OUR TIME IS NOW' NEW MFA PROGRAM CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION - THE MAGAZINE OF ALMA COLLEGE
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THE
T HTH
E EM MAG
A G A AZIN
Z I N E EOOF
F AALM
L M AA CCOLL
O L L E G EE FALL 2021
‘OUR TIME IS NOW’ • NEW MFA PROGRAM • CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION
ON THE COVER MISSION
Sophfronia Scott, director of the Master of Fine Alma College’s mission is to prepare graduates
Arts in Creative Writing program, is pictured who think critically, serve generously, lead
attending a lecture at the Wright Leppien Opera purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of
House in downtown Alma, a signature element of the world they bequeath to future generations.
the “Our Time is Now” campaign.
2
THE
M AG A Z I N E
EDITOR
Tim Rath
DESIGNER
Lori Block
PHOTOGRAPHER
Steve Jessmore
CONTRIBUTORS
Jeff Abernathy
Matt Moran
PRINTER
McKay Press
WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK.
PLEASE SEND COMMENTS TO:
Tim Rath
Alma College
614 W. Superior St.
Alma, MI 48801-1599
or e-mail:
rathtj@alma.edu
The Tartan is published for
alumni, students, parents, families
and friends of Alma College.
The inaugural class of the MFA program met for its first
residency in June. Faculty member Jim Daniels ’78, an
author of poetry, fiction and screenplays, is pictured
leading a class.
3
BRING THE
TARTAN TO LIFE
Use your mobile
device to scan this
8 13 18
QR code. When you
do, you’ll be taken to OUR TIME TO SHINE CONSTRUCTION A WHIRLWIND
The Tartan’s recently ON CAMPUS COMMENCEMENT
updated website. “Our Time is Now:
There, you can enjoy
web-exclusive content
The Campaign for Alma Construction on the After a challenging year,
about Alma College College,” exceeded its Dunning Memorial students, staff and faculty
that we just couldn’t fundraising goal and set a Chapel renovation project were able to gather in
fit in this edition. new modern record. kicked off this spring, person for commencement
For more info, visit and the new Learning in May.
alma.edu/tartan. Commons project is set to
begin in 2022.
4
What’s Inside: Fall 2021
20 25 26
WIELDING WORDS THE SANCTUARY RESEARCHING
WITH POWER COVID-19
A former church in Alma
The inaugural class of has been transformed Sarah Cox-Vazquez ’15,
the Master of Fine Arts in into a state-of-the-art an Alma College alumna
Creative Writing program facility for the dance living in Singapore, is
at Alma College met for its team to host practices. working to bring down
first residency in June. the high cost of COVID-19
testing.
5
Letter from the
PRESIDENT
Amid varied emotions,
a feeling of optimism
emerges
W
hen I think of the recent history at Alma College, our state
and our nation as a whole, many varied emotions surface.
There is a sense of excitement and happiness that comes
from the widespread availability of the COVID-19 vaccines, and the
subsequent reconnections with old friends and family members
after many months spent taking precautions. There is a sense of
mourning that comes from all that we have lost during the pan-
demic — the many lives that have been taken before their time and
abernathyj@alma.edu those that have been changed for the worse during this unprece-
alma.edu/offices/president dented, unfortunate era in history.
(989) 463-7146
There is also a sense of optimism about our future, especially
almacollegepres here on campus. Discussion and speculation in the media and
almapresident elsewhere about “the new normal” following the pandemic and all
that might look like generally seems to carry a sense of pessimism.
@jeffabernathy
But I have ample reason to believe that our “new normal” at Alma
College will have plentiful opportunities for our campus to grow
and prosper, thanks in large part to work that has been done
during and especially before the pandemic.
You’ll read about some of those new opportunities in this edition
of The Tartan. One of them is a positively historic event in the
135-year history of Alma College — our very first graduate pro-
gram, which launched this past summer as the inaugural class of
the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program had its first
residency on campus.
As you’ll read soon, director Sophfronia Scott has done tremen-
dous work: recruiting an excellent group of faculty mentors,
devising a rigorous and inspiring curriculum and of course, assist-
ing students as they explore the program. This MFA program will
help students find their voices and develop their work as artists.
They’ll read deeply, participate in energetic discussions and learn
to see their work in the context of current issues and events. We’re
proud to welcome them to Alma and thrilled for the potential of
this, as well as other graduate programs, moving forward.
