SPRING 2020 12 COVID-19: The Silent Spring - THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

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SPRING 2020 12 COVID-19: The Silent Spring - THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

   SPRING 2020
      12		COVID-19: The Silent Spring
SPRING 2020 12 COVID-19: The Silent Spring - THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Consider joining the
                        Clock Tower Society!
            The Clock Tower Society is an honorary society of donors who have made the
       Missouri Western State University Foundation a beneficiary of their estate and financial
     planning. Membership in the Society is extended to all who have made an estate or deferred
                   gift commitment, regardless of the amount, to the Foundation.

  We appreciate our Clock Tower Society members!                     For more information, contact
                                                                   Kim Weddle ’00, Executive Director
                        † Denotes deceased.                            of Alumni Relations and
                                                                            Annual Giving
Algalee Adams ’39†              David C. Horn ’66                           (816) 271-5648
Dr. Jimmy and Janice Albright   Herb ’35† and Peggy† Iffert          weddle@missouriwestern.edu
Tom† and Mary Alice†            Kenneth Jameson†                              Thank you!
   Bingaman                     Carole Kleeman Tuttle ’52
Charlene Riemen Bunten ’52      Mike and Peggy Lane
Harold “Pete” and Betty I.†     Michael and Millie ’78 Maloney
   Burchett                     Bill ’70 and Judy McMurray
Tom A. Carmichael, Jr.†         Nell T. Morris†

                                                                                                                                                                                                  20
Wayne ’90 and Nanette Chatham   Tom Payn
Jean Conner ’38†                Greg and Susan Pettigrew
Cheryl Ann Cornett ’76          Alice K. Phelan ’45†
Lorraine Crews ’42              Charles and Carol ’56 Reynolds                                                                                   SPRING 2020
Jacob Cunning ’16               George S. Richmond†
LeRoy† and Jeanne† Eaton        Louis R.’28† and Roberta S.†                                               SECTIONS                                   FEATURES
Earl E.† and Elmyra J.† Euler      Riemer
Bob and Susan Fay               V. Joyce Rochambeau ’47†                                                 3 Campus News                             10 Celebrating 50 years –
Dale and Valerie Finney         Robert Donald Sharp ’74†                                                                                               Bushman Planetarium
Dr. Frances M. Flanagan ’35†    Dr. Melody A. Smith and                                                 16 Griffon Sports
                                                                                                                                                       When the present-day campus opened
Rod ’48† and Anne† Fletcher        Larry Smith                                                          18 Alumni News                                 in 1969, one of the few planetariums in
Lyman L. and M. Jane Frick      Larry R. Stobbs ’74
Dr. Joe Friedman ’39†           Roy L. and Lana Tewell                                                  24   Alumnotes                                 the state opened, too.

