Betty Das
Kelly Goad
Marc and Tonya Goodier
Mary Ellen Harnish
Elwood Hillis
- William and Nancy Hunt
Philip Kintzele
Bill and Barbara Lambert
Richard and Shirley Lee
Kathleen Ligocki
Robert Mullen and Dianna Delgado
James Pellerite
Ruth Person
Allan Reeves
Glenn Rodgers, Jr.
Allen Safianow
Dana Scruggs
Marilyn Skinner
Jeffrey and Lisa Smeltzer
Scott Thatcher
Patricia Williams
Chancellor’s
Guild Society
$1000 - $4999
Andy and Mary Baker
Michelle Bosworth
Mary Bourke
Robert and Devra Callaghan
Mark and Lisa Canada
Karl and Cathy Clearwaters
Steven and Barbara Conner
Rosalyn Davis
Joseph Fagan and Patricia Davis
Tim and Dana Davis
Kevin and Amy Deardorff
Stuart and Teresa Devaul
Chad and Christina Downey
Jim and Janetta Duffy
Melissa Ellis
Cartwright Ellis
Frank and Margaret Faulkner
Marc and Tonya Goodier
Florence Goodyear
Mary Ellen Harnish
Devon and Deborah Hart
Douglas Eglen and Lynette Hazelbaker
Joe and Sue Hendricks
Cliff Hunt
IUK Staff Council
Kent Kauffman and Jan Halperin
Joe and Kelli Keener
John Routt and Christina Lorentson
Scott and Cheryl Maple
Tom McKinney
Midwest Sociological Society
Herbert Miller
Robert Mullen and Dianna Delgado
Sonnie Neal
Park Place Apartments
Ruth Person
Doug and Gloria Preece
Quality Plumbing & Heating
Jacob Robertson
Robert and Annette Rush
Stephen and Julie Saam
Allen Safianow
Dana Scruggs
Heidi Sebastian
John and Jennifer Sejdinaj
Jeff and Karla Stouse
Doug and Tracy Stout
Richard and Susan Szep
Flora TenBrook
Paul and Julie Wagner
Brad Wheeler
Phoenix Society
$400 - $999
Alpha Delta Kappa Tau Chapter
Eric and Laura Bain-Selbo
Bill and Tess Barker
Nicholas and Carrie Baxter
Kenneth and Stacey Bettegnies
Robert and Nancy Blue
Pat Brandstatter
David and Donna Brownfield
Bucheri McCarty & Metz
Charles Bartholomew
Bruce and Ann Cameron
Cole Family
Thomas and Lori Collins
FCA - Chrysler
Financial Center First Credit Union
William and Margot Fox
Meg Galasso
Leon and Patricia Gerber
Glenn and Nancy Grundmann
Raed Obaieda and Nisreen Hamarshah
Haynes International
Loren and Nancy Henry
Jack and Charlotte Higgins
John and Karen Holman
John and Karen Hughey
Anthony and Mary Lacobucci
J&J Electric of Indiana
Alan Krabbenhoft and Kathleen Klute
Kokomo Tribune
Bart and Rebecca Lefler
Jeff and Marie Lindskoog
Neil and Cynthia Lipken
James and Amy Lucas
Megan Mathews-Wine
Kyle McAninch
Greg and Peggy McCarty
James McIntyre
Greg and Carole Ogle
Vijaya Pendse
Kyle and Lisa Rayl
Realtors Association of Central Indiana
Ralph and Victoria Rhees
Allan and Dianne Roden
Christina Romero-Ivanova
Marsha Rush
John and Sarah Sarber
Mike Scheidler and Sharon Calhoon
Security Federal Savings Bank
Richard and Audrey Smith
Society for Values in Higher Education
Matthew and Juli Spielman
Gregory and Melinda Stanley
William and Carolyn Stifle
William and Rita Stoller
William and Carolyn Townsend
Terry and Mary Unger
Court French and Dawnya Upchurch
Dan and Cathy Valcke
Don and Deborah Zent
Become a donor today! Learn more about ways you can give at go.iu.edu/3Q8f
Page 13:
IU proud
IU loyal
IU for life
Your IU journey doesn’t end at graduation. Indiana University will always be a part of your story, no matter where life takes you.
IU is where we made lifelong friends, discovered our passions, and created lasting memories. It’s a place where many of us found ourselves.
At the IU Alumni Association, our mission is to further the future of our alma mater and keep alumni—more than 725,000 and growing—connected for life.
Join our community today!
For more information visit
alumni.iu.edu
Alt Text:
Indiana University Alumni Association Kokomo Region logo
Cover Page:
Alumni in action
Essential workers persevere during uncertain times.
Alt Text:
Alumni Jerome Campbell, dressed in his firefighter gear stands cross armed in front of an Indianapolis Fire Department truck.
Page 2:
Words from your chancellor
“Lead from where you are.”
This is a familiar phrase to Indiana University Kokomo’s faculty and staff. I often ask our campus members to be bold and take the initiative to make our campus culture and our students’ experience the best it can be…everyone on our campus is a leader. Never has that been more apparent than it has been during the past few months.
Little did we know when the Spring 2020 semester began in January that by the end of March, we would be closing campus and delivering class content remotely. Not only were students finishing the semester at home, faculty and staff were also working from home. I do not think the campus has ever been so quiet. I once again asked everyone to “lead from where you are”.
Faculty and students left campus for spring break and did not return to campus to finish the semester. Faculty had two weeks to figure out how to deliver course content on-line for classes that were designed to be taught face-to-face. Students had to be flexible and open to alternative methods of course delivery, and staff had to figure out how to get their jobs done from home. This issue of Legacy features some of our alumni, faculty and staff who were instrumental in their roles in dealing with the pandemic. I am proud of our alumni who are doing incredible work in service to our community during this global crisis. And I cannot say enough about our faculty and staff, who stepped up and met the challenges a pandemic brings.
While we negotiate the challenges posed by COVID-19, we cannot ignore the civil unrest and protests demanding social justice for victims of recent shootings. We believe that it is important for our campus community to re-affirm our commitment to diversity in all its forms, and to foster a climate of respect and inclusiveness; a climate that welcomes diverse backgrounds, thoughts, perspectives, and life experiences. In this issue you will read about the new Multicultural Center on campus. The center supports our minority students and promotes the value of diversity and an inclusive environment to all of our students.
Because our campus community answered the call to “Lead from where you are”, I am proud to say that when the fall 2020 semester started in August, we were ready! Leadership during a pandemic and civil discontent is not easy, and it is not something that one person can accomplish alone. I am proud to be the Chancellor at Indiana University Kokomo, and I hope you take pride in how your alma mater is rising to meet challenges that we could have never envisioned.
Take care,
Susan Sciame-Giesecke, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Indiana University Kokomo
Stay home, stay safe.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, that was the advice given — stay at home if you can to avoid exposure to the coronavirus.
But for those on the front lines — doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ambulance drivers, police and firefighters, grocery store workers, and many more — staying home was never an option.
And then there were the teachers, who may have been home, but continued their vital work of educating children, but through a computer or tablet screen, rather than in the classroom — often while also helping their own children with school work.
Many of these essential workers were Indiana University Kokomo alumni, serving their communities when they were needed most. They include Jerome Campbell, an Indianapolis firefighter, made medical runs to help the sick; David Barrett, supported teachers and checked into the welfare of students at home as principal of a Lafayette junior high school; Amy Lennon Kinder, took a leave from her ER nurse job for a short-term deployment to the hard-hit hospitals in New York City, and Nikki Brown, helped people handle the mental health issues that come with sudden, even traumatic changes of a pandemic.
See their stories on page 16.
Table of Contents
Winter 2020
Alumni Scholarships 5
2020 Senior Spotlights 6
News Briefs 10
In a World on Fire 12
Alumni in Action 16
Athletics Update 26
Alt Text:
Chancellor’s Signature
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke wears a mask as she interacts with 2 female students choosing a shirt that is being handed out.
IU trident tab
Page 3:
Greetings fellow alumni,
First and foremost, I hope this finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe as this most unusual year comes to an end. The past several months has certainly created a whirlwind of emotions from the global COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest in our country. Myself, along with campus leadership, have thought of all of you during this time.
To the Class of 2020 graduates: You pivoted. You persevered. You were determined to complete your Indiana University degree during a pandemic…something none of us could have predicted. We are more than proud of you.
Despite the curveballs, IU Kokomo continues to move forward with many great initiatives. The Greenhouse was completed this summer, as well as the Student Activities and Events Center. We look forward to hosting you on campus so you can see these new additions once we are able to do so.
Thanks to generous alumni and donors, the IUAA Kokomo Region was able to award seven alumni scholarships to current students. You’ll find more about the recipients on the next page.
One of my priorities is to keep you, our alumni, engaged in our campus and connected to each other. We are offering some fun, informative virtual events, including cooking classes, alumni podcasts, and lifelong learning opportunities. Stay up-to-date on future events by following us on social media at Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (IUAA Kokomo Region).
If you are interested in participating in a podcast interview, learn how you can get more involved with your local alumni chapter, recruit prospective students for IU Kokomo, or catch up with your alumni director, please send me an email at alumni@iuk.edu. I WANT to hear from YOU!
As we move forward and continue to travel unknown paths, it is important for all of us to be kind to each other and lift each other up when we can. We are all a part of the IU family, and never daunted, we are tried and true.
Benjamin Liechty, B.A. ‘06
Director of Alumni Relations and Campus Ceremonies
Your generosity supports students
The Indiana University Alumni Association Kokomo Region awarded $10,500 in scholarships to seven students for the 2020-2021 academic year. Each received $1,500.
All new and continuing students enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester are eligible.
Benjamin Liechty, director of alumni relations and campus ceremonies, said the selection committee received many strong applications for the IU Kokomo Alumni Association Scholarships and Kokomo Region Alumni Scholarships.
“We have many outstanding students on our campus and are proud to be able to help them achieve their educational goals with these scholarships,” he said. “I was very pleased with the recipients chosen, and it is my hope they will one day pay it forward to future students, by giving to alumni scholarships.”
Recipients of the IU Kokomo Alumni Association Scholarships include:
Carter Adkins, a secondary education major from Kokomo.
Logan Cox, a biological and physical sciences major from Lawrenceburg.
Laina Fields, a criminal justice major from Connorsville.
Morgan Wymer, a medical imaging technology student from Union City.
Those receiving the Kokomo Regional Alumni Scholarships are:
Kelsey Burnham, a nursing major from Kokomo.
Fernando Alonzo Chavez, a business student from Kokomo.
Kara Funk, a communication major from Lebanon.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2021-2022 academic year at iuk.edu/alumni/scholarship. If you know a current or prospective IU Kokomo student, encourage him or her to apply by April 16, 2021.
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photo of alumni director standing in a staggered line with scholarship recipients. Left to right: Ben Liechty, Carter Adkins, Kelsey Burnham, Laina Fields, Kara Funk, Logan Cox, Morgan Wymer, Fernando Alonzo Chavez.
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2020 Grad Senior Spotlight
The Class of 2020 doesn’t go unnoticed, even though spring Commencement was postponed. The 651 graduates represent 41 Indiana counties, 12 states, and 16 countries.
“I commend them for their perseverance as they finished their degrees under circumstances none of us could have anticipated,” said Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke.
A few of our graduates reflect on their experiences at IU Kokomo.
For updated information on Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2020, go to
iuk.edu/commencement.
Frannie Ruedin New Media, Art and Technology
“It was something I needed to do, going back to school in such an early stage of grief,” said Ruedin, whose 13-year-old brother passed away just before her senior year. “I dedicated all of my time to this art project. Once I set it up, it was so emotional, not only to see my vision come to life, but to know it was dedicated to my little brother.”
Kellin Hardin Psychology, Active Duty –United States Air Force
“It’s exciting for me because not very many in our family have even completed an undergraduate degree,” Hardin said. “My mom graduated from college in her 40s. So, the fact I could graduate and start a master’s program and have that before I’m 40, that’s an achievement.”
Khoi Nguyen Nursing
“I enjoy taking care of people,” said Ngyuen. “Getting to know my patients and taking care of them gives me a sense of responsibility and purpose. It’s always good to see them getting better.”
Esmerelda Perez Biochemistry
“Not many people from my background get these kinds of chances,” said Perez, from Mexico, who plans to go to medical school. “You have to grab these opportunities and run with them.”
Ely & Henly Page History and Political Science
“We’re brothers, and we work and get along,” said Henly. “It makes things fun. It will be weird going into the workforce without him, and missing that bond of working together.”
Carlos Enci Biochemistry
“We come from a humble background,” Enci said, from Africa. “Education is a power in my family. If you aren’t educated, nobody will listen to you. Education is the foundation for our family coming to this country.”
Alison Carwright Business
“The people there are more focused on who you are as a person, and how you’re doing, and building genuine connections,” Cartwright said of her internship in Spain. “That’s one of the biggest things I’ve taken away, to take time to build relationships, as opposed to just getting done what needs to be done.”
Alt Text:
Frannie Ruedin wears her cap and gown while holding a painting of her late brother that she created
Kellin Hardin in her U.S. Air Force camo uniform in front of a background featuring the American Flag.
Khoi Nguyen smiles in front of a white board
Esmerelda Perez smiles in the classroom wearing a white lab coat
Brothers Ely and Henly Page pose with arms around each other wearing suits.
Carlos Enci wears a white lab coat and protective goggles while working in a science lab.
Alison Carwright smiles with a sunset in the background
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Making a return to campus
Masks and hand sanitizer became backpack staples for students returning to campus this fall. Crimson-colored dots mark the spot for desks and campus furniture to ensure proper physical distancing. #IUKSTRONG
How to thrive
Have you found yourself working from home during the pandemic? Needless to say, it is a big adjustment that can be challenging. Along the way, the media and marketing team learned some tricks and tips that may be helpful:
It can be easy to get distracted at home, even when you have a dedicated workspace. At the end of each day I plan my tasks for the next day. It keeps me from getting distracted when I walk past those dirty dishes or that pile of laundry. Even though I have a plan, I always keep in mind that changes are likely. Having that mindset keeps me from getting mentally distracted and I’m better able to pivot projects as I go through the day.
—April Name, creative services manager
Keeping active while working from home is important. It keeps the blood flowing and gets you away from your desk long enough to think about other things and spurs creativity. If you have a second floor or basement, take a 10-minute break every hour to run the flight of stairs. My personal goal is to climb 20 flights, but there are days where I push myself towards 75 flights, it’s a great cardio workout.
—Michael Glassburn, videographer
Try to find a space at home that you can dedicate to work. It’ll help you stay better organized and focused. I found a desk for $25 on Facebook Marketplace and it makes working from home feel a little more “normal.”
— Marie Lindskoog, director of media and marketing
Brush your teeth. The first couple of days working from home, after showering and getting dressed, I would go downstairs and get busy working. About midday I realized I missed the step of brushing my teeth. I started making sure I did that before I went downstairs to start work for the day. Good thing I was the only one working from home at the time.
—Terri Hellmann, graphic specialist
It’s tempting to get out of bed and go straight to your workspace in pajamas, but resist that temptation. I heard a quote somewhere that “flannel starts to feel like failure after five days,” and I do find I’m more productive when I’ve gone through the morning ritual of showering and changing into real clothes.
—Danielle Rush, communications specialist
Alt Text:
Female student watches a class on her laptop in the library.
Male and female students wearing masks as they walk through campus
Male African American student wearing mask working at a computer in the library
Faculty member Karla Stouse smiles while wearing a mask with a see through section.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke wears a mask as she walks through campus with students behind her.
masked students working together on their laptops in a classroom with a faculty member
Three white female students wearing masks give thumbs up.
Portrait of April Name
Portrait of Michael Glassburn
Portrait of Marie Lindskoog
Portrait of Terri Hellmann
Portrait of Danielle Rush
Illustration of an African American female working on a laptop at a table with a coffee cup next to her and a plant behind her.
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Events Center opens for classroom,
athletic use
The IU Kokomo volleyball team made history September 25, playing the first game in the new Student Activities and Events Center.
The center was pressed into service nearly as soon as it opened, to fill a need for additional classroom space due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 30 fall semester classes meet there because of the available room for physical distancing.
Volleyball Head Coach Heather Hayes was especially excited for her senior athletes, who committed to play for the Cougars before the SAEC was approved.
“Having a gym and events center on our campus does so much for the culture of our campus, and changes how we are able to recruit future students as well,” she said. “We are grateful to the university, administration, and all the donors who worked tirelessly to make this a reality. The SAEC definitely enhances the student, and student-athlete, experience at IU Kokomo.”
The SAEC includes a 10,918-square-foot, two-story gymnasium, expected to seat about 1,000 people for sporting events. With addition of carpet squares, curtains, and change in lighting, it can be transformed into event space that can seat up to 350 for special events and dinners.