You’ll also read about the new Center for College and Community
Engagement, which launched this past spring. The CCCE ties well
into our mission of supporting students as they become leaders
who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and
live responsibly. Through this new program, we’ll develop pipe-
lines to internships, civic engagement, leadership and volunteer
6
opportunities for students, as well as facilitate opportu- came back and told us, “Your previous campaign raised about
nities for growth among staff and faculty. The CCCE will $37 million, so, we think you should set a goal of $40 million.”
help us become leaders in Gratiot County and beyond, We have obviously exceeded that goal by a wide margin, which
even moreso than we are today, which is a vital need in is both humbling and inspiring to see.
our ever-changing world. As you’ll read later in this issue, the final phase of “Our Time
What helps support this new work is the resounding is Now” was geared toward two very important projects: the
success of “Our Time is Now: The Campaign for Alma refurbishment of the preeminent Alma College icon, Dunning
College.” The campaign, which you’ll read about in this Memorial Chapel, and the crown jewel of our decade-long
edition of The Tartan, recently concluded after having “Vision 2020” master plan, the modernization of Alma College’s
raised the incredible sum of $125.2 million — a total that is library into the Learning Commons. But this campaign has not
more than three times the amount raised by our previous just been about beautiful buildings — it has been about the stu-
campaign, “Open Windows.” This financial support will dents of today and tomorrow, as well as the needs of faculty and
absolutely transform our college, setting us up for success staff. This work has been about Alma College.
in several different areas, for many years to come. We The future is bright at Alma College. Despite the ups and downs
have the incredible generosity of our donors and volun- of the past year, our country continues to see that higher edu-
teers to thank for this. cation is the key to a great life. Investing in our campus today
The success of this campaign has come as a mild surprise is investing in future generations of Scots. The success of our
to all of us. Prior to its beginning, we hired a well-respect- investment effort is good reason to feel optimism rise to the
ed consulting company to assess the college and its surface during a time of varied emotions.
ability to raise funds, in order to help us set a goal. They — JEFF ABERNATHY, PRESIDENT
VIEW WEB-EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
During the 2020–21 academic year, Alma College had space Professors Karen Ball and Patrick Furlong
on campus for students quarantining and isolating after either taught a spring term course, “Plagues and
testing positive for COVID-19, or coming into contact with some- Peoples,” in the midst of the COVID-19
one who did. Volunteers like Assistant Director of Residence pandemic. Use your mobile device to scan
Life Kari Yerington stepped up to help deliver meals to students this QR code for a web-exclusive video
in quarantine and isolation, as well as help with other needs. interview with Ball and Furlong, as well
as their students, about what it meant to
teach this extraordinary course under such
circumstances.
7
9,443 4,506
FEATURES
DONORS ALUMNI DONORS
Our
time
to
$125.2 MILLION
TOTAL RAISED SINCE
32 SEVEN–FIGURE
AND ABOVE GIFTS
8
CAMPAIGN STARTED IN 2013
183 ESTATE
9 MAJOR
NEW OR
RENOVATED
COMMITMENTS
BUILDINGS
‘OUR TIME IS NOW’ CAMPAIGN
BROKE COLLEGE RECORD FOR
PHILANTHROPY AND SET FUTURE
GENERATIONS UP FOR SUCCESS.
T
he results from “Our Time is Now: The Campaign
for Alma College” answered a big question posed
at the start of the campaign, eight years ago.
Could the college reach its goal of raising $120 million
to enhance the endowment, strengthen programs and
modernize facilities?
The answer is a resounding yes — and then some. The
total of $125.2 million, as of the date of the campaign’s
conclusion on June 30, exceeds its goal and crushes the
modern Alma College record of $37.3 million, set by the
college’s previous campaign, “Open Windows,” which
ended in 2009. More than 9,400 donors contributed to the
campaign, led by the college Board of Trustees, which
donated more than $40 million by itself.
“The success of this campaign is an incredible boost of
confidence for Alma in its present state and a tremendous
affirmation in its future,” said Eric Blackhurst ’83, chair of
the college’s Board of Trustees. “This extraordinary outcome
provides a tangible example of how Alma College is well
suited to continue expanding opportunities for the students
of tomorrow, and serves as a safeguard for the challenges to
higher education that lie ahead.”
President Jeff Abernathy echoed the sentiment of optimism
and gratitude. “This astonishing show of support is a ringing
endorsement of the timeless values, family-oriented culture,
personalized approach, outstanding academic programs and
phenomenal people who have transformed students’ lives for
more than 130 years,” he said.