Helen Gettys ’51†               Drs. Bob and Laurel Vartabedian
                                                                                                                                                   12 COVID-19: A Silent Spring
Andrew ’34† and Betty† Glaze
David A. Grahl ’74
                                Greg ’89 and Joleen VerMulm
                                Edward Vincent ’39†                                                                                                    Everyone was somehow affected by                              16
                                                                                                                                                                                                  10
                                                                                                                                                       the COVID-19 crisis this year, and
Barry Greenwald                 LTC (Ret) Kevin West
                                                                                                                                                       Missouri Western was no exception.
Edward ’62† and Janet Haffey    Steven Whitlock and Synthia                                                                                            Read how University officials dealt with
Stan and Doris ’51† Hall           Black-Whitlock                                                                                                      the unprecedented situation and how it
Jim Hausman                     Bob and Susie Willenbrink                                                                                              affected our students and employees.
George Hayward ’75              William G. Wright†
Rose W. Herman†
                                                                                                          ON THE COVER                             20 Forging Ahead
                                                                                                                                                       The Global Center, a one-stop shop
                                                                                                        It's just not Missouri Western without         for all things international, opened
                                                                                                        our students. We sure missed them              on campus this past spring, academic
                                                                                                        when they didn't return to campus              departments are preparing for Gold
                                                                                                        after spring break due to COVID-19.            Fridays that begins in Fall 2020 and
                                                                                                        Photo by Patrick Evenson                       the esports arena is in the works.
                                                                                                                  										                                                                           SPRING 2018   3
SPRING 2020 12 COVID-19: The Silent Spring - THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
campus NEWS
                                           president’s PERSPECTIVE                                                                                            The MWSU Magazine is a ­publication
                                                                                                                                                         of the Marketing and Communications  Office
                                                                                                                                                        for alumni and friends of Missouri Western State
Dear Friends,                              and bring our                                                                                                   University and its predecessor institutions.
    Our heart goes out to Griffon
Nation and everyone impacted by
                                           program offerings
                                           and staffing into                                                                                               SPRING 2020                                      Center for Teaching and Learning opens
the COVID-19 situation. The rapid          balance with our                                                                                            VOLUME 18/NUMBER 2                                       A new Center for Teaching             hopes the lunch sessions will give
spread of this virus combined with         enrollment numbers.                                                                                                                                              and Learning opened in the spring         attendees a forum for interacting
our commitment to be a responsible         Commenced in                                                                                                                     Editor                          2020 semester with Dr. Shauna             and networking with colleagues
global citizen led us to shift our         February, this process                                                                                                         Diane Holtz                       Hiley, professor of chemistry,            across campus.
spring semester away from on-campus        involved a 14-person                                                                                                         Design Editor                       serving as its director. The center           She said the center did hold
instruction to alternate modes of          Finance Advisory                                                                                                           Kendy Scudder ’94                     offers professional development           a couple of presentations by
delivery so we can continue our            Council evaluating                                                                                                   Chief Communications Officer                opportunities for all employees, and      employees in the spring, including
important mission of education.            our financial
                                                                                                                                                                        Jomel Nichols                       it kicked off with several options for    Generation Guide: Today’s College
As we have operated in unexpected          situation and then                                                                                              Executive Director of Alumni Relations           them.                                     Students.
and extraordinary circumstances,           a nine-person
                                                                                                                                                                     and Annual Giving                          Dr. Hiley said the center planned         Dr. Hiley said she also plans
                                                                                                                                                                      Kim Weddle ’00
we are most appreciative of the            Academic Review                                                                                                                                                  to host a lunch topics series two         to take advantage of Missouri
                                                                                                                                                                       Photographers
understanding of our campus                Board considering            Area businesses donated a "presidential limo" to President Wilson so he can                       John Ellis
                                                                                                                                                                                                            or three times a month, informal          Western’s Gold Fridays, which
community as well as the efforts of        necessary program            offer students rides across campus and have the opportunity to visit with                      Patrick Evenson                      events where attendees could bring        begin in the fall of 2020. With
our faculty, staff and administrators      adjustments. Faculty,        them. He is pictured with representatives of the donor companies: Sunshine                      Reid Williams                       their own lunch and hear a guest          Gold Fridays, very few classes
in continuing our critical operations.     staff, administrators        Electronic Display Corporation, E.L. Crawford Construction, Inc., ProServ                                                           speaker. Those were put on hold           will be scheduled on Fridays, so
    As you might imagine, the              and students                 Business Systems, Inc. and Gray Manufacturing.                                                                                      when campus closed in March due           she plans to use the days to offer
                                                                                                                                                                     Board of Governors
COVID-19 crisis has added                  participated in this                                                                                                    Deborah Smith ’79, Chair                 to COVID-19 and will be held in           workshop-style presentations.
massive disruptions to students,           important process.                                   our society. To survive and thrive,                                 Lee Tieman, Vice Chair                  the fall. Instead, the center’s website       “The center helps employees
institutional operations and                   At the end of April, the Board                   we must be forward thinking and                            Rick Ebersold, Al Landes, David Liechti,
                                                                                                                                                                                                            featured resources for faculty            explore new ideas, improve
finances for all universities around       of Governors considered final                        strategic.                                                Greg Mason ’89 and Kayla Schoonover ’77           members regarding remote teaching.        pedagogy and improve service to
the country. This comes at a time          recommendations. To help Missouri                        Going forward, we will continue to                                                                           “The plan was for the guest          students,” she said. “We all want
                                                                                                                                                                         Alumni Board
when higher education was already          Western survive and strategically put                have exceptional programs that serve                              Tona Williams ’00, President              speaker to start the conversation and     to improve our performance on
facing unprecedented forces. For           it in a position to thrive, the Board                our students and the community.                                Mary Workman ’76, Vice President             let it go wherever those attending        the job.”
                                                                                                                                                           Jim Jeffers ’73, Immediate Past President
quite some time, institutions have         approved a phase-out of certain                      We will invest in programs that are
                                                                                                                                                                                                            wanted it to go,” she said. Dr. Hiley         It is located in Spratt Hall.
been struggling with the impact            degrees and minors. Over the years, too              in demand while continuing to offer                          Emily Baumann ’10, Marilyn Beck ’77,
of downward student enrollment
trends, strained state funding, rising
                                           many under-enrolled programs have
                                           persisted. Nearly 35 majors currently
                                                                                                courses in liberal arts subjects, just on
                                                                                                a different scale.
                                                                                                                                                              Linda Crabtree ’60, Jodi Deering ’01,
                                                                                                                                                      Brian Gray ’90, Jaime Habersat ’99, Diane Hook ’90,   Class works with human rights commission
                                                                                                                                                           Lai-Monté Hunter ’99, Claudia James ’89,
costs, facilities maintenance needs,       enroll fewer than 10 students total and                  We are aware that the changes are                        David Karleskint ’90, Linda Kerner ’73,            The Human Rights Commission           strategies, for the HRC. Then, in
tuition limits, long-term debt and         another 10 majors enroll only between                very difficult. Please know that our
                                                                                                                                                            Paige Klocke ’16, Stacey Lawrence ’10,          (HRC) in St. Joseph, Missouri was         Dr. Jackson’s spring 2020 Strategic
                                                                                                                                                               Leayn Losh ’88, Dennis Merritt ’01,
online competition. Such forces have       11-15 students. This approach is                     goal is to strengthen the University                         Kendell Misemer ’82, Phyllis Myers ’56,
                                                                                                                                                                                                            formed in the fall of 2018, but as        Communication Practices course,
led universities (including Mizzou,        unsustainable in the current economic                and put us on a pathway to financial                          Molly Pierce ’77, James Sanders ’84,          time passed, members realized that        students implemented those plans.
UMKC, KU, NWMSU, MSU                       environment.                                         stability.
                                                                                                                                                              Ralph Schank ’82, Angie Springs ’02,          a lot of people in the community              “I was very excited they wanted to
                                                                                                                                                          Janice Wallace ’98, and Alexis Williams ’18
and others) to make significant                As difficult as it is to make                        Now more than ever, we need the                                                                         were not aware of their existence or      work with the class, and the students
reductions in personnel and programs       these changes, we simply cannot be                   understanding and support of our                                     Foundation Board                       their mission. A class at Missouri        are glad, too,” she said of the HRC.
                                                                                                                                                                   Dennis Rosonke, Chair
in recent years.                           everything to everyone, but must focus               alums and supporters. We need you                                Diane Hook ’90, Vice Chair
                                                                                                                                                                                                            Western is hoping to change that.         “I can get behind the fight to treat
    Without question, Missouri             on our core strengths. The plan to focus             to help us as we gain momentum                                    Bill Grimwood, Treasurer                      In the spring of 2019,                each person fairly and equally.”
Western is not immune to these             on our strengths impacts the majors of               and attract new students while
                                                                                                                                                                Susan Pettigrew ’83, Secretary              Dr. Jennifer Jackson, assistant               Dr. Jackson likes that her students
forces. Our financial challenges are       fewer than 15% of our current student                adapting to the realities facing higher                 Ashley Albers, Mike Basch, Kit Bradley Bowlin,      professor of communication                have the opportunity for hands-
real and immediate. Our net position       population, and these students will                  education. Together, we can continue                   Eric Bruder ’93, Susan Campbell ’01, Ali Carolus,    and journalism, was looking               on experience with a real client,
                                                                                                                                                        Wayne Chatham ’90, Jason Grayson ’98, Darrell
has decreased by over 70% within the       have three years to finish out their                 to build our network of Griffons                          Jones ’88, Rodger Karn ’98, Grace Link ’92,
                                                                                                                                                                                                            for a nonprofit organization in           and they gain the added benefit of
last five years. Cash and investment       program or opt into a related one.                   supporting and celebrating each                        Pat Modlin ’88, Brent Porlier ’82, Tom Richmond,     the community that students in            learning how to work with different
levels have decreased to critical levels   Sadly, this involves the elimination of              other. We appreciate your support and
                                                                                                                                                       David Shinneman, Tom Tewell, Matt Thrasher ’95,      her Strategic Communication               people. When the students presented
                                                                                                                                                         Lee Tieman, Greg VerMulm ’89, John Wilson,
while costs and deferred maintenance       quality programs and a heart-breaking                understanding as we move forward, to                     Matt Wilson, Missouri Western president; Bob       Campaigns course could help with          their plans to HRC members last
increased considerably. To preserve        reduction in personnel.                              emerge stronger than ever to continue                      Wollenman ’72; and  Zack Workman ’74.            marketing and communications.             fall, members told Dr. Jackson that
the institution and our accreditation,         As an open-access institution                    the legacy of Griffon Pride.                                                                                The HRC quickly came on board,            they were so impressed that they
immediate and corrective actions           with a statewide applied learning                                                                                                                                and a partnership was born.               believed the students weren’t earning
are needed.                                mission, Missouri Western serves as
                                                                                                                                                                Missouri Western Magazine                       In the fall, students worked with     enough credit hours for their work.
                                                                                                                                                              4525 Downs Drive, Spratt Hall 105
    Even before the pandemic,              an invaluable resource for students,                                                                                    St. Joseph, MO 64507
                                                                                                                                                                                                            HRC members to create goals and               HRC members were also
Missouri Western had devised a             families and local communities. We                   Matthew J. Wilson                                                      (816) 271-5651                       objectives, they designed a logo,         impressed with Dr. Jackson, because
strategic plan to extricate itself from    are critical to attracting and retaining             President
                                                                                                                                                               magazine@missouriwestern.edu                 surveyed the community and created        they asked her to join the group as
                                                                                                                                                               missouriwestern.edu/magazine
this delicate financial position. We       talent in our area. We are vital to                  Missouri Western State University                                                                           several plans, such as social media       a member.
                                                                                                                                                               Missouri Western State University
implemented a process to evaluate          the success of local industry and                                                                                  is an equal opportunity institution.
                                                                                                                                                                          									                                                                                        SPRING 2020    3
SPRING 2020 12 COVID-19: The Silent Spring - THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
campus NEWS                                                                                                                           campus NEWS