NMAT professor
slated to paint Bicentennial mural
An Indiana University Kokomo professor will tell the campus’ story in artwork, with a mural in the Student Activities and Events Center.
Michael Koerner, associate professor of New Media, Art, and Technology, was chosen from among 25 Indiana artists to create the work, which will commemorate IU’s bicentennial and IU Kokomo’s 75th anniversary.
The mural, titled Our Story, includes 12 panels, each 6-foot by 4-foot showcasing themes of Then, Now, and Future.
“I’m very honored to have the opportunity to be involved in this project,” he said. “It’s my story as well when I call it Our Story. It’s a very inclusive title. I’ve always felt this is my family here. To be able to leave a lasting impression and interpretation of that is a real honor.”
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke congratulated Koerner, noting the selection committee reviewed all submissions without names on them before narrowing it down to five finalists.
“I’m very proud to showcase the talents of one of our faculty members in such a prominent project,” she said. “I know Michael will create a work of art that will represent us well and serve as a focal point in our new Student Activities and Events Center.”
The artwork, which will be the first regional campus history mural, was commissioned by IU’s Office of the Bicentennial. It is expected to be completed for installation by early May.
Greenhouse benefits science, nutrition classes
Something new has bloomed on campus — a 1,500 square-foot greenhouse.
Located between Hunt Hall and the Kelley House, it provides teaching and lab space for current and anticipated initiatives in sciences and other programs in areas including biology, nutrition, hospitality and tourism, earth science, and sustainability.
Christian Chauret, dean of the School of Sciences, noted that plants are used as models in many biology classes, especially at the introductory level. It provides opportunities for students to look at science-related careers in fields that include agriculture, biotechnology, environmental science, the pharmaceutical industry, medicine and health, and teaching.
It will also be used for academic research by faculty and students. In addition, it could be used to grow food for the campus food pantry, and for use by Hospitality and Tourism Management and nutrition classes.
The greenhouse was funded by donations from two anonymous donors, along with Barb and Steve Conner and the Indiana American Water Company.
Alumni Spotlight
Alumnus leads diversity efforts at High Point University
As the United States grappled with racial tension during the spring and summer, Doug Hall wrestled with his own feelings about victims of racial injustice.
“I had a mix of emotions, ranging from frustration, shock, elevated concern, and a sense of heaviness for the heart of individuals around all that had transpired,” said Hall, B.A. ’01.
Having worked for High Point University, North Carolina, for eight years, he was moved by a statement the university president released, and emailed him a thank you. That led to Hall’s new job, as assistant vice president for diversity and inclusion.
“We’re starting to see our world change in such a way, that we would do our students a disservice if we did not educate them for it,” he said. “We have to equip them for where they go next, so they can avoid microaggressions, bias, and aspects of racism.”
His career in higher education was influenced by IU Kokomo mentors.
“I cut my teeth in student affairs working for Sarah Sarber and Cathy Barnes,” he said, adding that a career session with Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke convinced him to major in communications.
“Seeing myself in this job, and thinking of all of their mentorship along the way, it’s really phenomenal to describe, as far as where I am today,” Hall said.
Doug Hall, B.A. ‘01
Assistant vice president for diversity and inclusion,
High Point University
Looking for a new podcast?
Add Alumni Angle to your rotation.
Hear stories from your fellow alumni about their IU experience, their career, the unknown career opportunities a degree can take you, volunteer work, philanthropy, the IU Alumni Association and more.
This podcast can be accessed on the alumni website (iuk.edu/alumni) as well as on social media channels of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn (IUAA Kokomo Region).
Interested in participating in a
podcast episode? Email your Alumni Director at
alumni@iuk.edu to discuss future episodes!
Alt Text:
sun peeking up behind the Student Activities and Events Center
Faculty member Michael Koerner talks to vice chancellor Jan Halperin in front of artwork on the wall.
Photo of greenhouse
Portrait of Doug Hall
logo for alumni angle podcast. The logo features random geometric shapes in shades of crimson with white letters saying Alumni Angle and under that the IU trident tab with the words Alumni Kokomo
Page 7:
In a World on Fire
By: Kate Aguilar
I moved into my college dorm the second week of August 2001.
A wide-eyed freshman, I knew very little of myself and the world. A month later, a tall, brown-haired girl yelled down the hall that a plane had hit the Twin Towers. We were still new enough to the college experience that I did not know her name. Yet, within minutes, almost the entire floor was huddled in her two-person dorm room watching our world burn.
I write this on the eve of another anniversary of September 11th. Nineteen years later, the world looks different. There is social media and the iPhone; information is at our fingertips. My world is also different. I am a wife and a mother. I work as a coordinator of Student Life and Campus Diversity at Indiana University Kokomo. I am now welcoming wide-eyed freshmen to the college experience. And, still, I sit here watching our world burn.
When I started a major in Black Studies at 18 years old, I did not know much about the term Black. Today, Black Lives Matter is painted boldly and beautifully across buildings and streets, it is on my Netflix account, and in my social media feed. To some, what they see on television – the protests against police brutality, the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, the call for culturally rich curricula, and brave spaces in the workplace and at home where people can and are authentically engaging with issues surrounding identity, oppression, power, and privilege – feels new. For scholars of Black Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Women’s Studies, Queer Studies, Latinx Studies, we know that communities of color, which include queer communities, have been metaphorically and physically on fire for hundreds of years. In fact, the legendary cultural critic and writer James Baldwin said to a German newspaper in July of 1964 that if the U.S. did not solve its racial crisis it was headed to a civil war. He argued the turning point may be “disaster, social and moral chaos.”
Yes, the world is on fire. The brutal death of George Floyd caused another (not a new) eruption. Between May 26 and August 22, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reports that over 7,750 protests occurred in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Protests took place around the world. English Premier League (soccer) players, for example, wore Black Lives Matter badges on their jerseys and took a knee before games.
The portrayal of these protests, of course, differs according to many factors. Some paint the protestors as troublemakers. Others paint us as change agents. Time recently released a report from ACLED that more than 93 percent of national protests were peaceful. Even those that were not brought attention to the rage and helplessness many Black communities feel. As Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “A riot is the language of the unheard.”
Yes, the U.S. is on fire, and, yet, the world is listening. If you read the above paragraph again, you may see the cause for hope: there were thousands of protests in 2020 to assert that Black lives matter. Multiracial protests. Global protests. People took to the streets to shout that Black lives are worthy of protection. That they must be fought for by those within and beyond the community in all 50 states. In July of 2020, Civis Analytics suggested that between 15 million to 26 million people in the United States demonstrated for and on behalf of Black lives. Yes, we are in a world on fire…for change.
I remember a moment in 2001, when the buildings were falling, that I felt afraid. The unknown was overwhelming. I wondered, “What happens now?” But I also remember feeling hope. I felt hope watching first responders and community members running to the rubble not from it. I felt hope watching people who did not know each other quite literally holding one another up. This moment predated social media and the iPhone. It predated platforms that, in some respects, have contributed to and amplified today’s chaos. We have keyboard warriors slinging words like spears, and our spirits are wounded.
Alt Text:
portrait of Kate Aguilar
Photo through a logoed window showing Kate Aguilar, (right), talking with colleagues J.C. Barnett (left) and Colie Shelwick (middle) who are co-directors for the newly-formed Black Student Center located in the Multicultural Center.
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But the power of this moment is that we also have keyboard warriors putting up shields through the form of book clubs and podcasts. Scholars are sharing information. Artists are creating art. We see people of every walk using social media to amplify experiences, lives, and voices that often go unheard. At our fingertips is the information we never had to create culturally rich bookshelves for our children and ourselves and curricula for our classrooms and culturally responsive churches and public spaces. At our fingertips are ways to have new and more productive conversations.
Many communities are thinking about what it means to be an ally. All, we hope, are deconstructing power and privilege, like scholar of discriminatory policy Ibram X. Kendi challenges us to do through the word “antiracist.” Colleges across the nation are having discussions about hiring more faculty and staff to teach and discuss identity.
Professional athletes are kneeling down and standing up: creating schools, funding community-based organizations, volunteering, and refusing to play. They are reminding a new generation that there are more important things than a game and reigniting a long history of Black athletic revolt.
I have been a student and scholar of Black Studies for almost 20 years. I have been a diversity and inclusion practitioner for five, and I have never personally seen this kind of global hunger: the desire to embrace who we are, to celebrate cultural differences, and to move forward deeply rooted in love for self and others.
I know it feels easier in this moment to see hate, but if you look around, you may see a world on fire…for good. If you look at the sheer volume of protestors. If you look at changes happening within higher education and corporate America. If you look at the recent Supreme Court Cases on DACA and LGBTQ+ employees’ rights. If you look at the conversation expanding to include the issues American Indians face and the Latinx community confronts, as well as the Asian American community. From the legalization of gay marriage in 2015 to the recent decision of Brazil to pay their men’s and women’s national soccer team players equally, change is happening locally, nationally, and globally. The amplification of marginalized voices, stories, and experiences reminds us all that we are in this together.
In 2001, I was wide-eyed and unsteady, but I was a college student. I realized, even then, what a gift it was to be surrounded by books, by ideas, by faculty, staff, and students with a desire to have tough conversations and learn during such political and social upheaval. I immersed myself in learning about another culture. I read. I asked questions. I listened to others’ experiences, and I believed them. I submitted humbly, as I still do today, that I have much to discover. American professor, lecturer, and author Brené Brown recently said in a conversation with social justice warrior Austin Channing Brown, “I am not here to be right. I am here to get it right.” That statement exemplifies my personal approach to social justice.
The world is on fire, physically and metaphorically. We are living during another time of great political and social upheaval with the possibility for tremendous change. To me, social justice is not only giving everyone a seat at the table but being comfortable with everyone having a voice. My family is multiracial. My daughters are Latina. My son is Black. I get up and go to work – challenging college students to think about race and ethnicity, to deconstruct terms like “systemic racism,” and to analyze connections between race, ethnicity, policy, and power – so that they and my own kids will create more seats at the table. So that when any person sits down and speaks up, it will not feel unexpected or unusual or, worst of all, wrong. After all, it is their table, too. And it’s long enough and wide enough and strong enough for us all to have a place.
Kate Aguilar is the coordinator of student life and campus diversity at IU Kokomo.
To me, social justice is not only giving everyone a seat at the table, but being comfortable with everyone having a voice.
IU Kokomo Multicultural Center
A safe, welcoming home away from home
Learning from people with different backgrounds, values, and perspectives enriches the student experience and benefits everyone involved.
Indiana University Kokomo has created the multicultural center, located in the Kelley Student Center, Room 265, to promote a welcoming and positive campus climate, and to cultivate a diverse, inclusive environment that supports equal access, participation, and representation on our campus.
The Center serves as an advocate to replace obstacles with opportunities, so minority and underrepresented students, faculty, and staff find a sense of belonging at IU Kokomo. Learn more at iuk.edu/diversity.
Offices and Centers located here:
Black Student Center · International Student Services · Latinos Unidos: Hispanic Center LGBTQ+ Center · Student Life and Campus Diversity
Things to read
So You Want to Talk about Race
Ijeoma Oluo — 2019
I would recommend this book because I think it’s more accessible at an entry level than “How To Be An Anti-Racist” or “White Fragility”. It does delve into why we struggle to discuss race and how we have to prepare to do so if we want to have open and honest conversations.
Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations that Work
Tania Israel – 2020
I would recommend this book because part of the struggle we have in not viewing the world as an “us versus them” situation is we usually have limited personal interactions with people who are not like us. That allows us to believe the way the world sees and treats us is how it sees and treats everyone else when we know that’s not true. Taking a step outside of your own worldview is always a good thing.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Isabel Wilkerson — 2020
Wilkerson is just a phenomenal writer who can take meaty subjects and make them accessible to every reader. “Caste” discusses the embedded ways in which race and economics have been used to create a system in which some people will always struggle to achieve the American dream and why it is so difficult for us to see these things in our daily lives.
Compiled by: Rosalyn Davis, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Faculty Diversity Liaison
Director of Mental Health Counseling Program
Alt Text:
black and white collage of facial features of diverse individuals
Portrait of Rosalyn Davis
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Alumni in Action
When life as we knew it took an unexpected turn in the spring, many alumni continued business as usual. Firefighter Jerome Campbell is just one of the four whose stories are shared here.
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Jerome Campbell sits on the tailgate of the fire truck with hands link together in his lap wearing his uniform
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Jerome Campbell cannot remember the last time he hugged his grandma.
His job as a firefighter puts him on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, as a result, has caused him to switch visits with phone calls to older loved ones.
“That’s probably the hardest part,” said Campbell, B.S. ’16, who joined the Indianapolis Fire Department one year ago. “I’m really close with my grandparents. Knowing they aren’t as young as I am, or as healthy as I am, I could be putting them in jeopardy because I want to see them. Talking over the phone, that only does so much, but that’s the route I’m going to have to take.
“It definitely takes a toll on you,” he added. “You miss being around these people you love. Sometimes all you want to do is go hug them, it would make your day so much better. But it’s a sacrifice that comes with the job.”
While his title is firefighter, 85 to 90 percent of the job is medical runs — including caring for potential COVID-19 patients. Knowing the potential danger, however, he wouldn’t change his career.
“If anything, it’s given me a greater sense of respect for the people we’re working with,” he said. “This is part of our job. We serve the community. Giving back to people and knowing you can go out there and make a difference for someone is worth the risk. They are counting on me to give 100 percent every day, even on my worst day.”
He also feels a stronger sense of responsibility to his co-workers, to be mindful and make sure he’s taking all necessary precautions to avoid bringing the virus into their station.
As a firefighter, he’s used to putting on full gear for a run— a fire helmet, turnout pants and a jacket made of heavy-duty fire and moisture-resistant fabric, gloves, boots, and a self-contained breathing apparatus.
Now, medical runs also require a new normal of protective gear, including a jumpsuit over his uniform, along with an N-95 mask. A respirator can also be worn for additional protection. When arriving at a home, one crew member goes to the door to ask questions, to screen for potential COVID-19 exposure, and reduce the number of people going inside if someone possibly has the virus.
When the crew returns to the station, they sanitize all their equipment and leave the jumpsuit and any other exposed clothing in the bay with the trucks. This prevents accidental spread of the virus.
“It’s our job to show up for any situation, but we’re aware that we have to protect ourselves,” he said.
Having been an athlete most of his life, including playing basketball at IU Kokomo, he likes the team atmosphere of being a firefighter.
“You have to trust the people you’re working with, that they have your back. I’m trusting these guys with my life, and vice versa,” Campbell said. “We see things most of the public won’t see, and we understand the pressures and stress each of us face. Building that camaraderie with each other, the brotherhood and sisterhood, is one of the beneficial parts of this job.”
So far, he’s not encountered a COVID-19 patient in any of his runs but was tested when one of his colleagues had the virus. Thankfully, his test was negative.
He’s noticed extra public support for firefighters and other front-line workers during the pandemic — support that he appreciates.
“The community has been behind us even before COVID-19, they’ve always supported the fire department. But with everything going on, they’re getting behind us even more than before,” he said. “They understand we are putting ourselves on the line.”
Campbell is grateful to the health care workers, nursing home caregivers, teachers, and other essential workers also doing their part during the pandemic.
“We realize we’re not the only ones out there doing this work,” he said.
Having seen the effects of the virus, he urges people to take precautions to avoid it if at all possible.
“It affects people in different ways,” he said. “You might get a light case but expose someone else who gets it and becomes seriously ill. It’s not like any other sickness. You have to take the proper precautions and protect yourself and think about what’s important in life. You don’t have to be scared and you should continue to live your life, but protect yourself, and be aware of the situations you put yourself in.”
Giving back to people and knowing you can go out there and make a difference for someone is worth the risk.
Alt Text:
Jerome Campbell standing with arms crossed wearing a full face mask that protects during a fire fight
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During the pandemic, focus has been on physical health — but mental health has taken a hit as well.
CDC researchers reported in the New York Times that more than 40 percent of people surveyed in late June said they experienced a mental or behavioral health condition related to the pandemic. They found that reports of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts were up significantly in 2020 compared with previous years.
Nikki Brown was among the mental health care professionals supporting those affected, first as a student in IU Kokomo’s Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling, and, since graduating in August, as a full-time counselor.
From a phone in her living room, she walked her Integrity Counseling clients through depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues exacerbated by fear of the virus, the effects of suddenly having to stay at home, too much family togetherness, working from home while helping children with remote schoolwork, and other impacts.
“Everything else was unstable, but I worked hard to be stable for them and be someone they could rely and count on to be there,” said Brown, B.S. ’17, M.A. ‘20. “I showed them that every week I am here to support you the best that I can. I was someone reliable in a time that many other things were uncertain. They knew that every week, I was going to be there.”