$17.7 MILLION
IN ENDOWMENT GIFTS
$45.4 MILLION
IN ESTATE COMMITMENTS
99
FEATURES
‘THE SCOTS HAVE
88 percent of the originally stated goal. “Fundraising and organization is the
Those donations resulted in the comple- strength of those in the Advancement
FOREVER ALTERED tion of 11 major priorities and projects,
including the Gerstacker Science and
Office. They really know what they’re
doing. This was an ambitious cam-
ALMA’S TRAJECTORY’ Technology Suite, the Hatcher Wrestling paign, but they knew what they had to
Room, the Sherman Strength and do, so they broke it down into pieces
The college launched the ambitious Conditioning Facility, Greek scholar of smaller, achievable goals that could
“Our Time is Now” campaign in 2013 houses and the Wright Leppien Opera be put together to come up with a great
with a stated objective of providing a House. plan. I think our very generous donors
financial engine to drive its strategic saw that and realized they can make a
plan at the time, “Vision 2020,” “I have long believed that Alma College difference — they can give students the
which was instituted soon after has enormous potential and that same wonderful experiences they had,”
Abernathy’s arrival on campus as President Abernathy’s important and said Nancy Colina, a longtime support-
president. The campaign sought to ambitious agenda would require unprec- er of Alma College, parent of two Alma
meet objectives spanning overarch- edented philanthropic support,” said alumni and co-chair of the campaign,
ing areas including annual giving, Matt vandenBerg ’02, formerly the vice with husband John.
endowment, facilities and other president for advancement and external
donor priorities. relations, who in January 2021 moved “I think donors realized that the world
on to become president of Presbyterian is changing, and with it, education
The “quiet phase” of the campaign College, in South Carolina. is changing as well. As we’ve grown,
spanned six years and resulted we’ve come to understand there are
in gifts totaling $105 million — “Alma’s alumni, parents and better ways to reach students than we
friends have repeatedly stepped had previously. I think Alma is too
up during these last several years good to be left behind, and I’m pleased
and have fully funded every to see so many agreed with that
single major campaign priority. sentiment,” said John Colina, a trustee
Put simply, the Scots have forev- emeritus who served on the Board of
er altered Alma’s trajectory and Trustees for nearly 20 years.
made the institution an even
better place for students, the The campaign also benefited from
community and the world.” the creation of the Alma College
Ambassador Program, a comprehen-
Campaign volunteers credited sive effort to organize, support and
staff in Alma’s Advancement promote all types of volunteerism,
Office with working hard instituted in 2015. The program
to ensure the success began with an initial goal of engaging
of the campaign. With a 150 volunteers; it now counts more
relentless focus on building than 5,000 in its ranks.
relationships and boosting
confidence among the cam- “This is a very inclusive campaign,”
pus community, the team said Senior Director of Alumni and
was able to show many Family Engagement Bill Arnold ’91.
people who had donated “There are many ways that friends,
smaller sums to Alma in family and alumni became part of the
the past that they could college through this campaign, whether
feel good about making they were million-dollar donors or
bigger gifts — and that they volunteers making phone calls. The
should, too. Ambassador Program has been crucial
to the success of the campaign in that
it helped welcome a broader group to
become involved with Alma College.”
10MAJOR PUZZLE PIECES FALL INTO PLACE
In 2019, the college entered the “public phase” of the campaign with two
main objectives. The first was to raise funds to support the construction
of a new Learning Commons facility. The Learning Commons would
transform the college’s current library, built more than 55 years ago
and suffering from a range of maintenance challenges, into a distinctive
symbol of academic excellence that enriches campus and the student
experience. The new Learning Commons facility, when built, will serve as
a hub of activity, providing versatile, open spaces for learning, socializing,
dining, and collaborating.
“Raising this money for the Learning Commons puts our library on par
or above every other liberal arts college in the state, as well as in line
with the modern library system,” said John Wilson ’90, a member of the
college Board of Trustees and chair of the Learning Commons fundraising
committee.
“The new Learning Commons will also house the MJJ Smith Hall of Fame,
a celebration of the accomplishments of Alma’s most prominent and
successful graduates. Named after one of the most legendary professors in
Alma history, the Hall of Fame will serve as a tribute to students who have
‘punched above their weight class’ for many years, and the faculty and
staff who enabled them to reach such heights,” Wilson added.
The second objective was to raise money to support the renovation of
Dunning Memorial Chapel, Alma College’s most beloved and iconic facili-
ty. Given its age — more than 80 years old — and continued extensive use,
the chapel has fallen into disrepair. The renovated chapel will bring Alma
into the 21st century while ensuring that its Presbyterian roots stay strong
and firm. It will serve as a valuable instrument of campus spiritual life that
students of all faith backgrounds need now, and will continue to need well
into the future.