Professor and students create “Old St. Jo”                                          Two construction                      New to the U                                                                                   National leadership
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         society thrives on
    Toby Lawrence,                            broadcasts to Facebook, which         projects approved                         Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy was                           Dr. Hannah Piechowski was
assistant professor                               will then be archived on
                                                                                        The Missouri Western Board
                                                                                                                          named vice provost last fall.                       named associate vice president             campus
of cinema, and his                                  YouTube. Students are                                                 She had been the dean of the                        for Student Affairs and dean of
                                                                                    of Governors approved two bids                                                                                                           Senior Jakob Durham
cinema students                                      filming stories from                                                 College of Applied Science and                      students in the fall of 2019. She
                                                                                    for facility improvements this                                                                                                       believes that everyone has the
are creating an                                      the community and                                                    Technology and interim dean of                      had been director of Student
                                                                                    past spring.                                                                                                                         potential to be a good leader, and
ongoing episodic                                     broadcasting from a studio                                           the College of Health Professions                   Transitions and Parent and
                                                                                        The board approved a bid                                                                                                         he wants to create as many as
documentary series                                   downtown.                                                            at the University of Akron.                         Family Programs at Transylvania
                                                                                    of $233,500 from Lawhon                                                                                                              possible before he graduates this
about the history of                                    “We are so excited                                                    In her role at Missouri                         University in Lexington,
                                                                                    Construction Company of St.                                                                                                          month. Durham, a history major,
St. Joseph called “Old                            to have the opportunity to                                              Western, Dr. Kennedy will focus                     Kentucky.
                                                                                    Joseph to renovate space on the                                                                                                      joined the National Society of
St. Jo.” They aired the first                 engage the students with the                                                on a number of elements of                              Dr. Piechowski earned a
                                                                                    first floor of the Hearnes Center                                                                                                    Leadership and Success in the
episode last fall: “The Fur Years -          community, and to share these                                                Missouri Western’s strategic plan,                  Bachelor of Arts in Psychology,
                                                                                    to house Missouri Western’s                                                                                                          spring semester of his freshman
1799-1843.” It can be viewed on              stories,” Lawrence said.                                                     Pathways to Excellence, including                   Piano Performance, and Music
                                                                                    Barnes & Noble Bookstore.                                                                                                            year, and has been helping
You Tube.                                       The website is oldstjo.com and                                            strengthening student success,                      Technology at Bellarmine
                                                                                    The work includes new light                                                                                                          develop leaders through that
    Phase II of the project consists         contains links to its Instagram,                                             creating new partnerships and                       University in Louisville,
                                                                                    fixtures, flooring and ceiling tile                                                                                                  group ever since.
of live-streaming multi-camera               Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube                                               expanding applied learning.                         Kentucky; a Master of Education
                                                                                    replacement, electrical additions,                                                                                                       He now serves as president of
                                             pages.                                                                           Dr. Kennedy earned a Bachelor                   and College Student Personnel
                                                                                    mechanical revisions, removing                                                                                                       the group, which holds leadership
                                                                                                                          of Arts in Psychology, Master                       from the University of Louisville          training workshops to learn
Graduate programs offer accelerated degree                                          walls and painting.
                                                                                        The current bookstore space in
                                                                                                                          of Arts in Psychology, Graduate                     in Kentucky; and a PhD in                  different communication and
                                                                                                                          Certificate in Gerontology and                      Education and Social Change:               leadership styles and how to
    Missouri Western offers                  approval from the director of          Blum Union is being converted         PhD in Psychology, Applied                          Higher Education from                      adjust to each person’s style. They
an accelerated option for all of             their graduate program and the         into a student-use space for          Cognitive Aging, all from the                       Bellarmine. Dr. Piechowski                 also hold networking events and
its master’s programs, where                 Graduate School dean.                  interactive gaming and viewing        University of Akron. Dr. Kennedy                    replaces Dr. Judy Grimes, who              engage in community service
seniors may apply to earn up to                 Dr. Susan Bashinski, Graduate       as part of Missouri Western’s new     replaces Dr. Doug Davenport,                        retired last summer.                       for Habitat for Humanity and
12 graduate credit hours as an               School dean, noted that this is a      esports program. A portion of the     who was named provost and vice                                                                 the Noyes Home each semester.
undergraduate and the hours will             great advantage for students. If an    renovation costs is being paid by     president of academic affairs.                                                                 In November 2019, 25 students
count toward both their graduate             undergraduate senior was accepted      a private source.
and undergraduate degrees.                   into the accelerated program and           The board also approved a                                                                                                        were inducted into the group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         to recognize their leadership
    Students may apply if they
have earned 90 undergraduate
                                             earned 12 hours (six per semester),
                                             they would graduate with their
                                                                                    bid of $372,899 from Seaman           Girl Scouts                                                                                    training during the fall semester.
                                                                                    & Schuske Metal Works of St.
credits, are degree-seeking, have a          bachelor’s degree and have 12          Joseph to replace the roof on
                                                                                                                          Pam Klaus '03, center, director of the Franchise Development Center, helped Girl Scouts earn       “I like seeing people of
                                                                                                                          their entrepreneurship badge when they gathered on campus recently. Annette Weeks '87 and      different backgrounds working
minimum GPA of 3.0 and receive               hours toward a Missouri Western        Wilson Hall. The current aging        Miu Sutton '17 of the Center for Entrepreneurship also worked with the young girls.            together for something bigger
                                             master’s degree.                       roof is leaking and unable to be
                                                                                    adequately repaired. Replacing                                                                                                       than themselves,” Durham said.
Chiefs will return to campus this summer                                            the roof will prevent damage to                                                                                                      “There’s always a need for a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         group like this.”
                                                                                    the interior of the building and
    The Kansas City Chiefs inked             (Depending on the COVID-19                                                                                                                                                     The group’s advisor is Derek
                                                                                    save Missouri Western additional
a three-year deal to make Missouri           guidelines, there is the possibility                                                                                                                                        Evans.
                                                                                    costs later.
Western the home of Chiefs                   that public practices may not be
                                                                                        The project includes the
summer training camp through                 held.)
                                                                                    removal of existing roof systems
the 2022 season. The agreement                   The Chiefs have held training
                                                                                    and replacement that includes
includes an option to extend the             camp on campus every year since
                                                                                    insulation, cover board and new
partnership an additional two                2010, when the Chiefs returned
                                                                                    TPO membrane and flashings.
years after 2022.                            its training camp to the state of
                                                                                    The new roof will include a 20-
    As part of the new agreement,            Missouri for the first time in 20
                                                                                    year warranty.
Missouri Western is developing               years. Dates and additional details
a new seating area on the north              for 2020 Chiefs training camp will
end of the existing practice fields          be announced on chiefs.com in
to better accommodate Chiefs                 mid-June.
fans who are viewing practices.

4        MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                                        									                                                                                                 SPRING 2020   5
SPRING 2020 12 COVID-19: The Silent Spring - THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
campus NEWS                                                                                                                    campus NEWS