She found people who already suffered anxiety and depression were hit harder by the sudden changes.
“Anxiety and depression were heightened, and a lot of people felt isolated and confused,” Brown said. “People who already had anxiety, it made it worse for them with depression. Many of them felt isolated, hopeless, and uncertain.”
She found that techniques such as using technology to connect with others and stay in touch with loved ones, engaging in hobbies to relieve stress, and offering more grace to yourself and others helped her clients.
“Quarantining with family means we don’t get the alone time we’re used to,” she said. “Offer more forgiveness to yourself and the ones you love during times of ‘excessive togetherness.’”
She and her colleagues learned how to counsel by phone as they went, their jobs made a little more difficult by not being able to meet in person.
“It’s hard to judge someone’s stability over the phone, especially if it’s a high suicide risk patient,” she said. “It’s a lot easier when you are in the same space and can assess body language. Even experienced counselors were confused sometimes, so for us newer counselors, it was really challenging.”
Brown said her team met weekly to support one another, sharing techniques that worked for their clients, and talking over challenges to brainstorm ideas. Because she was also completing her mental health counseling degree, she also shared ideas and successes on regular Zoom meetings with her classmates and faculty.
Her work team returned to in-person appointments in June, after rearranging their offices to have at least six feet between counselor and client. Brown continues to serve some clients remotely, if that is their preference.
She also graduated in August, and transitioned from her clinical internship into full-time employment at Integrity Counseling.
She anticipates assisting clients with ongoing pandemic-related issues into the future.
“Depending on what was going on in their homes, many people didn’t have the supports in place that they needed,” she said. “For people who weren’t in healthy homes, they could see long-term impacts. Or for people with OCD, all the germ prevention we were doing reinforces the idea that the world is dangerous, and germs are everywhere.”
Two weeks before David Barrett planned to bring more than 1,000 seventh and eighth graders safely back to school, disaster struck.
Barrett, assistant principal at Lafayette’s Tecumseh Junior High, tested positive for the virus. So did his pregnant wife, and all five of their children. None of them had felt sick, but he decided to get everyone tested after coming in contact with another person who contracted the virus.
Within days of finding out, Barrett was as sick as he could ever remember being — and feeling guilty on top of it for being home so close to the start of school.
“It was rough being at home and being stuck, and knowing my co-workers were busting their tails to get us back in school,” he said. “Two weeks before school starts, that’s when the pressure is on. I missed orientation, when I typically would do a lot with student services and clubs. It really made it hard to come back that first day.”
Barrett, B.S. ’09, and his family all recovered, and he was cleared to return to work the day before classes started. Even then, though, he wasn’t at 100 percent.
“I felt like I could barely breathe when I was walking up the stairs,” he said. “It took me a week to get back into the swing of things.”
Coming down with the virus brought home the seriousness of the illness that closed his school in mid-March, a week before spring break. Even knowing it was the right thing to do, it was challenging to move such a large number of students and teachers to virtual learning.
His job was supporting teachers as they pivoted to virtual instruction. Plus, it was important to check the well-being of students not showing up in virtual classes or completing work so they could be counted as present.
“It was hard for our students to adjust during that time,” Barrett said. “While our teachers did a great job making adjustments on the fly, our students really struggled without having the constant presence of a teacher. It was hard on the teachers, trying to figure out the best way to manage the pandemic and do the best they could for their students.”
Once the spring semester ended, the work began to prepare for the next school year. While they considered many options, including all virtual, all in-person, and a combination, everyone agreed that in-person was the best option. The biggest challenge was waiting for guidance from the state, so plans could be solidified, and the last-minute mask mandate that supported their plans.
“We got a lot of pushback on wanting to require masks,” said Barrett. “Once the governor made that mandate, it helped with what we were doing.”
About 300 students chose virtual school. The rest returned in person with new rules, including physical distancing, extra space in the cafeteria and rooms available for dining outside the cafeteria, and staircases and hallways designated to go one way only.
It’s been hard to manage those changes, given the age group of his students.
“Our teachers have had a lot of extra patience this year,” he said. “Junior high is a tough environment. They come in really immature, you add all these rules, and not being able to go outside to run off some of their energy because of contact tracing, it makes it harder on everyone.”
Barrett appreciates the support he and the teachers have felt from the community for themselves, and for their students.
“There was a huge outpouring from our community, recognizing what we were doing to try to help the kids,” he said. “We appreciated the shout outs and recognition. We’re not the doctors, but we’re still out here trying to do what’s best for our kids.”
Alt Text:
portrait of Nikki Brown
portrait of David Barrett
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When Amy Lennon Kinder heard about a shortage of medical care providers in New York, she felt called to offer her service.
Kinder spent 12 weeks in New York City during the spring, working 12- to 16-hour shifts, without a day off, for 21 days, at the Coney Island Hospital, which was only treating COVID-19 patients.
She described her experience as “a whirlwind of emotions,” with tears flowing every day after returning to her hotel room following each shift.
The dire needs of her patients broke her heart, and she saw more death during her time in New York than she had during her previous six years as an emergency room nurse in Kokomo. Kinder described an ER packed with more than double its capacity of patients, all desperately ill, and little she could do to help.
Her co-workers were mostly health care professionals from outside New York because the local nurses were either sick or burned out from the relentless work.
“I knew I was there for a reason,” said Kinder, B.S.N. ’14, M.S.N. ’16. “We’re all in health care and have a shared goal of taking care of patients, and making sure they are loved while they are here.”
The impact of the coronavirus is unlike anything she had ever seen.
“COVID-19 literally attacks your entire body. People think it’s just like the flu, but the flu doesn’t affect the coagulation of your blood, and your kidneys, and your liver,” she said. “The disease progression is so fast.”
Kinder did this overwhelming work in heavy, hot PPE. A typical day’s attire included a protective suit zipped over her scrubs, an N95 mask, eye protection, hair covering, and two sets of gloves, with one pair worn for the whole shift and a second pair over them that are changed between patients.
The patients kept her going, though, with many from the nearby neighborhood, home to many Russian immigrants who spoke little or no English. She knew many of them were frightened, being urgently sick, alone, and treated by doctors and nurses in unusual garb.
“We utilized whatever resources we had to help them, like other staff who spoke their language, or video calls with family members, to get past those barriers,” Kinder said. “If that didn’t work, we just did our best to be present and give them the utmost respect and care.”
Once her contracted time was up, Kinder returned home to Kokomo, where she had to isolate herself for 14 days before she could see her family or return to work. Worn down in body and spirit, she coped by teaming up with either other health care professionals to write a book about their experience, “Covid-19 Frontliners: Against All Odds”.
Published June 30, the book is available on Amazon. Writing her part helped her process what she had seen.
“It was a very calming experience to get all of those emotions out, and get them on paper, and easier than talking about it,” she said.
While it’s not always easy to discuss, she has found that people at home want to hear her first-hand experience, having read about it in media.
And, yes, she would do it again.
“It was so humbling. It made me a better person, and a better nurse. It taught me a lot as a nurse, and I will never regret my experience in New York City.”
It made me a better person, and a better nurse.
Leadership through times of crisis
“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of a pandemic, and sometimes in the middle of a pandemic, you find yourself leading.”
Eight months ago, Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke had no way of knowing she would soon face the biggest leadership challenge of her 40-plus year career in higher education.
Once the coronavirus pandemic forced a campus closure in mid-March, the virtual meetings began, non-stop, to determine the best – and safest – next steps for students, faculty, and staff.
Through it all, she remained deep-rooted in two core values that continue to successfully guide the campus through this pandemic and move it toward. Simply stated, people matter and culture matters.
lead from where you are
“People do matter. It is clear, without the excellent team at IU Kokomo, we would not have grown our enrollment this fall and launched in-person instruction on campus. It was important that everyone find a way in their sphere of influence to move the campus forward,” she stated.
Sciame-Giesecke found that as the campus pivoted from in-person to remote learning, decisions were being made very quickly. And sometimes those decisions were changed yet again.
“Something would be said in the morning and then by the evening it had changed,” she said. “I had to trust that people would step up and move to action.”
Communication and flexibility were key. “I had to mobilize people’s strengths rather than look at position descriptions. I had to reorient some people to action in ways that maybe they hadn’t before,” she said. “I believe everyone can lead from where they are.”
Daily communication emails and videos helped the campus faculty, staff, and students stay connected during this remote period.
It was impossible for one person to multi-manage all aspects of the crisis. Each faculty and staff member had to determine how they could help the campus be successful. They had to lead from their role on the campus.
For example, the Physical Facilities team had to design and learn new cleaning protocols to keep everyone safe, the Admissions staff had to find a way to enroll new students virtually, and the faculty had to redesign their courses to meet the new reality of hyflex courses.
“We began by defining a clear vision, return to in-person instruction as much as possible while keeping everyone safe. Then, we all went about our work to make that happen. It was challenging as we supported each other through the fear and anxiety of the unknown.”
culture matters
Prior to the pandemic, the IU Kokomo campus community had worked hard to define and create its culture – a caring community that encourages innovation and big bold ideas.
A culture that focused on a caring community was important with all the unknowns that everyone was experiencing both at work and at home. We encouraged everyone to reach out to others and to contact their fellow employees to see how they were doing. The Chancellor met virtually with each department to listen and to find ways to keep people connected and to answer questions. Yet, the culture was challenged, building a caring community virtually was something no one had done before.
In addition, the culture of innovation was also needed. The campus needed quick, creative solutions to the “new normal.” For example, the Registrar’s office staff found ways to increase the number of classrooms that could be used to offer in-person classes. The information technology team jumped in find and then order new technology that would be needed to offer courses in the hyflex model, half the students on zoom and the other half in the classroom.
As the fall semester comes to a close the Chancellor has had time to reflect. She shared, “Now we need to examine all that we have done and outline our lessons learned from this crisis. I know we will keep some practices and processes and we will change others. I know I and everyone at IU Kokomo have learned so much about leading in the midst of a pandemic. I am so proud of how we rose to the challenge.”
Alt Text:
Amy Lennon Kinder wearing full PPE in the hospital
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke wearing a red pantsuit while standing in front of Kelley House.
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Unsung campus heroes
Want to know the square footage of any classroom
at IU Kokomo?
Ask Rick Phelps.
Phelps, team leader in physical facilities, led efforts to sanitize all classrooms and gathering spaces, plus, set up classrooms for physical distancing when the fall semester began.
“I had zero worries and zero doubts that we would be as prepared as we could be to handle whatever was thrown at us,” said Phelps about faculty, staff, and students’ return in August.
The plan of action began just as soon as classes transitioned to remote instruction because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Facilities staff immediately pivoted from their regular duties to determine campus needs for protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and hand sanitizer, not knowing when students would return to campus.
Once the university announced that fall semester would include some face-to-face learning, Phelps and others faced their biggest challenge yet – setting up classrooms for physical distancing.
“Everything was measured for a six-foot distance,” he said. “In every classroom, every desk, and every chair. We created six-foot-long poles to create a right angle and marked red dots on the floor to show where the rear left wheel goes for each chair. That way, we can easily put all furniture on that dot to be where it needs to be.”
On July 1, all facilities staff returned for what he called “spring cleaning on steroids,” to sanitize the entire campus.
“We cleaned the air vents, the blinds, the lightings, every nook and cranny of this place got touched one way or another,” he said. “We tried to clean every piece of carpet, and every piece of furniture. As long as we were doing that, we also buffed the floors, so it would look nice when we put everything back.”
He’s proud of the effort of his team.
“They did a fantastic job and worked really hard to prepare for everyone’s return,” Phelps said. “I’m really happy with their dedication.”
When faced with a pandemic, the teaching doesn’t stop.
Faculty members quickly learned Zoom and other technology to allow for interactive learning — and with very little time to prepare.
But Chérie Dodd and her team had their back.
“The very first thing we had to do was, we knew many of them did not have enough experience with Zoom,” she said. “We had to develop a brand-new course rather quickly,” said Chérie Dodd, instructional strategies specialist for the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA). For the two weeks between the start of spring break and when students returned, we did a lot of hands-on training.”
Dodd and her CTLA colleagues taught multiple sessions on using online tools like Zoom, a video conferencing program. In addition, the team assisted in new challenges faced by faculty — like students who could no longer attend during the regular class time for various reasons. Faculty created videos in advance of class for students who had technical difficulties, needed information repeated, or weren’t available during class time.
CTLA helped to create discussion boards, where professors share resources and ideas that work for them as they navigate a new way of teaching.
All in all, the common goal was to ensure students would continue to learn, have the resources they needed to succeed, and be engaged and supported through the unusual semester.
Once classes resumed, Dodd and the CTLA staff were on call to support faculty, troubleshoot issues, and also provide additional instruction.
“Spring was pretty hectic,” she said. “I don’t think any of us breathed in the spring and there was no way we took a day off because our schedules were so tight.”
During the summer, the work continued, preparing faculty to teach in hybrid formula, with part of the class in person and the rest joining virtually. Dodd said they taught four days a week, with full classes of faculty learning how to keep their classes interactive, create collaborative exercises, and consider accessibility for all students.
“We prepared faculty to help them be more confident about teaching this way,” Dodd said. “We knew there would be challenges, and moving forward, we are here to jump in and help whenever necessary.”
The folks in information technology become your new best friend when a college campus goes to remote learning.
From needing a laptop to work from home, to WiFi needs, to just overall support – the University Information Technology Services team was just a phone call – or Zoom meeting – away.
“We had to press technology into service that wasn’t necessarily what we would ordinarily loan out,” said Garrett Harper, associate director of IT support. “We prepared a lot of laptops for faculty and staff to be able to do what they needed to do. We had people available in the library so students could check out Chromebooks and hotspots, if they didn’t have those.”
The library stayed open, so they and other IT staff took turns working there, providing tech support and checking out devices to students, with two stations set up for in-person or remote assistance.
Once the spring semester ended, the race was on to update classroom technology for classes being taught in hybrid formula – with part of the students in the classroom, and the others participating remotely. That included setting up seven new classrooms vacated when Purdue programs moved off campus, and classrooms in the Student Activities and Events Center.
Backorders of products and shipping delays made that work challenging.
“There was a lot of hurry up and wait this summer, with availability of items,” he said.
Michelle Trueblood, systems administrator, supported faculty and staff while they worked from home, helping them set up secure connections to access files on their work desktops.
“I worked with a lot of people remotely. We trained on programs and tools we are used to working with, and helped other people get up to speed on how to use it,” she said, adding that some of the challenges were more home-related. “Working from home during the pandemic was interesting in the fact that we have 5 dogs. Plus, my 4-year-old granddaughter, Layla, wanted to sit on my lap during every Zoom meeting and wave ‘hi’.”
Trueblood, who found a love for IT unexpectedly through a previous job, enjoys helping to solve technology problems, but admits she prefers being on campus than working from home.
“Each day is a little different, and that keeps it interesting and fun,” she said.
Alt Text:
Joe Little and Rick Phelps use a measuring tool to make sure there are 6 feet between red dots that mark where desks and chairs can be in classrooms
virus illustration
Cherie Dodd working with a female staff member on her laptop
Michelle Trueblood wearing a black IU mask while working on computers with a male staff member
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Keep up-to-date with IU Kokomo Cougars at iukcougars.com.
Alt Text:
volleyball player spiking the ball over the net during a game
male golfer putting the ball
female tennis player serving the ball
female cross country athlete running during a meet
logo reading This is Cougar Country IU Kokomo in red in a circular shape around a cougar head.
3 female soccer players running after the ball
soccer team portrait with members wearing hot pink shirts and holding pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness game
2 male cross country athletes running in a meet
female golf athlete holding a plaque
Athletics shield logo with cougar head and the words Cougars Indiana University Kokomo.
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Partners in Giving
Alt Text:
Students from Wabash high school attending classes at IU Kokomo
Building strong and vibrant communities starts when community members, institutions and organizations are able to come together. Through the gifts of our generous donors, Indiana University Kokomo continues to educate and partner with the communities in our region. We are so thankful for our donors past, present and future.
“I am so excited about the innovative people we have here at IU Kokomo,and what the grants allow the students to do.” Lynette Hazelbaker
Lynette Hazelbaker, Kokomo
When many people share their resources, they can make a bigger difference.
That’s what Lynette Hazelbaker likes about being part of IU Kokomo’s Women of the Well House, a women’s philanthropy circle that combines its contributions to support campus and community impact projects.
Each member commits to giving $1,000 per year, and then the group meets to review grant applications and hear from those requesting funds and recommend recipients each year. The group has funded a robotics tournament for high school students, technology at a domestic violence shelter, class service projects, a sustainability camp, and many other initiatives.
A retired physician, when Hazelbaker heard about the circle, she wanted to be part of it.