11FEATURES
“This campaign included a historic par-
ticipation by the Presbyterian churches in
our synod, particularly with respect to the
renovation in the chapel,” said Chaplain and
Director of Spiritual Life Andrew Pomerville
’01. “This project is symbolic of the college’s
recommitment not only to spiritual life on
campus and its Presbyterian roots, but also
its dedication to being the college for the
Michigan presbyteries. It is an affirmation of
the connectedness between the Presbyterian
churches of Michigan and Alma College — a
recognition that we are ‘their’ college.”
Added Richard Heuschele ’59, trustee emeri-
tus, who was chair of the chapel fundraising
committee: “I give a lot of credit to Andrew
Pomerville, who has gotten students excited
about spiritual life on campus. He had many
ideas for ways to keep the church relevant to
the next generation of students, and provided
enthusiastic support to the campaign.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Now that the big question has been answered,
another one remains: What can the fundraising
arm of Alma College do for an encore? The
college’s next campaign has not yet been
announced, but Abernathy expects that when
it is, it will focus on two areas: renovating the
Dow Digital Science Center, and buttressing
the college’s endowment.
For now, the campus community is taking a
moment to pause and reflect, with gratitude,
on an amazingly successful campaign, which
lays the foundation of the college for many
years to come.
“We are deeply grateful to the enormous num-
ber of staff, faculty, students, volunteer leaders
and donors who helped make this campaign
the biggest in the history of Alma College,”
Abernathy said. “This has been a truly transfor-
mative campaign and it would not have been
possible without the generosity and dedication
of so many.”
12Construction
on campus
KEY CAMPAIGN PROJECTS KICK OFF AS CHAPEL,
LIBRARY UNDERGO RENOVATIONS.
As students packed up and left Alma College for the summer of 2021, a different
group of people arrived and went to work with hammers, blueprints and hard hats.
Construction on the Dunning Memorial Chapel renovation project kicked
off this spring, and the new Learning Commons project is expected to begin in
2022. Both are considered priority capital projects, paid for
with funds raised during the “Our Time is Now” campaign.
“Construction crews on campus are always a welcome sight, because
it shows that Alma College is investing in itself and its future,” said
Alan Gatlin, chief operating officer and senior vice president at Alma
College. “These projects in particular are very exciting for the way
they will alter campus life for the better. Our students will benefit
from these projects in a tremendous way as the college makes a
full leap into the 21st century.”
Flexibility, accessibility
key in chapel renovation
For Andrew Pomerville ’01, and many other
students and alumni, Dunning Memorial Chapel
was where they explored who they really were
— as students, Christians and simply as people
in the world. For Pomerville, who is now
chaplain and director of spiritual life at Alma
College, the chapel renovation project is a way
to ensure that future generations can enjoy the
same freedom of self-discovery.
“During my sophomore or junior year, I was
at a small group gathering, and I was chal-
lenged for the first time that I can remember,
as a Christian, to consider Christianity as
something more than a monolith, or an
orthodoxy,” Pomerville said. “That was a
wonderful thing to experience.
Dunning Memorial
Chapel is pictured
under construction
in this 1941 photo.
13FEATURES
“Spirituality is still at the heart of people on
campus, including current students. They Learning Commons will be a hub
of education, campus
are still searching for meaning and purpose.
Maybe it’s a little less institutionalized or
community
formalized in more recent years, but they
still want to understand who they are and
what their place is in the world. The chapel
renovation will support them in doing just
that, right here at Alma College.”
The new Learning Commons is
Construction on the chapel kicked off this one of the signature elements of
past spring, with Easter Sunday repre- the “Our Time is Now” campaign.
senting the final service before a planned When complete, it will transform
shutdown. The college made the chapel’s the Kehrl Building — commonly
pews available to those who wanted them known as the college library,
and saw a fantastic response, according completed in 1964 — into a hub
to Pomerville. The chapel is expected to of campus activity, with versatile
reopen before the start of the 2021 fall term. spaces for learning, dining and
collaborating.
When it does, Pomerville said, the commu-
nity will be greeted with an updated facility A design blending the college's
designed to be a valuable, distinctive Prairie School architectural style
instrument of campus spiritual life. While utilizing red brick with glass helps to
the well-known exterior of the chapel — demonstrate the campus is vibrant
where students have posed for photos and bustling with activity. The
for generations — will largely remain the Learning Commons will feature a cafe,
same, the interior of the facility will be fully open performance area, classrooms
modernized. and study rooms, digital media center
and book collections, among other
Sections of walls in the worship area will offices and amenities.
be replaced by windows that will allow the
community to see what’s going on inside “One of the primary benefits of this project is more people in the build-
the chapel, and allow those inside to look ing,” said Matthew Collins, library director. “In every library I’ve worked,
out at the wider world. The traditional that’s one of the goals. The more people you bring in, the more staff
church pews are being replaced by flexible have the chance to interact with them. Students may be there to meet
seating, which can be altered to suit the with friends or visit the cafe, but they will be there — and that’s always a
needs of many different styles of worship. good thing.”