Campus Kudos                                                                                                                Missouri Western bowlers have a great season
                                                                                                                               Five years ago, students asked Monty Smith,                    Certified Bronze Level Coach and developmental math
Missouri Western’s Master of Applied Science in               Student Cameron Edmonson received the NACA®                   associate professor of criminal justice, why Missouri             instructor, also coaches.
Assessment programs were named No. 5 in the top 10            Central Markley Scholarship, named for original               Western didn’t have a bowling team. Smith, a United                   This past year, its fourth season, two of the bowlers
online master’s in assessment and measurement programs        NACA® Central Region founder Larry Markley.                   States Bowling Congress Certified Silver Level Coach,             on the team, Carson Field and Jacob Dec, had great
by intelligent.com. The ranking was based on cost, course     Edmonson is a transition mentor for Admissions and            decided to help get one started, and the University is            seasons. At the Midstates Championship hosted by
offerings, outcomes, flexibility, faculty and reputation.     career advisor for the Career Development Center.             now home to a sanctioned intercollegiate bowling team,            Wichita State and Newman University in October
    According to its website, intelligent.com provides                                                                      the Griffon Bowling Club. Rhonda Brown, a USBC                    2019, Field placed 56th out of more than 300 in the
unbiased research to help students make informed              Claudia Baer, student employment coordinator,                                                                                   singles event, averaging 188 for six games. In November,
decisions about higher education programs.                    was honored by the National Student Employment                                                                                  at the Jayhawk Collegiate Challenge in Lawrence,
                                                              Association as the recipient of the 2019 Margene Orzalli                                                                        Kansas, Dec finished 13th out of 184 bowlers. He
Dr. Kaye Adkins, professor of English, received               Memorial Award, presented annually to a member of                                                                               averaged 202 for the six games. Carson finished 37th,
the 2019 Distinguished Service Award from the                 NSEA who demonstrates extraordinary effort, energy                                                                              averaging 192.
Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific              and commitment to both student employees and the
                                                                                                                                                                                                  At the Bronco Open hosted by Hastings College in
Communication, the major national organization in             profession. The recipient must provide leadership and
                                                                                                                                                                                              Hastings, Nebraska, Field finished eighth out of 132
technical communication for program administrators            vision through various activities, including committee
                                                                                                                                                                                              bowlers. His average of 198 was just eight pins shy of
and directors. Dr. Adkins is the long-time treasurer for      work, conferences and programs, and leadership positions
                                                                                                                                                                                              making the top five finishers All Tournament Team.
the organization and received recommendations from            as an officer of the organization.
                                                                                                                                                                                              Dec finished 37th, averaging 175.
distinguished faculty across the country.                         Baer has provided over three years of service to
                                                                                                                                                                                                  “They both worked incredibly hard to become
                                                              NSEA through her work as a Student Employment
The design work of student Lindsey Davis was selected         Essentials trainer and board appointee. She is also vice                                                                        competitive at the collegiate level,” Smith said.
for the cover of The Goose, an international journal of       president of professional development for NSEA.                                                                                     Both Field and Dec said the bowling club was
art, environment and culture. Davis submitted two posters                                                                                                                                     definitely a factor in their decision to come to Missouri
for the international competition and both were selected      Dr. Hannah Piechowski, recently named associate                                                                                 Western. Dec has been bowling since he was three years
for publication, with one being selected for the cover.       vice president and dean of students, was selected by the                                                                        old. Field said he bowled on his high school team at
Her posters are titled, “Save the Trees, Save Humanity,”      College Personnel Association of Kentucky for the Dr.                                                                           Savannah, Missouri. “I didn’t want high school bowling
and convey the results of deforestation. Her work can be      Fred Rhodes Outstanding Service Award. The award              Carson Field and Jacob Dec had a great season with the            to end,” he said. “It was too much fun.”
                                                                                                                            MWSU Bowling Club.
viewed at scholars.wlu.ca/thegoose.                           acknowledges an outstanding professional who has made
                                                              significant professional contributions or achievements
Dr. James Carviou, assistant professor of journalism,
was named a Distinguished 4-year Yearbook Advisor
                                                              on a campus, or at the state or regional level. In order to
                                                              win the award, Dr. Piechowski demonstrated professional       Three receive Drum Major
                                                                                                                            for Justice Awards
by the College Media Association, the nation’s largest        ethics, dedication, and commitment to the principles of
organization dedicated to serving collegiate media            the college personnel profession.
advisers. He was recognized at its national convention
in November. Additionally, Dr. Ann Thorne, long-time          Jean Foster, administrative assistant in the Career              At the 2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. reception on
yearbook advisor and professor emerita of English, was        Development Center, earned her Certified Professional         campus in January, three people – one community
inducted into the CMA Advisor Hall of Fame.                   Resume Writer Credential from the Professional                member, one Missouri Western employee and one
                                                              Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.             student – were honored with the Drum Major for
Dr. Karen Koy, associate professor of biology, co-                                                                          Justice Awards.
authored a paper, “The Anthropocene Fossil Record             Peter Britton, assistant professor of art, was selected for      The community member recipient was Rich Nolf,
of Terrestrial Mammals” in the peer-reviewed journal          the 2019 Irene Rosenzweig Biennial Juried Exhibition          who served as director of the St. Joseph Museums for
Anthropocene. The authors were subsequently                   at The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in        over 30 years; the employee recipient was Dr. Jennifer
interviewed by Science Magazine, the official publication     Pine Bluff. His digital metal print “Takate” is part of the   Jackson, who is a faculty member in the Department
of the American Association for the Advancement               juried exhibition showcasing mid-South artists.               of Communication and Journalism, and the student
of Science, for an article titled, “What Fossils Will                                                                       recipient was Leo Grantham, who is an advocate for
Modern-day Civilization Leave Behind?” Science                Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society,          many social justice issues. Spoken word artist Kyla
Magazine is the most important science journal in the         received the National Best Chapter Award for the              Lacey was the special guest speaker.                         Drum Major for Justice Award recipients Rich Nolf and Dr. Jennifer Jackson.
United States. There was also an article about their          2018-19 academic year. Only six chapters in the nation                                                                     Student Leo Grantham was unavailable for a photo.
work in Discover Magazine.                                    receive this award.

6        MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                                             									                                                                                                 SPRING 2020       7
SPRING 2020 12 COVID-19: The Silent Spring - THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
campus NEWS                                                                                                                               campus NEWS