“I am so excited about the innovative people we have at IU Kokomo, and what the grants allow the students to do. As the Women of the Well House, we enhance their education. It’s a way to fund programs that might not be available otherwise, like participating in sustainability projects and getting students involved in community service.”
She enjoys working with the other women to make a difference, on campus and in the community.
“You get women from so many different backgrounds, but we’re all working together, pooling our resources to help people,” she said. “I enjoy the camaraderie.”
Rev. Franklin and Cora Smith Breckenridge, Elkhart
While serving as leaders — Franklin Breckenridge was president of Indiana’s NAACP State Conference of 21 Branches for 23 years, and Cora Smith Breckenridge completed three terms as the first African-American member of the IU Board of Trustees — they also gave financially. Friends began the IU Kokomo scholarship in honor of Cora’s trustee election, and they endowed it – to be given each year – with preference to minority students.
Cora said scholarships made it possible for her to go to IU.
“All of those people impacted our lives, and now we have a duty and an obligation to impact the lives of the young people who come behind us,” she said. “It means a lot to us. Not only did we take, but we have given.”
They are proud that they, their children, and granddaughter all have IU degrees.
“IU allowed us to be educated, to become the type of people we are, and has enabled us to participate and grow and be helpful, and work to erase the racism, discrimination, and inequality that has been the burden and the situation in which we have been as African Americans in this country since our ancestors were brought here as slaves,” Franklin said.
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union, Kokomo
As an early supporter of IU Kokomo’s athletic program, it was a natural fit for Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union to make a Cornerstone gift to the Student Activities and Events Center.
“We’re so excited that IU Kokomo has expanded and grown at the level it has,” said Diana TenBrook, vice president for marketing. “When I go to events there, or attend a game, and I see our name there, it’s going to make me very proud.”
The credit union began its partnership with campus with a five-year pledge to the athletic program and placed a no-fees ATM in the Kelley Student Center Commons. It also started the Cougar Checking Account for students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and contributes $10 to a scholarship fund for each of those accounts opened.
Melissa Domingues, president/CEO, values the relationship between the credit union and campus.
“We’ve been a long-time supporter of IU Kokomo, and we’re proud of our continuing partnership,” she said. “We love working with and helping the students and the amazing faculty and staff there.”
TenBrook appreciates receiving information about the recipients, and especially getting to meet them.
“It’s amazing how gracious and thankful they are,” she said. “That just fills your heart up with good feelings.”
She added that Solidarity has hosted 14 marketing interns over eight years, and regularly brings its Surprise Squad over to pay for meals in the Cougar Country Café.
“We feel like this is part of our responsibility to our community, to volunteer, and to give monetarily,” she said. “We give with our money, our talents, and our hearts.
Alt Text:
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke points and smiles along with Lynette Hazelbaker
IU President Michael McRobbie poses with Cora and Franklin Breckenridge
Melissa Domingues and Diana Tenbrook pose in front of a decorative IU wall in the Student Activities and Events Center
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Students receive help during tough times
When IU Kokomo students began feeling the economic impact of the pandemic in early spring, alumni and friends opened their hearts — and their wallets — to provide emergency aid.
In total, more than $12,000 was donated to support students in need in April and May alone. This was the largest amount donated to students in crisis at any of IU’s regional campuses this spring.
The Student in Crisis Fund has helped students pay for utility bills, textbooks, gas, and home internet, so they could complete the semester remotely.
One student recipient, a single working father of two, said, “The same day I applied for unemployment, I also applied to the IUK Student in Crisis Fund. I was pleased to get an almost instant response asking about my financial worries. While I was hesitant to ask for assistance, the fund graciously sent me enough money to pay for two months of WiFi. This kept me from worrying about how I would complete my studies, how my daughter would do her e-learning, and how I would keep the baby monitor hooked up in my youngest’s room. I am grateful for this resource.”
Another single parent, a nursing student and mother of two who temporarily lost her job, also received aid through the fund. In addition to Student in Crisis Fund aid, she and her family received food from the IU Kokomo Cougar Cupboard and were connected by IU Kokomo staff with other community resources to assist them. Whenever students are awarded Student in Crisis Fund aid, the campus’s resource navigator works with them to help them find longer term solutions to their needs.
The fund was established in 2008 by the Professional Staff Council, with the goal of providing financial assistance to help solve problems that might lead a student to drop out without graduating.
The need is ongoing, and anyone interested in giving can find out more at iuk.edu/give.
Believe. Build. Belong.
Our mission is vital to our community now more than ever! And our future relies on a welcoming place for us all to come together, hear dynamic speakers and exciting music, enjoy athletic events, meet with prospective employers, attend dinners, galas and more! That place is the IU Kokomo Student Activities and Events Center! Please partner with us in our mission by going to crowdfunding.iu.edu and be a part of the Believe. Build. Belong. Campaign.
Naming opportunities are also available. Contact the Office for University Advancement at 765-455-9485.
As always, thank you for your support.
Fundraising Disclosures: go.iu.edu/89n
Alt text:
female student working on her laptop at an outside table on campus
outside of Student Activities and Events Center
new gymnasium floor in Student Activities and Events Center
Students working at desks inside the Student Activities and events center
#NeverDaunted
Pg. 17:
For All
The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign set the bar higher than any fundraising effort in the university’s history. Your extraordinary generosity not only met but exceeded the campaign goal—twice! The people and programs funded will improve and transform our community for the better. You can learn more about the overall campaign at forall.iu.edu.
$16,850,842 Raised for IU Kokomo from JAN 1, 2012, to SEP 30, 2020
118 percent of our campus goal
$700,074 non-government grant support
3,090 donors to the campaign
4 capital projects
142 new scholarships
$6,484,307 was contributed by 598 faculty/staff/retirees
Alt text:
Circle with dollar sign inside
broken thermometer illustration
person illustration
cement truck illustration
name badge illustration
Cover Page:
Better Together
IU Kokomo partners with communities
for a stronger, more vital region.
Alt Text:
Image of gears made out of people
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Words from your chancellor
“We’re doing big, bold things on campus every day and it’s a wonderful time for you to get involved in your own way.”
This academic year, we are celebrating a big milestone at Indiana University Kokomo: 75 years as the choice for higher education in our region. As I look back on where it all began in 1945, I think of all the determined, dynamic, and unique students who have walked through our doors – whether at the Seiberling Mansion or our campus on Washington Street – and then gone out to change their corner of the world. Including you!
For decades, we’ve seen our alumni become our teachers, doctors, nurses, artists, writers, businesspeople, leaders, lawyers, and legacy leavers. And we don’t take that lightly. We’ve been celebrating our 75th Anniversary and all that those years mean to us, our alumni, and our community.
A huge part of the success of IU Kokomo is the important partnerships we’ve developed since the very start. From healthcare to economic development to K-12 initiatives, we have relationships with people with the ability to create change across our region. Donors partner with us and trust our vision for all this institution can be. And, you, our alumni, partner with us to voice your thoughts, attend events, and stay connected with your alma mater. All of these relationships contribute to the success of this campus and to the communities we serve.
We’re doing big, bold things on campus every day and it’s a wonderful time for you to get involved in your own way. Whether you attend a celebratory event, visit campus to hear a dynamic world-class speaker, cheer on the Cougars at a sporting event, or swing by for a cup of coffee in our new coffeehouse, the Ground Up Café, we’d love to see you around.
Please follow us on the social media platform of your choice to stay up-to-date as we move forward into the next 75 years! We hope to see you at an event or hear from you!
Sincerely,
Susan Sciame-Giesecke, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Indiana University Kokomo
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Chancellor’s Signature
Chancellor and woman laughing
Group of people making 75
Chancellor at ribbon cutting
Chancellor speaking at event
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As you’re reading this magazine, know that we consider you a valued partner to Indiana University Kokomo.
Whether you’re a proud alumnus, a supportive friend of the university, or a generous donor, it is your partnership that makes what we do possible. As the name of our alumni magazine indicates, our goal is to leave a legacy – for our students, our community, and the world. In this issue, we take a moment to reflect on the partnerships between our beloved institution and the community. From health care to K-12 initiatives to economic development, it is our honor to partner with you – wherever you are – to truly make a difference.
As you’re reading this edition and learning about the ways the community has allowed us to play a role in growth and advancement of our region, maybe an idea will spark for you. A way to connect with our campus. A partnership in a new area we hadn’t thought of yet. That’s the goal. As we reflect on our longstanding relationships and new, budding partnerships across the 14-county region in which we serve, we’re always striving to find more ways to impact people and places around us. But, we can’t do it without you. Wherever you are in the community, we value your ideas and connections. Partner with us and help us continue to improve the lives and development of our communities.
Table of Contents
Annual Golf Outing
75 years of IU Kokomo History
Class Notes
Better Together
Partners in Giving
Athletics Update
Winter 2019
5, 6, 8, 10, 18, 22
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IU Tab
Page 4:
Happy Holidays fellow my Alumni
Campus has been abuzz with students and all things 75th Anniversary for the fall semester, and we are continuing this through the spring.
The major 75th anniversary celebration honors many of you, our alumni. In our last issue, we identified several Legacy Families of IU Kokomo. We defined Legacy Families as families who have two or more graduates within an immediate family, spouses who met and graduated from IU Kokomo, multiple siblings within a family, and parents who have graduated and have students currently attending IU Kokomo. Since that issue hit your mailboxes and was put on our alumni social media channels, we identified even more Legacy Families. Thank you!
We want to honor you by hosting a Legacy Family Dinner to take place on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 in the Kelley Student Center, room 130. We hope you’ll join us as we recognize you for being an intricate piece of the fabric that makes up IU Kokomo. It’s not too late to be included as a Legacy Family. If you feel your family meets the criteria listed above, email me at alumni@iuk.edu by February 10, 2020 so we can add your family to the list and invite you to the dinner. If you’ve gotten married, moved, changed emails, please send me those updates so you can receive your special invitation to the dinner.
I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at the Legacy Dinner and honoring you through a new tradition at IU Kokomo.
For the Glory of IU,
Benjamin Liechty, B.A. ‘06
Director of Alumni Relations and Campus Ceremonies
Benjamin Liechty and Senior Hannah Bourne, winner of Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Service Award scholarship
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Ben’s Signature
Ben Lietchy and Hannah Borune winner of Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Service Award Scholarship
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Foooooreeee!
It was a beautiful day for the annual golf outing on Wednesday, September 11. Nearly 100 golfers teed off the 75th Anniversary of Indiana University Kokomo at this annual event.
Coaches and players from the men’s basketball, and women’s tennis, soccer, and volleyball teams attended the outing to greet golfers and share updates about their teams.
A special congratulations goes out to the winning team of Jason Banach, Charles Northrop, Jeffrey Kaden, and John Perszyk, representing the IU Bloomington Real Estate Office and the Jackrabbits. Second place finishers were the team of Mike Morgan, Linda Morgan, Tom Lane, and Brandi Jones.
First Farmers Bank & Trust was the presenting sponsor, and Rozzi’s Catering donated lunch. Brad Howell Ford was the hole-in-one sponsor.
A special thanks goes out to all of our sponsors, including:
Eagle Sponsors
Four County Counseling
Hearn Construction
Kokomo New Car Dealers Association
RL Turner
Birdie Sponsors
E&B Paving
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Button Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
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Man in Hoosier hat posed with backswing
Four people standing and posing at the golf outing
Man golfing with IU in background
Man excited after hitting a good golf shot
Two men walking with their golf bags, celebrating 75 years sign
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Historically Speaking
From the beginning as the Kokomo Junior College, with only three students in the first graduating class, to the bustling campus and staple institution of higher education, Indiana University Kokomo has always believed in dreaming big and taking bold steps to support the limitless future of its students.
Explore this timeline to learn more about significant people, places, and events that have shaped IU Kokomo from the very start.
View the entire timeline at 75years.iuk.edu/our-history
1947
SOARING ENROLLMENT AND
EXPANDING FACILITIES
Due to climbing enrollment at the Taylor Street location, the university purchases the Seiberling Kingston mansion at 1200 West Sycamore Street to expand its facilities.
1956-1959
NEW LEADERSHIP
Dr. Smith Higgins is appointed IU Kokomo Director. A Navy veteran who taught mathematics, Dr. Higgins was a champion for IU regional campuses.
1932
NEW BEGINNINGS
Kokomo Junior College begins offering a two-year collegiate program, laying the foundation for Indiana University's presence in Kokomo.
1945
IU ESTABLISHES
EXTENSION CENTER
In 1945, Indiana University establishes an extension center in the former Kokomo Junior College building at 508 W. Taylor Street. Dr. Virgil Hunt serves as the Center’s first director.
1952
FREEING UP SPACE
With increasing enrollment, IU buys the neighboring Elliott House. Moving the library and some offices to this new space allows for more classrooms in the Seiberling building.
A celebration 75 years in the making
1930, 1940, 1950, 1960
Alt Text:
Ted Miltenberger, junior at Indiana University Center at Kokomo, studies in front of the West Sycamore Street campus, circa 1950.
Dr. Smith Higgins (left) poses with his predecessor, Dr. Virgil Hunt
Kokomo Junior College, 1932
Dr. Hunt (center) tours the chemistry lab in 1950 with IU President Herman B Wells and chemistry instructor Jack Holloway.
The Elliot House, Moving the library and some offices to this new space allows for more classrooms in the Seiberling building
A student reports on the campaign stop in an issue of The Center Scope, May 1960.
75 Years Anniversary Logo
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1965
IU KOKOMO’S
NEW CAMPUS
IU Kokomo moves to the new 57-acre South Washington Street campus. A number of summer courses are offered despite continuing construction, and the fall semester marks the official opening of the new campus.
1959-1979
NEW LEADERSHIP
Dr. Victor M. Bogle is appointed chancellor. His fundraising and strategic vision shaped the future of the IU Kokomo campus.
1970
IU KOKOMO’S
FIRST COMMENCEMENT
Associate degrees in nursing and radiological technology, as well as bachelor’s degrees in education, are awarded at IU Kokomo’s first commencement.
1980
EAST BUILDING
OPENS
This building now houses the Nursing Simulation Lab and Division of Allied Health Sciences.
1980-1990
NEW LEADERSHIP
Dr. Hugh L. Thompson is appointed chancellor. He helped lay the groundwork for expansion at IU Kokomo, doubling the amount of land in Kokomo owned by the university and constructing new buildings to meet the needs of present and future students.
1991-1999
NEW LEADERSHIP
Dr. Emita B. Hill is appointed chancellor. In addition to her investment in the IU Kokomo campus as chancellor, Dr. Hill also founded the Emita B. Hill Scholarship to aid students in their international studies.
1960
CAMPAIGN STOP
Then-Senator John F. Kennedy stops by the Kokomo campus while campaigning, greeting students and signing autographs.
1967
THE WELL HOUSE
COMES TO CAMPUS
The Well House is moved to the new campus and becomes a favorite gathering place for students. Today it lends its name to the Women of the Well House, an organization that supports the philanthropic goals of IU Kokomo students, staff, and faculty.
1985
OBSERVATORY
OPENS
The Observatory opens with a 96-seat lecture hall. Today, in addition to providing space for research and classes, the Observatory hosts special events and free open houses for the campus and community.
We’re commemorating our campus’ 75th anniversary in a big way! Join us as we celebrate you and the legacy of our wonderful campus.
Legacy Dinner
We hope you’ll join us as we recognize you for being an intricate piece of the fabric that makes up IU Kokomo.
Apr 7
carriage house theater reunion
We’d love to bring members of the Carriage House Theater together for a fun reunion. Keep your eyes
peeled for more details to come.
Spring 20
1970, 1980, 1990
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Dr. Victor Bogle speaks during Nursing Alumni Day event, 1977
IU Kokomo moves to the new 57-acre South Washington Street campus
Graduates participate in a tree dedication ceremony during IU Kokomo's first commencement, 1970
IUK East Building Opens
Chancellor Thompson proposes expanding recruitment area
Chancellor Emita Hill speaks with Julian Bond, 1992
The Well House is moved to the new campus and becomes a favorite gathering place for students
Students observe the eclipse in front of the Observatory, 2017
Students line up outside of the offices above the IU Kokomo Commons in the new Kelley Student Center
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1995
NEW LIBRARY OPENS
The new building includes the 200-seat Kresge Auditorium and the Art Gallery. The Library Building is connected to the Kelley Student Center by Alumni Hall, a hub of campus activity.
1999-2008
NEW
LEADERSHIP
Dr. Ruth J. Person is installed as Chancellor. She later received an honorary degree from IU in recognition of her significant accomplishments.
2003
LET’S GO COUGARS!
IU Kokomo selects the Cougar as its new mascot in a campuswide election. Later, in 2011, students would name the fixture at campus and athletic events Kingston Cougar.
2012
IU KOKOMO JOINS NAIA
IU Kokomo is approved for full membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) conference, paving the way for more robust athletic teams and activities on campus.