An elevator is being installed, which will
Construction is expected to begin in early 2022, following fall term 2021
improve accessibility — allowing patrons to
exams, so as to not disrupt anyone’s schedule at an important time in
easily use the downstairs restrooms for the
the academic calendar. When that happens, the library’s entire collection
first time.
of books — some 120,000 volumes — as well as its special collections, ar-
“It’s been an interesting question, how to chives and every other piece of media contained within, will be packed
renovate that space while maintaining a up and moved to storage while the library building is renovated.
sense of tradition, and I think we’re doing
“The thought of the move itself is just incredible. Thankfully, we have
a marvelous job of that,” Pomerville said.
contracted with a good company that specializes in this very task of
“I think when the community gathers here,
moving libraries,” Collins said. “What they do, generally, is use a special
they’ll feel a sense of awe and grandeur, but
cart, outfitted with a protective cover and designed to keep the books in
also notice its usefulness. The community
their respective order. They’ll move the entire collection in about one
will appreciate the progression of the
week. It’s a truly enormous labor.”
college while feeling welcomed. I’m really
looking forward to it.” Construction is expected to last the entire year, Collins said, which
means that books and other media will be housed in a temporary loca-
Constructed in 1941, the chapel is named
tion, yet to be determined. While it may be challenging, Collins said, staff
in honor of Dr. John Wirt Dunning, a 1904
and faculty will continue to provide great service to students and faculty.
graduate and the only Alma alumnus to
become president of the college. The new The Kehrl Building was named after Floyd A. Kehrl, who provided
sanctuary will be named after the Rev. Joe the college with a major bequest. The building was originally named
Walser, a retired college chaplain and pro- after the Rev. John Montieth — the first Presbyterian minister to reach
fessor of religious studies, who taught from Michigan — in honor of the college’s Presbyterian heritage. The library’s
1964 to 2000. collections have maintained the Montieth designation through the years.
14Top: The Alma College Library
is pictured under construction
in this 1963 photo.
Bottom: Students helped
move 60,000 library books to
a temporary location while
the library was being built
in 1963.
15WE’RE BACK
HOMECOMING
AL MA CO L L EG E
IN PERSON.
ALMA COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OCTOBER 1–3
2021-22
Eric P. Blackhurst ’83, chair
alma.edu/homecoming
Darryl G. Schimeck ’82, vice chair
Carol J. Burns, secretary
Thomas K. Andison
Erika K. Powers Appelt ’91
Karen M. Asner ’89
Brian E. Bartes ’87
Kevin F. Blatchford ’83
Robert G. Cramer ’88
Charles A. Deacon ’80
David A. Devine ’90
Stephen C. Falk ’72
Deborah Lynch Fitzgerald ’93
Douglas B. Gross ’77
Charles B. Hardwick ’88
Greg Hatcher ’83
Christopher Hufnagel ’94
Cardell D. Johnson ’02
Ann Randall Kendrick ’78
David P. Larsen ’84
Karen M. Magnuson ’78
Edward K. Osowski ’87
Diane Postler-Slattery
Derron Sanders
Bryan K. Segedi ’81
Kim Taylor ’83
James E. Wheeler III
John Wilson ’90
Russell C. Youngdahl Jr. ’75
VISIT OUR REVAMPED WEBSITE AT
BOOKSTORE.ALMA.EDU
16CAMPUS NEWS
Faculty excellence recognized with Barlow, Andison awards
ALMA COLLEGE’S TOP AWARDS FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZE SUPERIOR TEACHING
IN THE AREAS OF ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, ECONOMICS AND PHYSICS.
Morgan Fonley and Matthew Cicci Cicci, who has Argueta-Diaz, an
are the 2021 recipients of the Andison also taught at assistant professor of
Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Alma since 2015, physics, has taught
and Victor Argueta-Diaz and Robert received the at Alma since 2009.
Cunningham have received this year’s Andison Award He has a Ph.D. in
Barlow Awards for Faculty Excellence. for untenured electrical and com-
faculty. He is an puter engineering
assistant profes- from The Ohio State
THE ANDISON AWARDS sor of English. University.
FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING “I am honored “I’m very happy
The Andison Awards, made possible and humbled to to be getting this
by a gift from trustee Thomas Andison, receive this award, especially consider- award,” Argueta-Diaz said. “It was quite a
recognize excellence in teaching ing the trying year we — students, staff different year for all of us, and many times
through pedagogical innovation, and faculty — have all been working I felt overwhelmed with everything. … It is
creative activities with students, and through,” Cicci said. going to sound like a cliche, but it was the
superior teaching. Faculty members little things that helped me: having coffee
“I’ve been teaching with the hybrid-flex with my wife in the mornings, playing with
nominate their colleagues for the modality, and the job of making every-
award, and the president selects the my kids, and teaching.”
one, no matter where they are, feel like
recipients, who each receive a $1,000 they are part of the same classroom Argueta-Diaz was nominated, in part, for
cash grant to support their scholarship. has been a challenge. However, over his work in producing face shields and face
Fonley, who the year, I’ve learned a lot — both in the extenders for healthcare workers in the early
has taught at use of digital tools to facilitate learning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with
Alma since 2015, as well as in communicating across the developing the college’s new physics and
received the streaming platforms we’ve all become engineering major.
Andison Award accustomed to.”
Cunningham, an
for tenured Cicci has a Ph.D. in English (film and associate professor
faculty. She is media) from Wayne State University. of economics and
an assistant He is currently writing a collaborative chair of the business
professor of multimedia article that examines com- administration
mathematics positional practices of musicians and department, has
and computer compares them to the writing practices taught at Alma since
science. many composition instructors teach in 1999. He has a
“I feel incredibly honored to receive the classroom. Ph.D. in economics
this award. I find teaching to be per- from Binghamton
University.
sonally rewarding, and it means a lot
to me to hear my work described in a THE BARLOW AWARDS “I think Alma’s faculty are really good at
positive light,” Fonley said. “This year FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE their jobs — teaching, mentoring, advising,
I have been especially grateful for the service, their scholarly activity — and so
hard work, flexibility and grace of the The Barlow Awards, made possible by
the fact that someone thought I was worthy
students I have encountered.” a gift from Joel Barlow, a 1929 Alma
to even be nominated, much less win the
graduate, recognize faculty members
award, is very humbling,” Cunningham said.
Fonley has a Ph.D. in applied math- for excellence in teaching, scholarly or
“Being a college faculty member is by defi-
ematics and computational sciences creative work, and college and commu-
from the University of Iowa. She is cur- nition a delayed gratification endeavor, so
nity service. Recipients are nominated
rently working with a research group to be recognized by my colleagues is a nice
by faculty, administrators, alumni and
to provide a framework for comparing feeling of accomplishment.”
student Barlow Trophy nominees. The
hydrological models at the small scale president selects the awardees, who Cunningham was nominated, in part, for his
to determine the scale at which their receive $1,000 cash grants. leadership as a department chair, mentoring
resulting streamflow hydrographs two junior colleagues, editing an economics
converge. textbook and implementing innovative peda-
gogical changes in his courses.
17CAMPUS NEWS
A
AFTER A CHALLENGING YEAR, STUDENTS, STAFF
AND FACULTY WERE ABLE TO GATHER IN PERSON
FOR COMMENCEMENT IN MAY.
Despite 20 mph winds and a persistent threat of rain, members of the
Alma College graduating Class of 2021 were able to gather in person for
commencement on May 1, in what was surely a memorable and mean-
ingful occasion for all involved.
Students were spread out across Bahlke Field, keeping social distancing
and face covering requirements in mind, while their families and friends
watched from the bleachers and online. President Jeff Abernathy,
Board of Trustees Chair Eric Blackhurst ’83, Alumni Board President
Dave DeLine ’11, 2021 Barlow Trophy winner Maggie Patterson ’21 and
guest speaker Jim Daniels ’78 addressed the audience; and Will Nichols,
the conductor of the Alma College Choirs, sang the alma mater.
Honorary degrees were awarded to Daniels, a longtime author, and
posthumously to Julius Chatman, who was the first Black student at
Alma College. Chatman’s daughter, Julie Price, accepted the degree on
behalf of his family.
The college will hold an in-person commencement ceremony for the
Class of 2020, featuring guest speaker Earl Lewis, on Sept. 19. Their
commencement was held entirely online in May 2020, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Julie Price, top left, is pictured with Alma College President Jeff Abernathy at the
commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021. Price accepted an honorary degree
for her late father, Julius Chatman, on behalf of his family. Pictured in the middle
are graduating seniors and at bottom is guest speaker Jim Daniels ’78.
18Barlow Trophy winner is a leader in the classroom
Maighdlin “Maggie” Patterson ’21 is the 2021 recipient of the Barlow Trophy, Alma
College’s most prestigious award for a graduating senior.
Established in 1949 by Dr. Joel Barlow, a 1929 honors graduate of Alma College, the award
recognizes academic achievement for students in the top 10 percent of their class as well
as contributions to campus and community. Two other students were recognized as final-
ists for the Barlow Trophy, Kaleb Ramon ’21 and Grace Hearth ’21.