    Training to train
        If you are learning how to be a personal trainer,
                                                                                                                                              Math Pathways to a degree
                                                                                                                                                  In 2014, Dr. Jennifer Hegeman, professor of             public colleges and universities easier by requiring the
    it might work better if you have a personal trainee,                                                                                      mathematics and chair of the Department of Computer         same general studies course offerings across the state.
    right? And if you’re an employee, wouldn’t you like free                                                                                  Science, Math and Physics; was selected for a state task        With the four options, faculty in Missouri Western’s
    guidance from a student learning personal training?                                                                                       force to create college-level mathematics courses that      academic departments evaluated all their majors and
        That’s exactly what happened last fall when Dr.                                                                                       could serve as alternatives to College Algebra and be       identified the preferred general studies math course
    Stephanie Gerlach, assistant professor of health, physical                                                                                more aligned with student majors.                           and the accepted courses. That makes it easier for
    education and recreation (HPER), matched seven                                                                                                The result of the task force was a statewide Math       students who are transferring in to Missouri Western.
    students with seven employees for her Principles of                                                                                       Pathways program that gives students more options as        If they didn’t take the preferred course, they don’t have
    Strength Training and Conditioning class.                                                                                                 they navigate general studies math requirements for         to retake a class if the one they took is in the accepted
        The students met in the Baker Family Fitness                                                                                          their degrees. Students now have four options instead       category.
    Center two days a week and spent the time one-on-                                                                                         of just College Algebra, including Mathematical                 Dr. Hegeman said an added and valuable benefit of
    one with their trainees. And one day a week, they all                                                                                     Reasoning & Modeling (contemporary problem                  her work on the statewide task force for three years was
e   met in HPER’s Personal and Commercial Fitness Lab                                                                                         solving), Statistical Reasoning, Precalculus Algebra and    the relationships that she created with personnel from
    in the Looney Complex for group workouts. Students                                                                                        Precalculus.                                                other Missouri higher education institutions.
    were responsible for planning the group workouts,                                                                                             “College Algebra became a barrier to success because        To continue the work of the Math Pathways task
    Dr. Gerlach said, and activities included step aerobics,      Above, employee Aubry Carpenter ’14 works out with Taylor Houx in the       it kept a lot of students from getting their degree,” Dr.   force, Missouri Bridges for Equity and Alignment
    working with resistance bands, stretching and more.           Baker Family Fitness Center. Below, employee Shaina Spooner ’17/’19 works   Hegeman said. “Math Pathways now opens a lot of             in Mathematics (MoBEAM) was formed, and Dr.
        She said the goals of the class included helping the      with student Tarell Strader.                                                doors for students.”                                        Hegeman is part of that leadership group, as well.
    students understand what a long-term exercise program
                                                                       intimidating. But Tarell (Strader) encouraged me to try                    Math Pathways is also part of the state’s Core 42
    was, how to set appropriate goals for a client and how
                                                                       new machines and exercises. I feel more confident when                 program, which makes transferring between Missouri’s
    to have a successful exercise session. Dr. Gerlach said all
    seven employees stayed through the semester.                       I walk into the gym now.”
        Aubry Carpenter ’14, marketing coordinator in the
    Marketing and Communications Office, was one of the
                                                                           The class, new in fall 2019, is a required course in the
                                                                       personal and commercial fitness concentration in the                   Griffon Production House
    employee trainees.                                                 physical education major that began in fall 2017.                          In the spring of 2019, Thomas Brecheisen, assistant        Sophomore Jozua Bennie joined the group soon
        “I loved being a part of the class,” Carpenter said.               Senior Giana Butler enjoyed the hands-on experience                professor of cinema, created the Griffon Production         after it was founded. He said for the first production,
    “It definitely got me out of my comfort zone, and was              and was especially glad to learn how to create workout                 House, a group of budding cinematographers who just         Brecheisen was the producer, but students have filled
    a great learning opportunity for the student. I was                prescriptions for clients.                                             want to make films.                                         that role ever since. Bennie started as a camera operator
    also happy to learn how to use many pieces of gym                      “It was super fun to get to know the clients,” she said.               Brecheisen started the group when he realized that      and is now a producer.
    equipment that I had never touched before. I had a lot             “It was cool to see the differences in backgrounds and                 the theatre productions in the Department of Theatre,          “We are learning how to deliver a finalized product,”
    of fun.”                                                           skill levels.”                                                         Cinema and Dance were not being recorded, and he            Bennie said. “We are there from start to finish. I learn
        Shaina Spooner ’17/’19, also a marketing coordinator               Senior Justin Rhodes has a goal of opening a cross                 thought that would be great experience for his cinema       something new every day.”
    in the Marketing and Communications Office, said she               fit gym and is already a cross fit coach, but he believes              students. Students had to interview for their positions        Along with filming the theatre productions, they are
    had used most of the equipment in the fitness center but           the class gave him a more rounded experience. He liked                 in the group, and students are in charge of selecting,      also filming the Department of Music’s concerts. This
    had never gone into the free weight area because “it was           working with a client one-on-one and helping them                      staffing, setting up, recording, tearing down and           past fall, they also filmed the St. Joseph Youth Chorale’s
                                                                       figure out their goals and needs.                                      completing (editing, motion graphics and rendering) the     semester concert and created a video of it, and they
                                                                           Dr. Gerlach noted that personal trainers have to                   entire production.                                          planned to continue with that project, as well.
                                                                       work to obtain clients, so the class helped the students                   “I’m training students to be producers in charge           Brecheisen said the majority of the group is
                                                                       gain a lot of self-confidence. She said by the end of the              of other student camera operators, editors, and             comprised of younger students who want to gain a lot
                                                                       semester, she could just step back and observe rather                  motion graphic artists doing their own professional         of experience early in their college careers, he noted.
                                                                       than giving her input and guidance.
                                                                                                                                              productions,” Brecheisen said. “I’m okay with them not         “This is definitely something I will be putting on my
                                                                           Carpenter and Spooner said they definitely want to
                                                                                                                                              only achieving a highly produced professional package       resume,” Bennie said.
                                                                       participate next time the class is offered.
                                                                                                                                              but also failing and learning from their mistakes. I want
                                                                           “My end results were fairly unexpected,” Carpenter
                                                                                                                                              them to make those mistakes here.”
                                                                       said. “We did a pre-test and a post-test, and I was
                                                                       amazed to see the weight I lost and strength I gained.”
                                                                           “My favorite part was working with the students,”
                                                                       Spooner said. “You could tell they wanted to succeed."

    8        MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                                                       									                                                                                      SPRING 2020   9
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Global Griffon: Dr. Adrienne Johnson
                                                                                                                                              For the second time in as many                                         because the Taiwanese government                     Not knowing the English-
                                                                                                                                          years, Dr. Adrienne Johnson was                                            has new national education                       speaking proficiency levels of her
                                                                                                                                          selected for an assignment through                                         initiatives focused on promoting                 workshop participants before she
                                                                                                                                          the U.S. Department of State’s                                             the teaching of STEM content                     arrived in Taiwan, she said she
                                                                                                                                          English Language Specialist                                                areas in English.                                prepared a lot of hands-on activities
                                                                                                                                          program.                                                                       “The teachers                                           for the teachers who
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “I feel very fortunate were not strong English
      Celebrating 50 years – Bushman Planetarium
                                                                                                                                              Dr. Johnson, chair of the                                              were very eager
                                                                                                                                          Department of Education and                                                to learn new          that I get to help other speakers.
                                                                                                                                          coordinator of the graduate-level                                          strategies,” she                                                Dr. Johnson, who earned
         Editor’s note: In the fall of 2019,             would not only be a good addition            Before the total eclipse in         TESOL program, travelled to                                                said. “It challenged
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            teachers and live my a doctorate                  and master’s
     Missouri Western’s present-day                      to the building, but a great resource    August 2017, Wilkerson offered          Egypt in 2018 and to Taiwan in                                             me to be the best              dream job.”                  in linguistics, noted that
     campus and the four-year college                    for the community.                       the show “Totality” several times in    fall 2019. In Taiwan, she spent 15                                         teacher I can be.”          - Dr. Adrienne Johnson
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 a person may be fluent in
     celebrated its 50th anniversary. As                     Dr. Looney told Wilkerson he         the weeks leading up to the eclipse,    days conducting 17 workshops with                                              Dr. Johnson                                             a language, but not know
     part of the celebration, we look back               would think about it, and told him       and every show but one was sold         six different topics in three cities,                                      said preparing                                              a lot of academic terms
     at the Bushman Planetarium that                     later that he planned to include it in   out.                                    training 221 teachers to teach their                                       the workshops and teaching them                  in that language, so that was the
     was part of the campus right from the               the new building on the southeast            In 1996, the Joseph R.              STEM content areas in English.                                             made her rethink how she teaches                 challenge of the workshops she
     start.                                              corner of the first floor. Wilkerson     Bushman estate donated more             Her workshop participants included                                         here and strengthened her skills.                taught.
         When Missouri Western was                       researched and purchased the             than 400 acres of farmland, which       current teachers, pre-service                                              Also, she said she loved learning                   “I feel very fortunate that I get
     planning its new campus west of                     equipment for the planetarium, and       included three houses, to Missouri      teachers and university faculty.                                           about the Taiwanese school system                to help other teachers and live my
     I-29 in 1967, Jerry Wilkerson,                      he has been involved in its operation    Western. When the property was              The State Department’s partners                                        and talking about the American                   dream job,” she said. “I love to come
     professor emeritus of mathematics,                  ever since. Wilkerson began running      sold, $250,000 from the proceeds        in Taiwan requested the workshops                                          school system.                                   back and share what I have learned
     still recalls the day he walked into                shows as soon as it opened, and even     of the sale was used to renovate                                                                                                                                    with my students.”
     President M.O. Looney’s office                      though he retired from teaching in       and update the planetarium,
     and suggested Dr. Looney consider                   2002, he continues to schedule and       and it was named the Bushman
                                                                                                                                                GRIFFON
     building a planetarium in the                       run the shows. He says he loves it
                                                         when a parent comes in with their
                                                         children and tells him they attended
                                                                                                  Planetarium at that time.
                                                                                                      That renovation included new
                                                                                                  equipment and technology, and
                                                                                                                                                COUNTRY
                                                                                                                                                                                        Presidential High School Visits
                                                         shows when they were in elementary       new seats and lighting. It reopened                                                                                                                                      Since joining Missouri
                                                         school.                                  in September 1997.                                                                                                                                                   Western, President Matt
                                                             Wilkerson said the first show,           At the time of the renovation,                                                                                                                                   Wilson has been on the road
                                                         one that “did a beautiful job”           it was estimated more than 50,000                                                                                                                                    visiting high schools in the
                                                         of showing the night sky and             people, including many elementary                                           KING CITY                                                                                region and in St. Louis. If
                                                         constellations, was held in October      school groups and Missouri                                                                                                                                            you know of a high school
                                                                                                                                              SAVANNAH                   King City HS •
                                                         1969. At the time, there were only a     Western astronomy students,                   Savannah HS •                                                                                                             you would like him to visit
                                                                                                                                                                                                   MAYSVILLE
                                                         handful of planetariums in the state.    had visited the 28-year-old                                                                                                                                               this fall, email president@
                                                             “It was a shining star for           planetarium.                            ST. JOSEPH               • Lafayette HS      Maysville HS •             CAMERON
                                                                                                                                                                • Central HS
                                                                                                                                                     Benton HS • • St Joseph Christian HS         • Stewartsville HS             HAMILTON                                     missouriwestern.edu.
                                                         Missouri Western,” said Wilkerson.           When Agenstein Hall                                                                 STEWARTSVILLE • Cameron HS           • Penney HS
                                                                                                                                                 FAUCETT              GOWER
                                                         (Yes, pun intended). “People were        underwent a complete renovation               Mid Buchanan HS •                       • East Buchanan HS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            MISSOURI
                                                                                                                                                                              SMITHVILLE
                                                         just amazed.”                            in 2010, Wilkerson said there was                                                                       • Plattsburg HS
                                                                                                                                                                                         • Smithville HS PLATTSBURG
                                                                                                                                               PLATTE CITY           • Platte City HS
                                                             Over the years, more and more        never any talk about removing                                                          • Staley HS • Liberty North HS
Top, Jerry Wilkerson in the planetarium. He has been                                                                                                   Park Hill South HS •
                                                                                                                                                                                • North Kansas City HS • Liberty HS
                                                         shows have been added to the             the planetarium; everyone wanted                          RIVERSIDE
involved with the planetarium since it opened in 1969.                                                                                                                                    • Oak Park HS
                                                         planetarium lineup. “Stars of the        to renovate it, as well. The new
Above, the planetarium in its early days.
                                                         Pharaohs,” “Extreme Planets,”            planetarium, now an immersive                                 KANSAS CITY
     science and math building, one                      “Mystery of the Christmas Star,”         theatre, opened in February 2011                                                                                                                                                              Ritenour HS •