2013
COMMITMENT
TO WELLNESS
& FITNESS
The 21,0000-square-foot Milt and Jean Cole Family Wellness and Fitness Center opens thanks to a $1.25 million grant from the Cole family.
2014-PRESENT
NEW LEADERSHIP
After 37 years on campus, Dr. Susan Sciame-Giesecke becomes chancellor of IU Kokomo. Dr. Sciame-Giesecke holds a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from Indiana University.
1989
KELLEY STUDENT
CENTER OPENS
The building and attached classroom wing provide offices, classrooms, student lounges, a cafeteria, a child-care center, and a campus bookstore.
1996
IUK ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB
In a news release, IU Kokomo announces its first website “for those who like to cruise the information superhighway.”
2001
HUNT HALL OPENS
A state-of-the-art science facility opens, offering classrooms, laboratories, and offices for faculty and administration.
2010-2012
NEW LEADERSHIP
Michael Harris is installed as Chancellor of IU Kokomo.
2018
BREAKING GROUND
The IU Kokomo community celebrates the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Student Activities and Events Center. The Center will serve as a venue for campus events and activities, as well as the home for Cougar athletic teams.
Looking for ways to celebrate the 75th Anniversary?
Visit us at 75years.iuk.edu for all the latest info.
2000, 2010, 2020
Alt Text:
Richard Ardrey, Emita Hill, and E.W. Kelley attend the dedication of the new library, April 7, 1995
Chancellor Person receives check from Delphi representative
Members of the women's basketball team pose with Kingston Cougar, 2018
Cougars celebrate victory over regional campus rival IU East, 2018
The Cole Family visits the cardio training area of the completed Cole Fitness Center
The installation ceremony for Dr. Sciame-Giesecke
IU Kokomo student works on the computer, 1996
Hunt Hall opens
Michael Harris is installed as Chancellor of IU Kokomo
Groundbreaking for new Student Activities & Events Center IU Kokomo staff and students participate in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Student Activities and Events Center, 2018
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Save the date
Legacy Family Dinner
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Keep an eye out for the Bicentennial Bus!
Formal invitation coming early 2020. Identify your family legacy by emailing alumni@iuk.edu.
Now through August 2020, Indiana University’s traveling exhibit, All for You, will be touring Indiana, bringing the IU Bicentennial to all of the state’s 92 counties. Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke will be on board to visit every community in our 14-county region.
This interactive exhibit explores IU’s impact on the state. The exhibit features content from each campus in various mediums, including virtual reality, 3D prints, physical objects from IU’s collections, videos, and historic images. Don’t miss this big red bus when it visits your community!
Alt Text:
IU Tab
IU Bicentennial traveling exhibit
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Class Notes
Dallas Snell,
B.S. ‘19,
is a police officer for the Frankfort Police Department.
Kholoud Alharbi,
M.S.N. ‘17,
has been accepted into a Ph.D. program for nursing.
Fawaz Alorief,
M.B.A. ‘17,
is an administrative specialist for the Shura Council, which is the parliament of Saudi Arabia.
Nouf ALFares,
M.B.A. ‘16,
is an entrepreneur selection and growth manager at Endeavor.
Khalifa Kulaiban,
M.B.A. ’15,
is a corporate workforce planning advisor for Saudi Aramco.
Hattan Almehmadi,
M.B.A. ’14,
is general supervisor of ATMATA Training Institute, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
April Name,
B.S. ’14,
recently joined IU Kokomo as creative services manager. Previously she was design director and guest relations for Solutions Salon and Spa.
Mary Olk,
B.S. ’13,
recently accepted a new position as a communications specialist and content strategist at IUPUI. Previously, she was assistant director of student life and development at Ivy Tech Community College. Indianapolis.
Alan Biggs,
M.B.A. ‘01,
is the chief operating officer at IU Health Bloomington Hospital. Previously he was vice president of EMCARE/EMVISION Physicians Services.
Master Trooper Ron Huff,
B.S. ’93,
recently was honored for 25 years as an Indiana State Trooper. He serves in the Pendleton district.
Amber Banks,
M.S.N. ’19, B.S.N. ‘05,
recently joined the physicians and nurse practitioners with the Marion General Hospital Hospitalist program. She’s worked at the hospital since 2005, as a registered nurse in telemetry and the critical care department, and later as a unit shift manager.
Ashley (Miller) Leicht,
M.B.A. ’19,
is graduate program coordinator for the IU Kokomo School of Business.
Conner Norman,
B.S. ’19,
is a financial analyst for FirstPerson, a benefits and compensation advisory firm in Indianapolis.
Adam Gilbert,
B.S. ’18,
is education reporter at the Kokomo Tribune.
Ryan Bowerman,
M.L.A. ’16,
is an assistant coach for the Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball team.
Krysten Hinkle,
M.P.M. ‘10,
is project coordinator for the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.
Melissa Hicks,
B.S. N. ‘09
was recently promoted to chief nursing officer at IU Health Tipton Hospital. She previously was interim CNO, while also serving as director of nursing operations.
Ruth Kain,
B.S.N. ’95,
was appointed chief nursing officer at Tulane Health Systems, New Orleans. She previously was vice president and associate chief nurse executive at IU Health in Indianapolis.
Page 11:
Watch Party
Throw on your IU gear and join us as we cheer our Hoosiers on to a win over Purdue!
vs.
Indiana University Kokomo
at the IQ wall in the Cougar Country Café
Cost will be $10, which includes 1 beer or glass of wine and food. Cash bar available.
Show your trivia prowess for chances to win sweet IU swag.
Stay up to date at iuk.edu/ alumni.
Feb 27
Alt Text:
IU journey doesn't end at graduation, Navigate your career, Stay connected, Keep your IU email, expand your network
Purdue Logo
IU tab
Page 12:
Alt Text:
People forming of gears
Page 13:
Better together
Alt Text:
People forming of gears
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As a regional campus of Indiana University, a core part of IU Kokomo’s mission is to serve as a steward of place, enhancing the quality of life for the people of north central Indiana.
It achieves that mission by partnering with others in its 14-county region — not-for-profits, health care organizations, K-12 school corporations, businesses and others — with similar goals.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke said partnerships go back to IU Kokomo’s beginnings 75 years ago, when area business leaders petitioned IU to adopt Kokomo Junior College as an IU extension center. As the IU campus began, Kokomo Schools offered its assistance, allowing the fledgling campus to use Kokomo High School classrooms before the purchase of the Seiberling Mansion.
The commitment to partnership continues to this day.
“We are committed to being active partners in enhancing the economic development, quality of life, and the educational attainment in our service area,” Sciame-Giesecke said. “As a regional campus of Indiana University it is our responsibility to partner with the communities in our region, in an effort to create opportunities for everyone.”
The campus has not only collaborated with area schools, but leaders have worked with organizations such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the Indiana Small Business Development Center, local government units and elected officials, hospitals, and many more.
Each entity benefits from the cooperation, she said, using the example of the long-term work with FCA.
“They employ several of our students as interns each year, and hire many of them when they complete those internships,” she said. “We assist FCA in growing its leaders from within, by providing an on-site Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program. This partnership continues to grow, and we are excited about future possibilities.”
Partnering with the City of Kokomo and Kokomo Schools allowed the campus to grow its athletic program, with an agreement to allow IU Kokomo to turn the former Memorial Gym pool into Cougar Gym. That gave sports teams a home gym of their own, rather than borrowing space from other area schools. The city also permits the campus to use Kokomo Municipal Stadium, allowing for the addition of baseball and women’s soccer teams.
One of the most important partnerships, however, has been with K-12 schools, working together to increase the number of north central Indiana residents with bachelor’s degrees.
“We want every K-12 student to have the opportunity to have a conversation about going to college,” Sciame-Giesecke said. “ We collaborate with our area school leaders on how we can introduce the idea of going to college at many grade levels.”
The campus has opened the doors to schools for visits by children in elementary, middle, and high school, with more than 2,200 touring in spring 2019. A partnership with the United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties, and the Kokomo Family YMCA,
“We’re committed to being active partners in enhancing the economic development, quality of life, and the educational attainment in our service area.”
Joe Hooper and Chancellor Susan Sciame-Gieseck
Alt Text:
Joe Hooper and The Chancellor
Page 15:
brings about 1,600 kindergartners to visit each September, for the annual Walk into My Future event.
A new pilot collaboration is underway this school year, the Passport to College Program, with 10 school districts in the region. Students complete activities that encourage and support college-going behaviors in middle and high school, with a scholarship offered to students who complete the program and enroll at IU Kokomo.
“We believe we are having a positive impact on students who may not have had the opportunity to have that college conversation otherwise,” Sciame-Giesecke said.
The following stories highlight a variety of current partnerships between IU Kokomo and others in our region. These are the relationships that not only impact learning opportunities for our students, but strengthen economic growth and quality of life for the communities in which the campus serves.
Abby Vinopal began earning a degree from Indiana University Kokomo during her senior year at Wabash High School, because of a partnership between the two schools.
Twice a week for the first semester of her senior year, she and several classmates boarded a bus at their high school, which brought them to campus for two classes, before returning to school. Second semester, she took an online class, completing it before she graduated.
When it came time to choose her college, the decision was easy.
“I felt comfortable here, and I knew my way around,” she said. “I had credits here, and I knew all the credits I earned in high school would transfer. It made for an easy transition.”
She’s among a growing number of Wabash High School students choosing IU Kokomo since the program began five years ago.
Angie Siders, director of admissions, worked with guidance counselors from the high school to get it started.
“These students experience what I would consider to be the most real form of dual credit there is,” she said.“Being immersed in a college class is giving them a real taste of what it would be like, allowing them to get their feet wet with the expectations, all while surrounded by the support system they have in high school and at home.”
IU Kokomo provided scholarships for part of the cost, with Wabash Schools paying part of the tuition, and students and their families funding a small portion.
Vinopal is among the one-third of participating students who chose IU Kokomo after graduating. With the credits she earned in high school, she could complete a bachelor’s degree in three years.
Jason Callahan, superintendent of the Wabash City Schools, said this 70 percent of the Class of 2019 went to college, the largest percentage since they began documenting that statistic.
“This past year, the number one school of choice for our students was IU Kokomo,” he said. “Not only do I think it plays a role in recruiting kids because their experience is positive, but it’s recruiting them to a four-year institution. For the first time in the history of us tracking it, the majority went to a four-year, not a two-year school.”
Students from Wabash High School attending classes on the IU Kokomo Campus.
stronger schools
stronger students
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Students from Wabash high school attending classes at IU Kokomo
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The partnership helps both schools in their shared mission of increasing the number of people in north central Indiana with college degrees. Giving students a positive first experience makes it more likely they will succeed in graduating, Callahan said, noting they had seen students flounder because while they were academically prepared, they didn’t know how to be a college student.
“Getting these students, especially those who are first-generation college students, a college campus experience before they go is vitally important,” he said, “Becoming an IU Kokomo student while also a Wabash High School student, and learning how to navigate, shows them they can succeed. If you climb one mountaintop, you can climb one more. I see this as that initial summit of a mountaintop.”
The program is growing in popularity as well — this year’s group of participants is the largest ever, at 18, and Wabash Schools had to increase to a full-sized bus. Many of those students have taken the dual-credit classes offered at the high school, and are ready for the challenge.
Lexi Westendorf and Trenton Daughtry are among those students, and they share a goal of earning all the credits to complete their freshman year while still in high school.
Daughtry said, “It’s good to get on campus and feel what college will be like. It’s a good experience to have.” Westendorf said it allows them to move toward the future.
“This is preparing us at a whole different level for college,” she said, “They’re really giving everyone a step forward in what they’re going to do.”
Heidi Wright fled an abusive marriage with her purse on her arm, and nothing more.
Because the Family Service Association of Howard County had a domestic violence shelter — that receives part of its funding from an annual IU Kokomo fundraiser — she had a safe place to find her footing, and begin the work to support herself and her children on her own.
Ten years later, Wright gives back as the FSA’s sexual assault advocate, accompanying victims through the criminal justice system and recovery, and teaching about prevention.
These programs rely on donations like those raised through IU Kokomo’s Angel Walk, which has raised more than $212,000 for the shelter since 2004.
“From a personal standpoint, the money donated made all the difference in the world to me,” Wright said. “It meant I could get into a safe place and get out of an unsafe relationship. Being able to stay in a safe place meant I could succeed, and go on to do the work I do. It means I can go to the hospital and be with a victim hours after he or she has been sexually assaulted, and comfort them and help them. I can continue to work with stakeholders in the community to have coordinated efforts to help victims.”
The cause is important to Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke, who serves as president of its board of directors. She joined after hearing the shelter was in danger of closing, due to lack of funding.
“I wanted to be part of the solution,” she said. “The backbone of successful communities are healthy, strong families. We, as a community, are only as strong as our most vulnerable. I am proud to live in a community that looks out for one another, and FSA’s mission is supporting families to be healthy and strong.”
Hundreds of people — students, faculty, staff, and community members — have attended the Angel
Heidi Wright (far right) leads IU Kokomo students as they set out on the annual Angel Walk
healthier
relationships
happier
homes
Heidi Wright (far right) leads IU Kokomo students as they set out on the annual Angel Walk.
Alt text:
Heidi Wright (far right) leads Iu Kokomo students as they set out on the annual Angel Walk
Pg. 17:
Walk each April, raising money for the shelter and awareness of domestic violence.
Wright noted that the shelter’s annual operating budget is more than $850,000 and it all comes from grants and donations. That makes the money raised through the Angel Walk critically important.
The partnership is about far more than raising money, however. It’s also about education.
Faculty and students have partnered on several projects, including painting rooms in the shelter, teaching digital storytelling, résumé writing and basic computer skills to shelter
residents.
Students learn through these service opportunities, Sciame-Giesecke said. “Hopefully, after learning what constitutes unacceptable behavior, and that there is help available, victims of domestic or sexual violence will seek assistance, and help stop the cycle of violence.”
These programs, as well as the Angel Walk, are an opportunity for the FSA to reach college students with a critical message, Wright said.
“It’s helps us get the word out to one of the most vulnerable demographics to sexual assault and domestic or dating violence,” she said. “The partnership gives us an excellent opportunity to educate students about domestic violence. It’s good to know not only yourself, but so you can be supportive and help a friend through that situation.”
With a looming shortage of primary health care providers, IU Kokomo’s School of Nursing and Community Howard Regional Health partnered to address the problem, with the creation of a family nurse practitioner degree.
They announced the start of the program in May 2016, with the hospital providing $500,000 over five years, to get it started.
Dean Susan Hendricks commended leadership at Community Howard Regional Health for its proactive decision.
“This was a really important gift for us,” she said. “In Indiana, many of our rural communities are underserved by primary health care providers. It’s a serious issue.”
Joe Hooper, president of Community Howard Regional Health, said a recent assessment showed the area is about 17 primary health care providers short of what the population requires. It’s unlikely hospital leadership could recruit 17 physicians in a short time, so partnering to start a family nurse practitioner program is an alternate way to address the need.
He added that in starting the program, preference was to be given to local applicants who want to stay in the area.
“We weren’t interested in training people to then leave the community,” he said. “We wanted to create our own pipeline, for providers to stay in the community.”
It’s beginning to pay off.
Mary Steinke, nurse practitioner track director, said classes are taught in person and in hybrid formula, which combines online and classroom experiences. Students take seven semesters of classes, including summer sessions, to complete in two and one-half years.
Allison Cardwell, F.N.P. ‘19
career
prospects
healthy
communities
Alt text:
Allison Cardwell, F.N.P '19
Pg. 18:
The first class of 13 family nurse practitioners graduated in May 2019 — and most had jobs lined up when they completed. Three of them now work for Community Physician practices.
Allison Cardwell is among those new nurse practitioners.
A Kokomo native, her career goal had always been to serve as a nurse practitioner. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from IU Kokomo in 2010, and kept in touch with Mary Bourke, associate dean of graduate programs and associate professor, knowing there was potential for a program to start.
As a working nurse and mother of two young children, going out of town to earn her advanced practice degree wasn’t an option. She applied shortly after the school began taking applications.
A partnership effort led by Indiana University Kokomo has garnered more than $6 million in grant funding for north central Indiana in five years — money that has paid for community center construction, storm water planning projects, local street initiatives, workforce development, broadband planning, and other quality of place initiatives in six counties.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke facilitated planning for the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council (NCIRPC), with the goal of assisting with community development in Cass, Clinton, Fulton, Howard, Miami, and Tipton counties.
Steven Ray, NCIRPC executive director, said the organization is separate from the counties’ economic development corporations.
“Our role is to support our local units of government, by being a resource in increasing the capacity in community development projects and initiatives,” he said “That can be everything from infrastructure improvement projects to quality of life projects, or workforce development.”