Patterson has led students on campus through her involvement with Student Congress,
while leading by example, through her studies and extracurricular involvement. She is a
double major in German and integrative physiology and health science (IPHS).
Patterson has served as parliamentarian of Student Congress for three terms; a new role
that she was vital to defining for future generations of students. Among her responsibilities
in this role were running meetings and upholding the Student Congress Constitution.
She has been deeply involved in IPHS research and education. She has worked as a
supplementary instructor for two courses and has studied hibernating ground squirrels
for the past three years. She is president of the German Club and has taken a spring term
course in Germany and Poland.
Patterson is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is the daughter of Kimberly and
David Patterson. Maggie Patterson ’21
Honors Day 2021 showcases excellence in student research
Student presentations on Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Okonkwo’s depreciative actions in Ezinma and Uchendu’s
Apart,” the toxicity of road salts, and the relationship between narratives, as well as the ways in which Achebe connects
McCarthyism, the “Lavender Scare,” and Christian evangelicalism the violence endured as a result of polygamy to patriarchal
at the beginning of the Cold War were selected for recognition at control, rather than to Igbo culture.
Alma College’s 25th annual Kapp Honors Day, held on April 15.
Stevens, a senior environmental studies major from South
Madeline Wagner ’21, Camera Stevens ’21 and Caden Wilson ’21 Point, Ohio, presented “Factors Affecting Road Salt Toxicity
were recipients of the Ronald O. Kapp Honors Day Prize for their to Hyalella Azteca.”
outstanding Honors Day presentations in the humanities, natural
sciences and social sciences. In her study, Stevens evaluated the effects of exposure
duration and temperature on the toxicity of two salts (NaCl
The prize is named for the late and KCl) to the aquatic macroinvertebrate Hyalella azteca.
Ronald O. Kapp, who was an
Alma College biology professor Wilson, a senior secondary education and history
for 32 years and vice president major from St. Johns, Michigan, presented “In God We
of academic affairs for 20 years. Trust: McCarthyism, the ‘Lavender Scare,’ and Christian
Evangelicalism in the 1950s.”
Wagner, a junior English major
from Flat Rock, Michigan, In his study, Wilson explored the relationship between
presented “‘This is What a Man the persecution of LGBTQ+ employees of the federal
Does’: Disconnecting Systemic government (the “Lavender Scare”), the rise of modern
Practices Harmful to Women Christian evangelicalism, and the anti-communist sentiment
from African Cultures in Chinua of McCarthyism at the beginning of the Cold War.
Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ A panel of judges from each division selected the
(1958).” prize-winners after assessing the presentations for quality
In her study, Wagner provided of scholarship as well as how well the materials were pre-
textual examples of Achebe sented. The prize is open to all students and groups.
counteracting and condemning
Madeline Wagner ’21 19CAMPUS NEWS
Wielding FIRST COHORT OF STUDENTS WELCOMED FOR
RESIDENCY OF NEW MASTER OF FINE ARTS
IN CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM.
words with At age 58, after raising a family and having a successful career,
Mary Peterson wondered, “What else is there for me to do?”
power
She had been a hobby writer for many years and dreamed of one
day putting the life lessons she had accumulated in a published book.
However, although she had immersed herself in writers workshops
and other groups, the energy from those experiences didn’t last, and
when she would return home, her efforts fizzled out.
Now, Peterson is a member of the inaugural class of the Master of
Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program at Alma College, which
met for its first residency in June. Peterson said that in this group,
she has found a community that enables her to think about writing
in ways she never has before — and creates a path to see her dream
through to reality.
Pictured clockwise from top: the inaugural class
of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing “Life is not always so linear. I feel like now that I’m here, I get to live
program at Alma College poses for a photo; it backward, with the most-enjoyable parts happening closer to the
Artricia James-Heard, foreground, laughs along end,” Peterson said. “In the past, when I’ve envisioned myself at
with fellow students; faculty member Donald this age, I always thought I would be writing. The way I see it, this
Quist, foreground, gestures at a guest lecture. is my window, to take that writing and turn it into something truly
meaningful.”
20The MFA program, led by director and award-winning
author Sophfronia Scott, is the first graduate degree
offered in the 135-year history of the college. The first
residency, which comprises 15 students, met for 10 days
at the Wright Leppien Opera House in downtown Alma,
to take part in intensive lectures, workshops, readings
and one-on-one time with faculty.
The faculty features a diverse group of writers with
decades of experience and accolades among them;
including a National Book Award finalist, Karen E.