     of the first buildings planned for                  and “Nine Planets and Counting,”         and continues to be a popular draw                                                                                                                                                                                • St. Mary’s HS
     the new campus. Wilkerson, who                      are four of the 16 current shows.        on campus and in the community.                                                                                                                                                                               ST. LOUIS
     started teaching at the St. Joseph                  (Wilkerson’s favorite? “Sea                  And Wilkerson is proud to                                                                                                                                          Rockwood Summit HS •

     Junior College in 1964, thought it                  Monsters.”)                              have been a part of it for the entire
                                                                                                  50 years.

      10         MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                                                    									                                                                                                                                   SPRING 2020                11
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research paper, a PowerPoint presentation, a business
                                                                                                                           plan or another option. If they had a passing grade at
                                                                                                                           midterm, students had the option of earning the credit
                                                                                                                           hours for their courses with no grade. Or, they could
                                                                                                                           take the grade they had earned or complete the work to
                                                                                                                           improve their grade. Exceptions included those degrees
                                                                                                                           with certifications or licenses that required grades for
                                                                                                                           all courses.
                                                                                                                               Sarah Weber, assistant professor of art, developed two
                                                                                                                           capstone projects for her students in their fibers course.
                                                                                                                           Since they had learned hand-sewing techniques in class
                                                                                                                           earlier in the semester, they sewed protective face masks
                                                                                                                           for hospitals. For the second project, Stitching Stories,
                                                                                                                           students called a resident at Living Community of St.
                                                                                                                           Joseph and asked them a series of questions about their
                                                                                                                           past. They then created a visual interpretation of the
                                                                                                                           conversation.                                                Library Director Sally Gibson and Beauford wanted students to know that,
                                                                                                                               “Due to COVID-19, senior citizens in nursing             even though campus was closed, the library was ready to help students.
                                                                                                                           homes and assisted living centers are isolated and cannot
                                                                                                                           see their families,” Weber said at the time. “And this          and restaurants were only allowed take-out or delivery,
                                                                                                                           project promotes healthy morale and genuine interaction         and gatherings of more than 10 were prohibited by the

     A silent spring
                                                                                                                           between students and the elderly.”                              City of St. Joseph.
                                                                                                                               Nathan Scott was elected president of the Student               On March 20, President Wilson announced a
                                                                                                                           Government Association right before spring break,               remote work policy for employees, emphasizing that
                                                                                                                           so he conducted SGA business virtually and                      students could still receive services virtually. A few days
                                                                                                                           worked with those student organizations                             later, campus access was restricted to the public in
                                                                                                                           that did not have a chance to elect new                                response to St. Joseph’s emergency declaration that
   Because of COVID-19, it was a spring semester like no other.                                                            officers before spring break. “We did                                    strongly encouraged people to remain in their
This is the story of how it unfolded at Missouri Western.                                                                  whatever we could to pick up the                                          homes and avoid public places. A few days later,
                                                                                                                           pieces so we can start strong in the                                      the city extended the shelter-in-place to April
    Although a case was first reported in China in              basketball championships in all divisions, and a           fall,” he said.                                                           24 and the University’s work-from-home policy
December 2019, it wasn’t until early January when the           cancellation of the rest of the spring sports seasons           In a phone interview in late                                         was extended to that date, as well.
first cases were being confirmed in the United States           subsequently followed. On Wednesday, March 18,             March, Scott said he was still                                                As the silent spring semester continued,
and most people started hearing about the “coronavirus.”        the University announced its plan for the 2020 spring      considering his options on how to                                       many got creative and started offering virtual
    Even before students left for spring break on March         semester.                                                  finish his courses for the balance of the                            events to students and the community. International
7, University officials had been closely monitoring the             “There is nothing we wanted more than to welcome       spring semester. He noted that he was really                     Student Services held its Tea and Talk series via Zoom,
COVID-19 situation. They were already working with              our students back to campus and have everything back       glad students had some options rather than the                  and four music students gave their senior recitals on
a local task force, and by March 10, Missouri Western           to normal,” President Wilson said. “Unfortunately, that    University just going 100% online. “This was a situation        Facebook Live. Graduate student Elizabeth Alkier
had formed its own COVID-19 response team. All                  was not the situation we faced. But I was confident that   that called for flexibility, and I was very glad Missouri       defended her capstone portfolio for her Master’s degree
international travel was suspended, including the study         we would rise to the occasion and emerge stronger as a     Western was flexible.”                                          via Zoom, and Admissions created a virtual campus tour
abroad trip to Japan for students that President Matt           Griffon family.”                                               The residence halls stayed open throughout the              for prospective students.
Wilson was planning for May. Missouri Western also                  Instead of students completing the semester totally    semester for those students who had no other place to               Admissions staff also created a website and held a
initiated enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures           online, faculty were asked to offer two methods of         stay and the cafeteria provided to-go meals. Students           virtual spring Griffon Showcase for prospective students
on campus.                                                      alternative course delivery for                            who didn’t return to campus will receive prorated room          and their parents on April 4. The website even gave
    On the Thursday of spring break, March 12, it was           most courses: supplemental                                 and board credit on their account that can be used for          them an opportunity to chat live with Missouri Western
announced that spring break would be extended for               materials to cover course                                  summer tuition, fall tuition or fall housing. Graduating        personnel.
one week, and University officials took the extra time          content for the remainder                                  seniors will be issued a refund for the prorated amount.
to figure out the balance of the spring semester. By this       of the semester, and a                                         By the time Missouri Western had announced its
time, several universities in the United States had gone        spring semester culminating                                alternative semester on March 18, St. Joseph’s K-12                                                       Continued on pg 15
to all-online classes for the rest of their spring semesters.   experience. Those experiences                              schools were closed, along with East Hills Mall. Bars
    At the same time, the NCAA suspended all                    could include an exam, a