The six counties involved have a long history of working together, Ray said, having worked together since the early 2000s to promote and market the region and to collaborate on workforce, education and transportation issues.
NCIRPC has brought in grant funding from a variety of local, state, and federal resources, including the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, and county community foundations.
Members of the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council (NCIRPC)
thriving
economies
prolific
job
market
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Members of the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council
Page 19:
Campus leadership has stayed involved with the council after helping found it, Ray said.
“IU Kokomo is very engaged, very much an active partner in activities that the regional planning council either drives or is part of,” he said.
Sciame-Giesecke serves on the organization’s board of directors, and Cathy Valcke, director of external relations and public affairs, also is involved. As a regional campus, Valcke said, IU Kokomo serves as a “steward of place,” and its leadership in this organization fulfills that mission.
“As a university, we could convene meetings with a neutral facilitator to help form the organization,” she said. “Then, we were able to bring the campus’s resources, including personnel and experts in the field, to the table to help with projects as needed.”
For example, Alan Krabbenhoft, dean of the School of Business, and his students have assisted with projects in Fulton County. In addition, Leah Nellis, dean of the School of Education, is working with the school corporations in Miami County to bring the Tomorrow’s Teachers programs to those schools, allowing their students to take education classes for credit while still in high school.
Ray said the plan is to start Tomorrow’s Teachers in Miami County for the 2020-2021 school year.
“As the regional planning council, our role is to connect networks and people, outside of pursuing grants for communities,” he said. “These school districts are looking for career pathways. Because of IU Kokomo’s engagement with the regional planning council, we already know about this program that’s up and running. We can bring both sides together, and they can decide if they want to move forward together.”
Sciame-Giesecke and Valcke are both involved in NCIRPC’s effort to pursue designation as an Indiana 21st Century Talent Region, showing commitment to increase educational attainment, raise household income, and grow population.
Both IU Kokomo and the communities it serves benefit from the partnership, Valcke said.
“When we help raise the educational attainment level, it’s good for everybody,” she said. “Economic development benefits everybody. We want our graduates to have jobs to go to, so they don’t leave the area and the state. Anything we can do to help that along is beneficial to everyone, including IU Kokomo.”
Cultivating the future
As the campus looks toward the future, continued partnerships will be vital not only to the success of the campus, but to the citizens of north central Indiana as well.
“We are committed to providing the region with degree programs to fulfill changing needs in the years to come,” Sciame-Giesece said. “We hope to grow our partnerships throughout all the communities we serve, and continue to enhance and foster the relationships that have brought us this far.”
Alt Text:
People in the form of gears
Pg. 20:
Donor Spotlight
Partners in giving
Building strong and vibrant communities starts when community members, institutions and organizations are able to come together. Through the gifts of our generous donors, Indiana University Kokomo continues to educate and partner with the communities in our region. We are so thankful for our donors past, present and future.
Grace Ebikwo
“As much as possible,
we should extend a
hand of giving
to other people we meet.
That’s the best way to live.”
Giving is the only way to live.
That’s the philosophy Grace Ebikwo grew up with in Nigeria. She continues to live out that philosophy while earning her Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) at IU Kokomo.
“We were brought up to know that it is a privilege to have what we have,” she said, “As much as possible, we should extend a hand of giving to other people we meet. That’s the best way to live.”
That, and her first-hand view of how students are impacted by IU Kokomo, is why her family gives to the IU Kokomo fund through the IU Foundation.
Grace Ebikwo, Kokomo
Alt Text:
Grace Ebikwo, Kokomo
Pg. 21:
“We see the possibilities that can happen for students here,” she said. “Every time I personally see the trips and opportunities that are here, I wish I could do something. I can’t do much, but with my small contribution, and other people giving theirs, we all make a difference. That’s more motivation for us to give as a family.”
Opportunity is what brought Ebikwo and her five children to the United States. With a previous degree in pharmacy in their home country, she wanted to earn a Master of Public Management. She completed that degree in 2016 at IU Kokomo, and will finish her M.B.A. in December. She’s currently deciding on her next steps, and may enroll in a Ph.D. program. Her goal is to be a teacher or administrator with programs for young people.
“Ultimately, I hope I am able to impact the lives of younger people from the experiences I’ve had so far, and what I’ve learned from being back in school as a non-traditional student,” she said.
Ebikwo has worked on campus as a student, currently as an admissions ambassador. She’s also been an orientation leader, and a student assistant in human resources, career services, and university advancement.
“I love what I see happening for students here, and the commitment IU Kokomo has to student success,” she said. “I can attest to the ease of communication with faculty, and the resources that are poured into students. I want to see more students impacted, and more have the chance to do what they ordinarily would not be able to do, because of my giving.”
As Dr. Robert Christensen worked his way through Indiana University Kokomo, the example of his mother, Doris Alcorn Korba, inspired him.
In her early 40s, with three children at home, his mother enrolled in the Kokomo School of Practical Nursing, which led to a nursing career of more than 20 years at Dukes Memorial Hospital in Peru.
“She worked very hard. She didn’t have it easy due to her circumstances,” he said. “I feel like earning her degree was a great accomplishment.”
After he graduated from IU Kokomo in 1976, he was admitted to the IU School of Medicine, leading him to a successful career as a family physician, first in Michigan, then in Cicero. He completed his career in the Ball State Student Health Center two years ago.
He’s now teaching a physiology lab in the IU Kokomo School of Sciences.
The Christensens established the Doris Alcorn Nursing Scholarship this year, in honor of his mother, as well as the influence IU Kokomo had on his life. They’ve also made a planned gift from their estate.
“I was very happy I attended IU Kokomo,” he said. “It was probably the best college I could have attended, because of the smaller class size and the excellent professors who really cared about the students. I felt it was a more personal relationship with the faculty. It’s grown and improved since I was here, but I think it’s an outstanding college, and prepared me well.”
Christensen believes his mother would be proud to have a scholarship in her name. He’s pleased to help future nurses.
“I just think nurses are angels, and want to contribute to a scholarship to help students financially, to ease their way through college,” he said.
Dr. Robert and Debbie Christensen, Fishers
Alt Text:
Dr. Robert and Debbie Christensen, Fisher IN
Pg. 22:
City of Kokomo, Mayor Greg Goodnight
The Kokomo City Council recently approved a gift of $250,000 for IU Kokomo’s Student Activities and Events Center, currently under construction on the campus’s east side.
Mayor Greg Goodnight hopes the contribution will encourage others in the community to support the center.
“The council members and I believe this is an important addition to the campus, and we want to make sure it’s completed,” said Goodnight, noting that when the campus thrives, so does the city.
“The Student Activities and Events Center will be an asset not only for IU Kokomo, but for the city,” he said.
He sees it as an investment in the city and campus’s development.
“If you look at what happened in the great recession in 2008, and you look at the population shifts taking place around the country, cities and regions that have a university are actually doing much better than those that don’t have one,” he said. “Having IU Kokomo here is important for our city.”
The campus can provide its resources in the community, including faculty sharing expertise, and students, faculty, and staff serving as volunteers in the area. It also brings potential residents and entrepreneurs to the city.
“You want people to come to your community, whether it be to visit or go to school,” he said. “Our goal is that they fall in love with Kokomo, and want to make their home here.”
Goodnight was pleased the city could be part of growing the campus, because of its importance to the area.
“I’ve talked to mayors in other cities who are jealous, because they don’t have an IU regional campus in their cities. They recognize the importance of this asset.”
Anonymous
Donald and Gail Almquist
Don and Gail Beaton
Elizabeth Tocco Billman
Robert Blossey
Dr. Robert and Deborah Christenson
Dr. and Mrs. Amal K. Das
The Goad Family
Marc and Tonya Goodier
Mary Ellen Harnish
Elwood “Bud” Hillis
- William and Nancy Hunt
Richard and Shirley Lee
Kathleen Ligocki
Charles McLochlin
James Pellerite
Ruth Person
Glenn Rodgers
Allen Safianow
Marilyn Skinner
Patricia Williams
Members of our Elwood Haynes Society have made planned & estate gifts to IU Kokomo.
Elwood Haynes Society
New state-of-the-art buildings and learning spaces. Hundreds of student scholarships. Experiential, life-changing learning opportunities. The generosity of our donors makes the big things we do at IU Kokomo possible. In addition to supporting our region, these gifts contribute to the $3 billion For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign goal. We thank our 2018 donors for believing in our mission and providing opportunities for our students, our campus, and our community.
Your gifts. Our Progress.
Alt Text:
Mayor Greg Goodnight
Pg. 23:
Phoenix Society
Members of our Phoenix Society have made gifts of $400-$999 to IU Kokomo.
Katelyn Aguilar
Susan and Dick Ardey
Eric and Laura Bain-Selbo
Don and Gail Beaton
Michelle Bosworth
Emily Brandstatter
David and Donna Brownfield
Brenda and Dan Catron
Michael and Sharon Calhoon
Milt and Jean Cole
Lori and Thomas Collins
Cheryl Currens
Joseph and Elizabeth Douglass
Chad and Christina Downey
Jim and Janetta Duffy
Debra and David Edwards
Zach Foland
Rich Fortner
Margot and William Fox
Todd and Jeannie Gambill
Karen and Kenneth Gardner
Nancy and Glenn Grundmann
Joe and Susan Hendricks
Loren and Nancy Henry
John and Karen Holman
John and Karen Hughey
Nanette Knuckles
Rebecca and Bart Lefler
Neil and Cynthia Lipken
Mark and Diane Malson
Rick and Heidi Martin
Tracy and Joseph Martino
Megan Mathews-Wine
Ron and Linda Maus
Kyle McAninch
Greg and Peggy McCarty
Nancy and Gene McGarvey
James Mclntyre
Phil and Ruth Pate
Tom Poppas and Betty Hegenbart-Poppas
Victoria and Ralph Rhees
Allan and Dianne Roden
Matthew and Juli Spielman
Tracy and Chad Springer
Melinda and Gregory Stanley
Jenny Stephens
William and Rita Stoller
Art and Carol Stonebraker
William and Carolyn Stifle
Tom and Nancy Sugar
Don TenBrook
Flo Tenbrook
Terry and Mary Unger
Gabby VanAlstine
Jason VanAlstine
Scott Voorhis
Sharon and Marvin Wheeler
Pat Williams
Chancellor’s Guild Society
Members of our Chancellor’s Guild Society have made gifts of $1000-$4,999 to IU Kokomo.
American Water Works
Andy and Mary Baker
Willie and Cathy Barnes
Elizabeth Billman
Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC
Mary Bourke
Bucheri McCarty & Metz LLP
Mark and Lisa Canada
Karl and Cathy Clearwaters
Coca-Cola Bottling Kokomo
Cole Family
Steven and Barbara Conner
Timothy and Dana Davis
Melissa Ellis
Frank and Margaret Faulkner
James and Jan Fayle
Randall and Esther Fishman
Janet Godfrey
Marc and Tonya Goodier
Geoffrey and Florence Goodyear
Mary Ellen Harnish
Jack and Charlotte Higgins
Clifford Hunt
Indiana University Kokomo Staff Council
Ivy Tech Foundation
Jan Halperin and Kent Kauffman
Alan Krabbenhoft and Kathleen Klute
Richard and Betty Lasbury
Michelle Lawless
Scott and Cheryl Maple
Steve Daily and Michelle Martin
Patrick and Judith McNarny
Norman and Catherine Mendenhall
Clyde and Claudia Muse
Sonnie Neal
Rodney and Nella Padfield
Sarah Polk
Douglas and Gloria Preece
Pressman Family Foundation
Jean Rinehart
Glenn Rodgers
Robert and Annette Rush
Stephen and Julie Saam
John and Sarah Sarber
Heidi Sebastian
Security Federal Savings Bank
Marilyn Skinner
Angela Smith
Dan and Catherine Valcke
Paul and Julie Wagner
Don and Deborah Zent
Seiberling Society
Members of our Seiberling Society have made gifts of $5000 or more to IU Kokomo.
Anonymous donors
Sita C. Amba-Rao
Michael Anderson
William and Marilyn Bersbach
Button Motors
cfd Investments
Benjamin Chiu and Melissa Hall
Robert and Deborah Christensen
Community First Bank of Indiana
Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc.
Community Howard Regional Health Hospital
Duke Energy Foundation
First Farmers Bank & Trust
Four County Counseling Center
Judy Golitko
Julie Paris and Daniel Grundmann
- William and Nancy Hunt
Howard County Government
Harold and Sherry King
Philip L. Kintzele
Kokomo Grain Company, Inc.
Kathleen Ligocki
Herbert C. Miller
Robert Mullen and Dianna Delgado
NIPSCO
Allen Safianow
Susan Sciame-Giesecke and Dan Giesecke
Brian and Angela Shockney
Charles and Alice Simons
Jeffrey and Lisa Smeltzer
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union
Paul Stanley, Jr.
Jack and Pam Tharp
Thrush-Thompson Foundation, Inc.
Pg. 24:
Fired Up and Making Moves
Have you been keeping up with Cougar Athletics? Here’s some highlights so far from this semester:
In women’s cross country, Lexi Jackson is a contender for first place at the RSC Championship. She recorded a time of 18:50.90 at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, which is the ninth fastest time in school history. She also won “River States Conference Runner of the Week” twice this season. Jordan Fivecoate is the top runner for men’s cross country, coming in first in three out of the six regular season races.
The first season of women’s soccer brought an overall record of 7-7-3 and 3-4-3 RSC and earned a bid to the River States Conference Tournament for post-season play, a huge achievement for a first-year program.
IU Kokomo volleyball, in the West Division of the River States Conference, is currently ranked third out of six teams. Lizzie Sokeland is the top hitter, and ranked No. 1 in hitting percentage out of the entire conference, and Erinn Adams is ranked No. 1 for blocks/set.
For more details on Cougar Athletics, go to iukcougars.com.
Alt Text:
Womens Volleyball team celebrates
IUK Golf Team Photo
Two Womens Cross Country Runners
Womens tennis player laughing
Womens golfer swinging
Women soccer player running with the ball
Mens Cross Country team taking off
Pg. 25:
Building a Legacy, block by block
At IU Kokomo, excitement is building as the Student Activities and Events Center continues to become more of a reality each and every day. We're raising the bar and changing the dynamic of our campus and our community with this brand new space which will host sporting events, dynamic speakers, and a learning environment. Now, all we need is you.
Play a role in our momentum by donating to the Student Activities and Events Center. Contact Jan Halperin, vice chancellor for University Advancement at
765-455-9415.
Donate and see weekly updates at iuk.edu/eventscenter.
As always, thank you for your support.
Fundraising Disclosures: go.iu.edu/89n
Alt Text:
groundbreaking for student activities center
Construction worker pointing to steele beams
Two construction workers in yellow in the middle of the sight
Student activities building in progress with signs in front
For all The IU Bicentennial Campaign
Pg. 26:
Let’s keep in touch
Exciting campus updates. Career tips and development opportunities. Interesting stories and news. Information about upcoming alumni events. And so. much. more. It all happens on our social media!
Keep in touch with your Indiana University Alumni Association Kokomo Region by following along on your favorite platform.
Facebook.com/IUKAA
@iukalumni
@IUAAKR
linkedin.com/in/iukaa
Magazine cover
legacy
A magazine for Alumni and Friends of Indiana University Kokomo
Summer 2019
Building an IU Kokomo Legacy
Celebrating 75 years
looking forward what’s in store
Page 2
Four pictures of the Chancellor from the previous year are shown. Text on the page reads:
words from your Chancellor
“You have played a role and made an important mark on the success of IU Kokomo.”
The start of IU Kokomo’s 75th Anniversary celebration is just around the corner, this fall to be exact, and I’m excited as I look at all that we have accomplished as well as where our campus is headed in the future.
You have played a role and made an important mark on the success of IU Kokomo. Thank you for choosing us as the place where you would learn, grow, and earn your IU degree. During my travel around the region, I have met so many alumni in our hospitals, banks, schools, and the list goes on. The accomplishments of our alumni are impressive and speak to the quality of our degree programs. In this issue you will meet some of our legacy alumni, families that have earned their degrees together.
I invite you to join in this year-long celebration, as we host a variety of activities that I hope will inspire you to engage with the campus, and reconnect with old friends. You’ll find in this issue a list of events happening during the fall semester. More information will be coming for spring semester, so be sure to stay up to date by visiting 75years.iuk.edu.
This is a wonderful time to be involved with IU Kokomo as we grow with the needs of our students in mind. Construction is underway for the new Student Activities and Events Center, our first building in 20 years; a coffee house will open in the Kelley Student Center this fall; and a state-of-the-art simulation lab is being built for our popular nurse practitioner program.
Please check the list of upcoming events and mark your calendars! It would be great to have you back on campus. I hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Susan Sciame-Giesecke, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Indiana University Kokomo
Page 3
No imagery appears on this page. The text reads:
What’s in a name?