12       MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                                          									                                                                                              SPRING 2020      13
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A silent spring                                                                                                                     Continued from pg 13

                                                                                                                                        “It was definitely a different experience, but the
                                                                                                                                    folks who attended asked great questions and seemed
Abby Wolff:
                                             are valid, even when we think we’re         my co-workers about rigging and
                                             being silly. The biggest lesson that        carpentry (he thinks I’m very cool).       to enjoy interacting with the current students, faculty,
                                                                                                                                    and staff,” said Marissa Steimel, director of new
A last
                                             this whole thing has                                         It’s a steady job and I
                                             taught is that it’s okay                                     feel like I’m helping     student initiatives. “They appreciated our efforts to still
                                                                            “I’m grateful for                                       get them information about Missouri Western, even
semester to                                  to be sad!
                                                                           the connections
                                                                                                          people, though my
                                                                                                          heart wants to be         though we couldn’t hold the on-campus event. We had
                                             Q.
remember                                            How have your                                                                   students from all across the state participating, which
                                                                           I have from college back in the theater.                 was cool to see!”
                                             classes and professors                                            I’m also working
                                             been since there were         and am looking                 to try and use Zoom           Steimel said they are looking into offering more
                 Editor’s note: It’s                                                                                                online events in the future.
                                             no more campus                forward to when                to have weekly
                 probably safe to            classes?                                                     art workshops for             “Griffon Showcase provides a unique opportunity
                 say that every                                            I can come back                                          for prospective students to get a feel for campus, our
                                             A.
                                                                                                          students who are
                 senior will long                    I don’t know          to campus to finally stuck at home. Since                University, and the Griffon family, and we didn’t want
                 remember the                about the other                                              I was 15, I’ve been       our future Griffons to miss out on that experience
                 spring semester of          departments on                step on that darn              teaching music and        due to the unforeseen circumstances of COVID-19,”
                 2020. At the end            campus, but the TCD           seal.”                         art lessons to kiddos     she said. “So we completely recreated the event into
                 of March, I spoke           department has been                                          from my church and        a virtual showcase. Our campus community quickly
                 with Abby Wolff,            absolutely incredible.        Abby Wolff, Senior             community theater.        came together to still provide a successful ‘visit day’       Student Affairs personnel meet via Zoom, the new normal for employees when
                 a theatre/cinema            We’re a little family,        Theatre/Cinema Major                I believe that       despite the unexpected change in plans.”                      campus closed due to COVID-19.
                 major with an               and the professors have Animation Minor                      art heals and that            Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology, and
                 animation minor             been checking in with                                        it is the perfect         the Missouri Western chapter of Alpha Chi Honor
                 from Kansas City,           students consistently.                                       distraction for times     Society decided to hold an MWSU No Conference                          Her choir class met virtually during what would have
Missouri, who had been looking               They were transparent with us in            like this. Plus, it’s a nice little side   Conference for students who were preparing to                       been their weekly rehearsals, and she worked very hard
forward to graduating this May.              asking for our patience as they figure      hustle and gives me time to practice       travel and present at conferences                                            to maintain the culture that they had developed
                                             out how to do this crazy form of
Q.
                                                                                         my communication skills. Teaching          this spring. She asked students                                              throughout the academic year. Dr. Hepworth
       How did you feel when you             schooling, but overall, I am so proud       over video is a whole different beast      to upload their presentations or                                             lined up guest speakers for each of those
found out you couldn’t finish your           to have faculty leaders like them. If       than being face-to-face. It’s a good       powerpoints on Google Drive, and                                             classes, including internationally renowned
last semester on campus?                     I’m struggling, I know I can reach          challenge and keeps me on my toes.         she shared them with the campus                                              composers and professional musicians. One of
A.
                                             out to any of them.                                                                    community.
                                                                                           Q.
       To be quite honest, I was                                                                                                                                                                                 the classes featured Yoga for Musicians.
                                                 I decided to take the credit for               Any other comments?
devastated. There was so much                                                                                                           Since the spring                                                             The hard part for the seniors, she said, is
                                             two of my classes. My two acting
coming in March and April. I                 classes are doing some revised theatre        A.   This came at the worst and
                                                                                                                                    commencement ceremony could
                                                                                                                                    not be held, it was rescheduled for
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 that they did not get any closure because they
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 did not get to experience “the last” of each
wasn’t ready to say goodbye to a             projects that I’m very excited for in       best possible times. It’s the worst
place I love so much. Cleaning out                                                                                                  the Sunday of Family Weekend,                                             event. She’s planning a “family reunion” for her
                                             the coming weeks. I am working              because my senior year was cut
my dorm room was surreal and                                                                                                        Sept. 20.                                                                 students when the pandemic is over.
                                             on the final draft for my short             short and there was so much I
heartbreaking.                                                                                                                          “Commencement means so much                                              In her role as Faculty Senate president, Dr.
                                             play that I’ve been working on for          wanted to do before saying goodbye
    I was working on two shows                                                                                                      to the graduates who have worked so                                       Hepworth spent a lot of time in virtual meetings
                                             Playwrighting and have weekly               to Missouri Western. But also, it’s
at the time when things were                 coaching with Dr. Paul Hindemith            the best because having this time to       hard to earn their degree,” President                                     with President Wilson and faculty members
starting to shut down. When our              for voice. While I really miss the          reset and refocus before entering the      Wilson said. “We wanted to make                                     working together to find the best solutions during an
season closer “She Kills Monster”            classroom, it’s nice to still have a way    professional world is very helpful.        sure they had the opportunity to celebrate their                    unprecedented time. She said faculty were impressed
was finally canceled, I sat with my          to connect with peers via Zoom.                 I’m balancing finishing school,        accomplishments, even though we couldn’t hold the                   with the administration, and they were pleased with the
fiancé, Ben, and we cried over the                                                       planning my wedding and working            ceremony in May.”                                                   decision of how to finish off the semester.
loss of a project that was so loved          Q.     Did you lose your job because        to start my life outside of my                 Graduates also have the option of walking in the
                                                                                                                                    December 2020 ceremony.
by many people.                              of the pandemic?                            parents’ home. While I’d rather be
    I think letting myself grieve                                                                                                       In April, it was announced that all summer courses
                                             A.                                          in St. Joseph, there are blessings in
was hard because my future in-                      Yes, I was one of five               this insane time. I’m grateful for the     would be online only.
laws were stuck in Italy and they            technicians in the Potter theater (on       connections I have from college and            Dr. Elise Hepworth, professor of music and
have it so much worse. However,              campus). Since coming home, I got a         am looking forward to when I can           president of the Faculty Senate, said the importance of
when I finally let myself process            job at Walmart doing online grocery         come back to campus to finally step        her research in community and relationship building
all the emotions I was feeling, I            orders for folks in my community. I         on that darn seal.                         increased exponentially after on-campus classes were
was reminded how our feelings                had a long conversation with one of                                                    cancelled for the semester.

14       MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                                                   									                                                                                                SPRING 2020      15
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griffon SPORTS                                                                                                                                           griffon SPORTS

Sports wrap                                      Sophomore Tyrell Carroll
                                                                                                                                                          Winter championships and
                                                                                                                                                          spring season sports curtailed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Lacrosse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          coach named
Men’s Basketball
    The men’s basketball team had            earned first-team All-MIAA                                                                                                                                                                       Rachel Benzing was named
                                                                                                                                                              As national and global concerns          Both the men’s and women’s
their most successful campaign               honors and second team NABC                                                                                                                                                                  the first-ever head women’s
                                                                                                                                                          over the spread of COVID-19               golf teams had just competed in
in a decade or more. The team                All-District honors, firsts for a                                                                                                                                                            lacrosse coach in Missouri
                                                                                                                                                          grew, the NCAA announced the              one event each when the season
went 18-14 overall, 13-6 against             Griffon in 14 years. Will Eames                                                                                                                                                              Western history. She joined
                                                                                                                                                          cancellation of all winter and            was cut short while the track
MIAA competition and had an                  became the first student athlete                                                                                                                                                             Missouri Western after helping
                                                                                                                                                          spring sports championships.              & field teams had yet to begin
impressive 12-1 record in the                in program history to be named                                                                                                                                                               usher in women’s lacrosse
                                                                                                                                                          Consequently, the MIAA                    outdoor competition.
fieldhouse.                                  MIAA Freshman of the Year                                                                                                                                                                    programs at Lynn University
                                                                                                                                                          Conference canceled all spring
    The Griffons finished                    in addition to receiving All-                                                                                                                                                                in Boca Raton, Florida and
                                                                                                                                                          competition with about one third
fourth in the MIAA standings                 MIAA honorable mention. Tyus                                                                                                                                                                 Maryville University in St. Louis.
                                                                                   Above, Head Coach Candi Whitaker; left, Tyus Millhollin made           of the softball and baseball seasons
and advanced to the MIAA                     Millhollin broke the program                                                                                                                                                                 After two seasons as a lacrosse
                                                                                   the Missouri Western record books this season.                         completed.
Championship semifinals (first               record for 3-point field goals in a                                                                                                                                                          student athlete at University of
                                                                                                                                                              The final spring competition
semifinal in a decade) before                season (99) and in a game (10).           the quarterfinals of the MIAA’s                                                                                                                    Maryland Baltimore County,
                                                                                                                                                          by any Griffon team came on
falling to MIAA regular season                                                         postseason tournament to No. 3                                     March 11 as softball completed                                                  Benzing finished her playing
and postseason champion                      Women’s Basketball                        seed Nebraska-Kearney.                                             a come-from-behind victory over                                                 career at Lindenwood University
Northwest Missouri State.                        First-year head coach Candi              Newcomer Corbyn                                                 Illinois Springfield in eight innings.                                          in St. Charles, Missouri, where
    After a rocky start to the               Whitaker wasted no time restoring         Cunningham was named first-                                        Softball finished the shortened                                                 she was a two-time All-American.
season, the Griffons rebounded               the women’s basketball program            team All-MIAA as the only                                          season with a 13-9 record with just                                                 Benzing holds the
                                             to its traditional winning ways.          student athlete in the conference                                  two MIAA games completed, both                                                  Lindenwood career record for
                                             Whitaker became just the second           ranked in the top-five in scoring,                                 wins for the Griffons.                                                          assists per game after helping the
                                             first-year head coach in program          rebounding and field goal                                              Baseball was 8-15 after a three-                                            Lions to two NCAA Division II
                                             history to win 20 games by leading        percentage.                                                        game sweep of MIAA newcomer                                                     national semi-final appearances.
                                             Missouri Western to a 21-8                                                                                   Rogers State to finish 3-3 in                                                   In 2017, Benzing was named the
                                             overall record. The team went 13-6        Indoor Track & Field                                               Conference play. Tennis was 6-5 in                                              RMAC Offensive Player of the
                                             in MIAA play and 14-2 in the                 Hanna Williams continued                                        Olaya Garrido-Rivas’ first season                                               Year, first-team All-Region and
                                             fieldhouse.                               her promising young career,                                        as head coach before any MIAA                                                   first-team All-American. Benzing
                                                 Reaching more than 20 wins            becoming the program’s highest-                                    matches had been played.                                                        was a two-time first-team All-
                                             for the third time in the past five       ever finisher in the MIAA Indoor                                                                                                                   RMAC selection and also earned
                                             seasons, the Griffons improved
                                             by seven wins over the previous
                                                                                       Track & Field Championships
                                                                                       when she took third in the 600-                                    A change at the helm of men’s basketball                                        second-team All-Region and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          third-team All-American honors
                                             season. The team averaged a               yard. The women’s squad turned                                            In late March, men’s basketball    was hired by Wicks and has been       in 2016.
                                             19.3-point margin in wins and             in three NCAA DII provisional                                         head coach for two seasons,            at the University for two seasons.        She served as head coach
                                             never lost a game by more than            marks, including Bailey Gilbert’s                                     Sundance Wicks, announced his              Before coming to Missouri         of the St. Louis Samurai and
with a seven-game win streak, the            nine points. The Griffons went 4-2        5.75-meter long jump at the Mel                                                     resignation when he      Western, Martin served as             St. Louis Lacrosse Club from
program’s longest in 18 years, to            against teams that qualified for          Tjeerdsma Classic; Lynzi Miller’s                                                   was offered a position   assistant men’s basketball coach      2017-19. She received a Bachelor
elevate the team toward the top of           the NCAA DII Championships,               3,279-point pentathlon at the Mel                                                   as assistant coach       and director of athletic admissions   of Arts in English Literature
the MIAA standings. The season’s             including two wins over top-25            Tjeerdsma Classic; and the 4x400                                                    at the University of     at Martin Methodist College           and a minor in nutrition from
accomplishments included the                 competition in three attempts.            relay team of Aniyah Mance-                                                         Wyoming. Wicks said      in Pulaski, Tennessee. Prior to       Lindenwood in 2017.
program’s most wins in 10 years;                 Despite finishing in a                Edwards, Williams, Aniya Kollore                                                    he was not looking       that, Martin was the director
most conference wins in 18 years;            three-way tie for fourth place            and Symonne Holland’s 3:50.89 at                                                    to leave Missouri        of basketball operations at the
highest MIAA finish in 10 years;             in the MIAA standings, the                the Nebraska Tune-Up.                                                               Western, but took the    University of San Francisco under
longest home win streak (11) in              Griffons entered the MIAA                    The men’s and women’s teams                                                      opportunity to return    head coach Rex Walters.
17 years; most home wins in 14               Championships as the No. 6 seed           combined to break 10 program                               Will Martin              to his home state.           Martin received his bachelor’s
years; highest postseason seed in            by way of three-way tiebreaker            records with more than 50                                                 Days later, it was announced       from the University of Kentucky
10 years and a program-record                rules. Missouri Western fell in           personal records in Cody Ingold’s                                     that Missouri Western’s current        in 2012 and obtained his master’s
305 made 3-point field goals                                                           first season as head coach.                                           assistant coach Will Martin will       in education from the University
in a season.                                                                                                                                                 serve as the new head coach. He        of Tulsa in 2015.

16       MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                                                                        									                                                                            SPRING 2020      17
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