At Indiana University Kokomo, we’re all about leaving a lasting mark. On our students, on our alumni, on our community. And on our campus, it’s a valiant joint effort.
Our Alumni Magazine is a small representation of what binds us all together: students, alumni, donors, and friends of our beloved alma mater. But, as we near our 75th anniversary, we felt the need for a stronger tie, a name that represents who we are and what we do.
This magazine is a small sampling of the big work we’re doing to leave a lasting impact.
As such, welcome to the first issue of: Legacy: A magazine for alumni and friends of Indiana University Kokomo
Table of contents summer 2019
75th Celebration Calendar 5
IU Kokomo’s 50th Commencement 6
Honorary Degree Recipient 8
Building an IU Kokomo Legacy 10
Athletics Updates 19
Dreaming of the Future 22
IUAA Kokomo region
President: Melinda Knudson-Stanley, M.P.M. ‘12
Board Members
Brad Bagwell, B.S. ‘77, M.B.A. ‘88
Brianne Boles B.G.S. ‘03, M.P.M. ‘09
Sharmaine Ellison, B.S.N. ’00
Robert Hayes, B.G.S. ’95
Amanda Hedrick, B.S. ’12
Cameron Huffman B.A. ‘11, J.D. ‘14
Clifford Hunt B.S. ‘54
Gloyd Johnson B.G.S. ‘06
Genie Lalonde B.S. ‘70
Jonatan Lopez Bracamontes B.S. ‘18
Lucien Madding, A.A. ’10, A.S. ’11, B.S. ’13, B.S. ’14
Ann Millikan, B.S. ’59
Amber Moore, B.A. ’17
Mary Olk B.S. ‘13
Sarah Polk B.S. ‘13, M.B.A. ‘17
Marilyn Skinner, Ed.D. ’71
Martha Warner, B.A. ’06, M.A. ’12
Indiana University Kokomo Office for University Advancement
Vice Chancellor for University Advancement: Jan C. Halperin, CFRE
Director of Alumni Relations and Campus Ceremonies: Benjamin A. Liechty
Media and Marketing
Director of Marketing: Marie Lindskoog
Creative Services Manager: April Name
Graphic Specialist: Terri Hellmann
Communications Specialist: Danielle Rush
Videographer: Mike Glassburn
Web Content Writer: Emily Smith
For Media Inquiries contact:
Page 4
A black and white picture is shown with arrows pointing to and from a picture from the 50th Commencement. The arrangement of photos and arrows goes with the theme of the page, past and present. The text reads:
Connecting the Past to Our Future
As IU Kokomo prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary and IU’s Bicentennial, we invite you to join us in commemorating the past, connecting with the present, and dreaming of the future.
Taking pride in our alma mater is something we all can get behind and support together, as one IU. Our beloved alma mater has touched thousands of lives. I do hope you will join us on campus and at upcoming events and help us celebrate 75 transformative years.
Benjamin A. Liechty, B.A. ‘06
Director of Alumni Relations & Campus Ceremonies
Now is the perfect time to join the Alumni Association.
alumni.iu.edu/join
Attend an event
Enjoy the music of the Rolling Stones at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Noblesville on June 28th
Celebrate 75 years
IU Kokomo is celebrating its 75th Anniversary and we can’t do it without you! Attend any one of our events and connect with alumni and students.
Celebrations kick off September 16th
Recognize achievements
We love recognizing the accomplishments of our esteemed alumni! Nominations will open soon for our Nurses of Distinction event. March 2020
For more information on these events and how you can engage with other alumni in our region, contact Benjamin Liechty at alumni@iuk.edu.
Update your information at alumni@iuk.edu The IU Alumni Association Kokomo Region serves ALL IU Kokomo alumni worldwide, and ALL IU alumni residing in Howard and Tipton counties.
Page 5
Black and white images are shown from IU Kokomo’s past. The text reads:
A celebration 75 years in the making
We’re commemorating our campus’ 75th anniversary in a big way! Join us as we celebrate you and the legacy of our wonderful campus.
September 6: First Friday Downtown Kokomo
We’re joining in the First Friday fun with a celebration you’ll love!
5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
September 11: Annual Golf Outing at Wildcat Creek Golf Course
Enjoy an afternoon on beautiful Wildcat Creek Golf Course in support of IU Kokomo students
and campus. Contact Cathy Clearwaters for more information at cclearwa@iuk.edu.
11:30 a.m.
September 11: 75 Years in Pictures at IU Kokomo Art Gallery
Enjoy a journey through IU Kokomo history.
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. opening reception
September 16: Student Celebration on the Quad
Our student leaders are putting together a very special event that you won’t want to miss!
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
September 16: Bicentennial Historical Marker Ceremony
Join us as we commemorate the Seiberling Mansion for its importance
in the history of IU Kokomo at the Seiberling.
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
September 17: Community Walk and Picnic
Join IU Kokomo students and community members for a walk to
Foster Park and picnic.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
September 18: Culture Fest at IU Kokomo
Take a virtual trip around the world through food, music, and dance, all while
honoring the rich cultural, ethnic, and geographic diversity on our campus.
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
September 19: Faculty and Staff Scholarship Reception
at IU Kokomo Art Gallery
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our faculty and staff.
4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
September 20: Tailgate and Women’s Volleyball vs. St. Xavier
Cheer on our Volleyball team and spend some time with friends old and new!
6 p.m. tailgate 7 p.m. game start
We’ve got more celebrations to come throughout the year! Visit us at 75years.iuk.edu for all the latest info.
Page 6
Pictures of IU Kokomo’s 20th Commencement are arranged in a collage including students taking selfies, a decorated mortarboard, the grand marshal, and President McRobbie.
Page 7
More pictures from Commencement are shown including a picture of the Chancellor speaking.
Indiana University Kokomo celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2019 at its 50th Commencement on Tuesday,
May 7, 2019.
A record-breaking 686 degrees conferred
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke congratulated the graduating class, noting that IU Kokomo has been the main source for higher education in north central Indiana for nearly 75 years.
“In that time, we have conferred the degrees of 14,000 graduates who have gone out into our region, state, and world, to make a difference,” she said.
50th Commencement Indiana University Kokomo
Page 8
Pictures of Emita Hill are shown including Emita receiving her honorary degree, another award, and her smiling in regalia.
Deserving of honor
Chancellor Emerita Emita Hill recives honorary degree.
Indiana University Kokomo’s first female chancellor received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from IU during Commencement.
Chancellor Emerita Emita Hill, received the degree from President Michael A. McRobbie, in recognition of her accomplishments supporting higher education, and making it accessible to everyone, and for her trailblazing effort for women in leadership positions.
“IU Kokomo was such an important part of my life,” Hill said. “I’m already so grateful to IU, and for the university to grant this honor is extraordinary. It is like coming home.”
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke said she personally benefitted from her encouragement, as a faculty member while Hill was chancellor, from April 1991 to August 1999.
“While at IU Kokomo, she not only supported women to develop their leadership skills, she was an advisor to many, including myself,” Sciame-Giesecke said. “I, along with other female faculty and staff, had the benefit of her mentorship and her willingness to support our aspirations for growth in our careers.”
Hill, who lives in New Rochelle, New York, led a period of significant growth at IU Kokomo. She led the fund-raising effort to build the Library Building, and also championed the building of Virgil and Elizabeth Hunt Hall, the campus science building, which was constructed after her departure. She also established partnerships with several international universities, including Jesus University in South Korea, which continues today.
Since leaving IU Kokomo, she has worked in international university development, including serving as executive director and was a board member of the American University Central Asia Foundation, and has served as chair of the Education Awards Committee for the New York Women’s Forum since 2010.
Hill describes herself as an author, grandmother, ballroom dancer, pianist, and scuba diver. She’s proud of the accomplishments of her three children. Julie is a nurse practitioner in oncology; Christopher is a professor of biology at Coastal Carolina University; and Madeleine is a linguist, writer, chef, and entrepreneur.
Hill is the youngest of five sisters, all of whom earned graduate degrees. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, a Master of Arts from Middlebury College, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, in romance languages and literatures.
Page 9
Alan Krabbenhoft, dean of the School of Business, poses with the award winners from the Business Persons of Distinction event along with Chancellor Sue Sciame-Giesecke.
Indiana University Kokomo’s School of Business
recently honored three of its alumni at its inaugural Business Persons of Distinction
Nathan Kring, M.B.A. ’16; Annette Russell, B.S. ’14, and Scott Voorhis, B.S. ’05, M.B.A. ’07, earned the recognition for their professional achievements and community service.
Dean Alan Krabbenhoft said the honorees are “exemplary ambassadors of the School of Business,” for excelling in their professions and being active in their communities.
Keynote speaker was Robert E. Knowling Jr., a Kokomo native and IU honorary degree recipient. Knowling overcame poverty and racism to become a successful businessman, and promotes equity and social justice, as well as an agenda for inclusion and diversity for women and persons of color in the workplace.
Knowling shared his story of overcoming obstacles, from a childhood in poverty, attending college as a student-athlete, and the humble beginnings of his career at Indiana Bell. He’s currently chairman of Eagles Landing Partners, a strategic management consulting company. He also met with students in the School of Business to share what he’s learned along his career path, including the importance of surrounding yourself with a community of support.
Page 10
A photo collage of pictures is on this page. Some pictures are black and white and include past students and various campus landmarks. The pictures continue across the top of the next page. There is no text to read on this page.
Page 11
The text on this page reads:
Building a Legacy
They say a tiny drop leads to far-reaching, long-lasting ripples. The same could be said about Indiana University Kokomo.
As the first classes met in the Seiberling Mansion in 1945, maybe they knew they were the start of a tradition of excellence and high quality, life-changing education for north central Indiana for decades to come. As we prepare to celebrate our 75th Anniversary, let’s take some time and celebrate all that our University means to us.
Whether it’s a young adult with big dreams of their own following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents, a group of siblings who can now also call each other fellow students, or a parent inspired by the brave decision of their own child to reach for more, IU Kokomo is a place where families create a new legacy for themselves and generations to come.
In this new issue – aptly renamed Legacy:
A Magazine for Alumni and Friends – you’ll read about the West family, from Peru, beginning with grandmother Sheryl, her daughter Alyson, and granddaughter Emily; the Jakes family, with parents Angela and Brian, and sons Bradley, Shadrach, and Jeremy; and Stephen Green, whose mother, Mimi Ford, was inspired by his success to return to college for her own degree.
Take a look through the pages of Legacy and see the difference our University has made in the lives of the people featured on these pages. And know that you played a role in this in some way.
Iuk.edu/alumni
Page 12
Legacy Feature
A picture of Sheryl West, Alyson West, and Emily Doran smiling and posed together is shown. The title on the picture reads:
In her footsteps
Page 13
A picture of Emily at the IU Kokomo Daycare, which was in the same location as her current office, is shown in the middle of this page. The text on this page reads.
For three generations of West women, Indiana University Kokomo represents opportunity.
For Sheryl West, IU Kokomo meant she could go to college in her mid-20s, even though she had young children at home.
IU Kokomo allowed her daughter, Alyson West, to transition from a factory job to a career she loves as a middle school teacher. For her granddaughter, Emily (West) Doran, IU Kokomo is where she found her calling in law enforcement, began a fulfilling career, and met her husband, Andrew.
“The best things in my life have happened here, because of IU Kokomo,” said Emily, B.S. ‘14. “I played volleyball. I got a degree, I met my husband, and I found a career. I’m so glad I came here.”
“This has been a wonderful place for our family,” said Sheryl West, B.S. ’86, M.S. ’90, who retired from Peru Community Schools as a principal, after a 25-year career. “Without IU Kokomo, I would never have had the career I had. At my age, and with a family, I could never have earned a degree anywhere else.”
Sheryl West is proud of the opportunities her daughter and granddaughter have also had, because of IU Kokomo. Even when Alyson planned to be a manager in a factory, Sheryl knew she had a gift for teaching, and is happy she could earn the degree to make that possible.
“I’ve had an opportunity to go into her classroom many times,” she said. “She fits where she is very well. She’s loved by her students. I can’t go anywhere in town without her students running up and giving her hugs, and she is just beaming. I don’t think she would have had that kind of satisfaction in a factory job.”
Emily agreed, adding that going to the grocery store with her mother is like accompanying a local celebrity.
“We really can’t go anywhere in public without meeting people she’s taught,” Emily said. “Every trip to the store gets extended because we stop and we talk, and we chat, and she runs into so many people she knows.”
IU Kokomo has been part of Emily’s life for as long as she can remember — she attended the campus daycare as a toddler and preschooler, while her mother was a student, and even attended class occasionally.
“I remember bringing her in on my first day,” said Alyson, now a social studies teacher at Maconaquah Middle School. “It was the first time she had been anywhere other than with family members. I told her I had to go to class, and I would be back later. She was just like, ‘Bye, Mom,’ and she was ready for me to leave.”
Emily noted that her office in the campus police department is where the daycare used to be.
She blazed trails at IU Kokomo as a student, as the campus’ first signed athlete, the volleyball team’s first libero, as the first female cadet in the IU Police Department at Kokomo, and later as its first female officer.
She also met her husband, Andrew Doran, B.S. ’13, who was a year ahead of her in the cadet program, and now is a Peru Police Department officer.
Doran found her purpose on campus, after initially enrolling only because of the chance to play volleyball. She’d considered teaching, like her mother and grandmother, but a teaching internship in high school convinced her it wasn’t for her. When she took her first criminal justice class, she knew that was what she wanted to do.
After her sophomore year, she gave up volleyball for the opportunity to be a cadet. Later, she completed the IU Police Academy, then served as a part-time officer in the campus police department, while finishing her degree — a full semester early, she is proud to note.
A full-time job opened shortly before she graduated, allowing her to begin her career on campus.
“I really have spent my whole life here,” Emily said.
Page 14
A picture of Brian and Angela Jakes smiling at the camera appears on this page. Above their picture is a picture of their sons. Text on this page reads:
Legacy Feature
All in the family
With at least one member of their family graduating from IU Kokomo every year since 2016, Brian and Angela Jakes are pros at Commencement.
And while they joke about asking for a volume discount on tuition, or having a window or bench named after them, they are proud of their tradition and accomplishments.
“It’s pretty special that we’ve all not only gone to the same school, but have done so in a relatively short period of time,” said Brian Jakes, who graduated in May with a degree in elementary education.
“I’m so proud of all of them,” added Angela Jakes, especially that they and their children have all graduated in four years, and that all graduates have jobs in their fields.
She teaches fifth graders at Kokomo’s Wallace Elementary School of Integrated Arts, while oldest son Bradley is a fifth grade teacher at North White... (text trails off and continues on the next page)
Page 15
A picture of the Jakes family talking and smiling is shown. Text on this page reads:
...Elementary in Monon. Next son Shadrach is an e-commerce developer for Purdue Federal Credit Union.
Angela began their family tradition by graduating from IU Kokomo in 2016. Bradley followed in 2017, Shadrach graduated in 2018, and husband Brian recently graduated.
They’ll get a break in 2020 — Angela calls it their bye year — before youngest son Jeremy completes a biology degree in 2021. By the time he graduates, the youngest family member, Molly Kate, will be a seventh grader, so they will have a few years before another Jakes goes to college.
Angela Jakes was first to enroll, waiting until Molly Kate was in kindergarten to begin her degree.
She heard about the cross country program just getting started, and thought it would be a good opportunity for her sons. Without their permission, she contacted Coach Jason VanAlstine for more information, and was impressed with what she heard.
“We’re an academics first family, and he let us know straight away our kids were going to be safe, and grades would be priority,” she said. “I felt his leadership would be essential to getting our kids through college.”
The team played a crucial role in the boys’ success and experience, providing a family experience on campus with values similar to those at home. Study tables were required, and team members were expected to maintain excellent grades.
“I don’t believe for a second I would have done as well academically if I hadn’t been on the team,” he said. “There was very definite peer pressure to perform in the classroom.”
Brian had started an education degree several years ago, and, inspired by his wife’s example, decided to finish it after she graduated. For now, their home routine is that he studies while Angela creates lesson plans, and Molly Kate completes her fifth grade homework.
This year is the first that only two Jakeses are enrolled at IU Kokomo, rather than three. Even with three of them in the same major, they’ve never been in a class together, though Angela and Shadrach were in different sections of the same math class one semester.
“It was my last math class, and his entry level,” Angela said. “I struggled, and he got straight A’s. He helped me a lot.”
They appreciate the opportunity for their family to earn college degrees close to home.
“It’s meant everything to me,” Angela said, not only as a student, but as a parent.
“I knew my kids were in an instructive and educational environment, where they were able to enjoy their abilities to the fullest extent. I never felt like they were so far away. We never lost that connection.”
Page 16
Pictures and graphics appear to show Stephen Green. In the first image, he sits at his desk at work with a picture of his mom, Mimi Ford, on his desk. There is a colorful map on the wall behind him. The text on this page reads: Legacy Feature
A Driving Force
Photo by Matthew Baltimore, Lake Forest College
Page 17
A picture of Stephen and his mom on her graduation day is shown. A picture of Stephen graduating and shaking the Chancellor’s hand on stage is shown. The text on this page reads:
Two days rank as among the most memorable of Stephen Green’s life.
One was the day he graduated from Indiana University Kokomo, in 2014. The other was in 2017, when his mother, Mimi Ford, crossed the stage to receive her own degree.
“Being able to see that was an incredibly proud moment for me,” said Green, who is now the Chicago Program coordinator for Lake Forest College. “I was glad I was able to be there in that moment, which was 26 years in the making.”
Those graduation days are now cherished memories, as Ford passed away just eight months after graduating, at age 51. She was in the process of applying to Ph.D. programs in English.
“She still had a lot left to do and accomplish in the world,” he said. “We were on the cusp of something new and exciting.”
It was a hard loss for Green, because for years, he and his mother only had each other.
“I think anyone who loses a parent knows it never gets easier,” he said. “For the majority of my life, it was just me and my mom navigating the world together. We had a parent and child relationship, but I also would consider her a friend and confidant.”
Graduation from college wasn’t a given for either of them. Just a few years earlier, Green was blowing off high school classes, and barely earned a general diploma, while Ford had briefly attended college in the 1980s before dropping out.
“For both of us, IU Kokomo was a fresh start,” he said. “It was our opportunity to make our lives better, in a way we never thought was possible. IU Kokomo allowed us to flourish and thrive in an academic environment, and to reach our goals.”
Neither of them would have had the chance to improve their lives without the opportunities and support they both received on campus, he said.
“Mom would never have dreamed about applying to Ph.D. programs if it hadn’t been for IU Kokomo,” he said. “I would never have imagined I would go to graduate school, or I would be dedicating my career to working in higher education. The fact we had access to it close to home, in an environment that allowed us to stay afloat financially, was a testament to what IU Kokomo meant to us and our journey.”
She was one of the first to encourage him to go to college, even after his less-than-stellar high school performance. Green figured he would go for a semester or two, and anticipated dropping out when it got too hard.
His first academic advisor, Catherine Barnes, set him straight.
“She told me, ‘You are going to graduate, you are going to graduate school, and you are going to study abroad,’” he said, and having someone who believed in him made a difference.
“There was someone on my side supporting me, and who was going to hold me accountable, and believed I could achieve all these things,” he said. “Something clicked inside me, and I thought, ‘Maybe I can do this.’”
Buoyed by his newfound confidence, he excelled, making the dean’s list every semester, serving as a student orientation leader, working the front desk in the student activities office, and also was an assistant teacher in a motivation and self-management course.
As a senior, he earned admission to his top choice school, Colorado State University’s master’s program in Student Affairs and Higher Education. His career aspiration is to be a dean of students.
Along the way, Ford was his biggest cheerleader — and his success provided the push she needed to restart her own degree.
“She was the driving force for me to stay with it,” he said, adding that they had some hard times, including Ford losing her job.
“I wasn’t sure that staying in school was the right decision for us, financially,” he said. “She encouraged me to stay and keep with it and to graduate. When she saw me excelling and thriving in that environment, it relit the passion and fire she had for learning before she had to stop out.”
Ford began working on her degree during Green’s senior year at IU Kokomo.
“I remember how proud I was of her and honored that she would confide in me and ask me for advice,” he said. “She had been such a mentor for me in a number of ways, and it was a way I could give back to her.”
Page 18
The text on this page reads:
Legacy Families of IU Kokomo
The legacy we are building here at IU Kokomo wouldn’t be as rich without our alumni and their families. As we dive into our 75th year, we are eager to identify and celebrate families sharing a tradition of graduating from IU Kokomo. While there are many ways to create and define a legacy, the families we are listing share the following unique qualities: 2 or more graduates within an immediate family, spouses who met and graduated from IU Kokomo, multiple siblings within a family, and parents who have graduated and have students currently attending IU Kokomo. We’re excited to be hosting our very first Legacy Luncheon in late spring/early summer of 2020, so stay tuned for more information!
Joe & Liz Douglass
Kyle Douglass
Clayton Douglass
Amy (Schlotterbeck) Lucas
Brittany Lucas
Jonathan & Breanna Guse
Cherri Alexander
Anthony Alexander
Katherine (Alexander) Washburn
Vicki (Kanouse) Boles
Brianne Boles
Mark Renken & Faith Renken
Carol Garber
Brandon Garber
Ashlin (Garber) Hadden
Roberta Heidebrecht
Rebekke Heidebrecht
Jeff & Joni Sedberry
Sarah Byrd
Heather Pickens
David Pickens
Marcia Worland
Beth Chaney
Don & Angie Whetro
Laurie Trlak
Heather Trlak
Rob Trlak
Laura Hill
Stephanie Franklin
Brian & Angela Shockney
Joseph Boike
Taylor Boike
Courtney Boike
Melinda Stanley
Aaron Stanley
Brandon & Emily (Ross) Smith
Alyson (West) McMillen
Emily (West) Doran
Sheryl West
Mark Harsh
Emily Harsh
Amanda Gould-Leffler & Dan Gould
Lara Coles
Alannah (Coles) Scott
Allison Coles
Lindsey Miller
Cindy Coe
Alexius Babb & Leon Babb
Gloria & Doug Preece
Casey Preece
Tara Nicole Lees
Michelle Strong
Victoria Strong
Jeremy & Micheale (VanWinkle) Gibson
Kathryn (Widman) Stremiecki
Jennifer (Widman) Korous
Lori (Widman) Wiley
Karen Boyd
Allyson Boyd
Eric & Kambren (Stanley) Eramo
Bailey Troutman
Brooke Troutman
Brenna Troutman
Deanna Crispen
Emily Slavens
Mike & Holly (Hill) Glassburn
Claudia Lowry
Kara Keppel
Lori Davis
Nicole Purcell
Rachell Purcell
Joseph & Carly Meck
Brian & Angela Jakes
Bradley Jakes
Shadrach Jakes
Jeremy Jakes
Cheryl Schlemmer
Jonica Cantu
Nick & Lacy (Behny) Capozzoli
Cheryl Swoverland
Craig Swoverland
Olivia Williford
Sarah Williford
Usman, Rabia Ummad
Nida, & Maheen Zia
Brandon & Lael (Burrus) Larrick
Marthann Greeman
Kathleen Deboy
Nolan Deboy
Stephen Green
Mimi Ford
Micah & Micayla (Speidel) Pier
Donna Hembree
Ashley Lay
Jacob Ridgeway
Alisha (Willett) Referda
John Willett
Andrew & Emily (West) Doran
Kim (Barnes) LaFollette
Kiersten Lambert
Dr. Marley Griffin
Mason Griffin
Lora Brown
Wendy Brown
Lindsey Mongosa
Megan King
Jerome Humphrey
Morgan Humphrey
Dave Van Baalen
Ben Van Baalen
Joe & Tracy Martino
Nick Martino
Starr & Dennis McNally
Danyelle Peebles
Cayte Hiers
Cheryl Zabel-Easley
Josh & Tiffani Barnes
Whitnie Christner
Anna Owens
Abby Feller
Lesa Beals
Stephanie Killings
Karly (Sprouse) Lucas
Shanon Lusher
Tara Lusher
Lori Collins
Tiffani Collins
Megan Mathews-Wine
Stephanie Tinkel
Pamela (McGuire) Maurer
April (Maurer) Name
Susie Weaver
Joshua Walden
Mike and Amanda Dunn
Kandi Lucas
Tyler Lucas
AJ Lucas
We are always updating our alumni information! Don’t see your name or have something to add or adjust? Email Ben Liechty at alumni @iuk.edu.
Page 19
A picture of the two soccer coaches is shown at the top of the page. The Cougar athletics logo is also shown on this page. The text on this page reads:
Women’s soccer begins this fall at IU Kokomo
The IU Kokomo women’s soccer program kicks off its inaugural season in August at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Coach Terry Stewart talks about the first team, and what Cougar fans can expect from this first season.
- What’s your vision for the first season of IU Kokomo women’s soccer?
Our goals are to develop some team chemistry, and get everybody on the same page as far as what we expect on the field, off the field, in the classroom, and in the community. We want to win some games and qualify for the conference tournament. That would be a good measuring stick for the first year, and put us in a good spot moving forward.
- What are your expectations for the team in the community?
We’ve set a goal of 300 hours of community service the first year, which is about 15 hours per athlete, balanced with going to class, studying, playing, and traveling. We’re going to get into some elementary schools. Talking with some of the principals, they’ve said many of these kids are potential first-generation college students, and they need someone to look up to. A college athlete might be a good start. We want to do what we can to make Kokomo better.
- Why is community service part of your coaching philosophy?
I think it’s an important part of creating a well-rounded student, so when they graduate, they know there are people in need, and they can help. Growing up in England, our teams would go into hospitals at Christmas time and spend time with the kids. When we came back, that’s all the players talked about for weeks. You could see the kids’ faces light up when we walked in.
- What is exciting about the first season of women’s soccer?
Whatever happens is a positive. The first win is the first win ever, the first goal is the first goal ever. When that happens all season, there’s a buzz about it. The girls are buying into it, and the parents are buying into it. The campus is excited, and I think the community will be too. Everything is a first, and a lot of excitement comes with that.
- Why is soccer a good fit as IU Kokomo’s next sport?
Everybody plays soccer. It’s the world’s game. In America, everybody plays soccer at some point in their life. Whether they are 3 or 30, at some point, everybody will have played. Kokomo has had soccer, and has some very good school teams and leagues. We’ve had everything else, and soccer was the missing piece.
For more information about all IU Kokomo athletic teams,
go to iukcougars.com.
2018-2019
season highlights
Women’s Teams
Basketball
West Division Champions
River States Conference
Program record 112 points
in a single game
Golf
2 team event wins
Volleyball
Conference Champions
River States Conference
Undefeated in regular season
Conference games
Tennis
4th Place Regular Season Finish
1st Post-Season victory
Track & Cross Country
4th Place finish in
River States Conference
2 qualifiers for
NAIA National Championship
Men’s Teams
Basketball
West Division Champions
River States Conference
Sweet 16 round in
NAIA National Tournament
Baseball
2nd Place finish in
River States Conference
2nd straight 30-win season
Golf
Fall Tournament Champions
River States Conference
Track & Cross Country
8th Place finish in the
River States Conference
Page 20
Brian and Angela Shockney pose and smile for a picture. Greg Aaron is shown smiling. Dr. Benjamin Chiu is shown smiling. The text on this page reads:
Donor Spotlight
Legacy of Giving
Indiana University Kokomo is transformed by the generous gifts we receive from our donors, both alumni and friends. Your gifts enable us to continue to build a legacy for our campus, our students, our faculty and staff, and the communities we serve. We are so thankful for our donors past, present and future. Thank you for creating an opportunity for education on our campus!
Dr. Benjamin Chiu, Kokomo
Dr. Benjamin Chiu, B.S. ‘88, honors his parents’ legacy with the Dr. Liang-Hwang Chiu and Fusiang Chiu Scholarship.
His father had a distinguished career in the School of Education, and both parents played a role in preparing their son to succeed in his career.
“The scholarship is a way I can thank him for helping with my success,” said Chiu, a general surgeon in Kokomo. “I wanted to give back to show my parents how much I appreciated what they did. It was a team effort.”
Income from his gift provides two scholarships for incoming freshmen each year, to students from underrepresented minority groups, and those from the School of Education.
“I hope it helps students who don’t have the opportunity or means to succeed despite having all the other criteria for success in place,” Dr. Chiu said.
Page 21
At the bottom of the page, construction photos from the Student Activities and Events Center are shown. Behind the text at the bottom of the page, a faint rendering of the future building is shown. The text on this page reads:
Brian and Angela Shockney,
Martinsville
While working their way through IU Kokomo, Brian and Angela Shockney could never have imagined that one day, they would be able to endow a scholarship.
“We’ve been very much blessed,” said Brian Shockney, B.S. ’90, M.H.A. ‘94, president of IU Health South Central Region. “It’s a joy to be able to give. We would never have thought as students we would have the resources to endow a scholarship. That’s why IU Kokomo is special to us. We wouldn’t be here without it.”
The couple established the Shockney Family Scholarship, which will be given to students with financial need, from one of the 14 counties in IU Kokomo’s service region. Preference will be given to first-generation college students, and to those from Tipton County.
Angela, B.S.N. ‘91, said they both had scholarships, and it is important to them to help first-generation college students have the opportunities they had.
“It’s just about helping out,” she said
Greg Aaron, Community Foundation
of Howard County
Greg Aaron, A.G.S. ‘90, graduate certificate in public management ‘03, is CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County, which has granted a $100,000 dollar-for-dollar match to support the Student Activities and Event Center.
“Our board members considered all that IU Kokomo provides for this community, and they were excited to provide the grant,” he said. “They wanted to draw attention to the campus and the promise an IU Kokomo education offers.”
The grant is especially meaningful to him as an alumnus.
“It’s rewarding to watch how the campus has grown over the years from the time I went there. It’s awesome to see this kind of growth, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
If you’d like more information about giving to IU Kokomo, please contact Jan C. Halperin, CFRE
Vice Chancellor, Office for University Advancement 765-455-9415 or jhalperi@iuk.edu.
We are so grateful for the lead donors to the new Student Activities and Events Center!
Chuck Bartholomew
Community Foundation of Howard County
Randy and Esther Fishman
Howard County Government
Cliff Hunt
Indiana University Kokomo Staff Council
Scott and Cheryl Maple
Dan and Cathy Valcke
Because of the generous $100,000 dollar-for-dollar match given by the Community Foundation of Howard County, there is still opportunity to match $34,800!
Coming in Fall 2020! For weekly updates, visit iuk.edu/eventscenter.
Page 22
At the top of this page, a graphic element of colorful silhouettes is shown. Images of the interviewed students are shown next to their quotes. The text on this page reads as follows:
Dreaming of the future
Current students share their hopes for the next 75 years of IU Kokomo
“I am seeing a future where IU Kokomo would expand into a college where master’s degrees are offered in more departments. Students would be able to enjoy campus and its activities even more with the new activities and events center being built.
Khoi Nguyen, nursing, senior
“I see more sports programs and campus activity. We have a beautiful campus already with room to grow, so the future is looking bright!”
Tavon Lindsay, exercise science, senior
“I think that as we grow in student numbers and our campus grows in size, there will be more student life and excitement to stick around after class and hang out with friends at events. I also already see a change in attitude surrounding university pride on our campus. I believe that now, and even more so in the future, IU Kokomo will be seen with an equal respect and admiration that people have for Bloomington.”
Emily Harsh, hospitality and tourism management, senior
“I see IU Kokomo continuing to be a close-knit environment, where students and faculty know one another, even as the campus expands and grows.”
Chelsea Howard, nursing, junior
“I think the next 75 years for IU Kokomo look bright! I imagine expansion of learning space and that it will continue to grow as a well-respected campus in the IU system and will draw students from all over the world.”
Liam Ireland, sports and recreation management, sophomore
What do you think the future holds for IU Kokomo?
Tell us at alumni@iuk.edu and you may be featured in our next issue!
Page 23
A portrait of Kathleen Ligocki, B.A. ‘78, Indiana University Kokomo Donor is shown on this page. She smiles at the camera. The text on this page reads:
Now is the time to define your legacy
One way to create a legacy is a planned gift. One option is a Charitable Gift Annuity. It is a contract that provides you and/or your spouse or other beneficiary a fixed income stream for life, and payments that are partially tax free.
Here’s how it works: You agree to transfer assets as a gift to us and, in return, we promise to pay a fixed amount to one or two annuitants for life. This will allow you to plan for your future, and to define a lasting legacy for the benefit of Indiana University Kokomo.
For your personalized illustration, please contact :
Jan C. Halperin, CFRE
Vice Chancellor, Office for University Advancement
765-455-9415 or jhalperi@iuk.edu.
Kathleen Ligocki, B.A. ‘78
Indiana University Kokomo Donor
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign
Fulfilling the Promise
Fundraising Disclosures: go.iu.edu/89n
Page 24
A group of graduates gather in a circle after Commencement talking and smiling. The text on this page reads:
Take your next step
With graduate programs at Indiana University Kokomo
Whatever your story or motivation, we offer several graduate programs at Indiana University Kokomo to help you succeed. Spanning several departments, our graduate program offerings include master’s degrees, graduate certificates, and postbaccalaureate work. It’s our goal and our mission to help you gain the theoretical foundation, experience, and skills you need for your career and professional growth.
Apply today
Masters.iuk.edu