Bender; the poet laureate of Houston, Texas, Leslie
Contreras Schwartz; and New York Times bestselling
author Dhonielle Clayton. The program kicked off with
a reading by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, an event that
was livestreamed to the public.
The MFA is considered a “low residency” program,
meaning that brief periods of in-person class time are
sandwiched between much longer intervals of distance
learning. The inaugural MFA class will reconvene four “I take on a lot of responsibilities at home. I’m a caregiver to a
more times over a two-year period, and be joined at family member, and I work full-time. When I learned I only had
each stop with a new residency of roughly 15 students. to be here in-person for 10 days, I realized it fit my life,” James-
Winter residencies will take place at the Ralph A. Heard said. “I might not have known exactly what I was getting
MacMullan Conference Center, located on the shore of myself into, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The people
Higgins Lake in Roscommon. here make you feel like family, and that’s very conducive to
the writing process.”
Scott said the location of Alma has been a big benefit
when it comes to recruiting students to join the MFA The MFA students and faculty fully enmeshed themselves
program. within the local community during their time at Alma. They
proudly wore maroon-colored Alma gear while eating dinners
“When I speak with people about what differentiates together at Alma Brewing Company, toasting to their success
our program, there’s a lot about the diversity that Alma over frozen custard at Serendipity and riding bicycles along
offers, along with our place on the map. We are the the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail. Ballyhoo Books, the local
only low residency program in Michigan, and one of downtown bookstore, even hosted two faculty readings, which
the few in the Midwest as a whole,” Scott said. “I think, were well attended.
as a result of that, a lot of our students come from the
Midwest, although our first class has students coming Alma College President Jeff Abernathy said the MFA has fit
from Massachusetts, South Carolina and Florida.” in well with other offerings at the college. Other master’s
programs, guided by faculty and administrators, are in the
Artricia James-Heard, of Tampa, Florida, said she had planning phases, he added.
not been to Michigan for many years before deciding
to apply for the Alma MFA program. After learning “I am grateful to Dr. Michael Selmon and the English depart-
more about the program and the way it fit into her busy ment for their work to develop the MFA program and to Alma’s
lifestyle, she said, she made a leap of faith — and she’s faculty for supporting the department’s vision,” Abernathy
happier for it. said. “As a liberal arts college, our mission is centered on the
humanities and the arts. We can all take
pride that this first master’s program is
in these core areas. That speaks to the
strength and character of Alma College
and the values we hold.”
21CAMPUS NEWS
Model UN reaches Brown named chief
historic milestone diversity officer
It seems fitting that in a season unlike any other for the Model United Damon Brown,
Nations (MUN) student group at Alma College, the team reached a vice president
historic milestone at its most-important event. for student affairs
at Alma College,
The Model UN team competed at the annual National MUN has taken on the
Conference in March and won two “outstanding delegation” awards, additional duties
the highest honor at the event. Alma College has now won 100 of chief diversity
total “outstanding delegation” awards since 1994, 53 at the annual officer, the first
Midwest MUN conference and 47 at the National MUN Conference. such appointment
This is Alma’s 24th consecutive year receiving at least one “outstand- in the 135-year
ing” award. Alma has received more “outstanding” awards than any history of the
other school in the 94-year history of the conference. institution.
“Creating a more
just and inclusive
community at
Alma College will
require all of us
BPA student chapter cleans up to do more,” said Alma College President
Jeff Abernathy. “The college needs campus-
at state leadership conference
wide, senior-level leadership in our effort.
With these new responsibilities, Damon will
ensure that we are making key decisions
with an eye to their impact on diversity and
Members the Alma College chapter of the Business Professionals of inclusion.”
America (BPA) competed in the virtual State Leadership Conference Brown has served in his current role — over-
for Michigan event in April. The five Scots in attendance brought seeing student engagement, residence life,
home nine awards, finishing in the top-3 of every event they entered. career and personal development, academ-
“It felt really good to see how many people won awards at the state ic support and tutoring, disability support
competition, particularly for first place,” said Kasidey Easlick ’21 of and services, and student health, wellness
Gladwin, Michigan, president of the student organization. “To rep- and counseling services at Alma College
resent Alma College at the state level is great and to do well is even — since September 2020. Brown serves as
better. I’m very proud of the group.” a member of the President’s cabinet and su-
pervises the Diversity and Inclusion Office
Alma College students placed in events including C++ programming, at Alma College.
digital media production, small business management, banking and
finance, administrative support concepts, business law and ethics, “The world is continuing to change every
financial math and analysis concepts, graphic design promotion and day and we see that on campus, from our
parliamentary procedure concepts. student body to our staff and faculty,”
Brown said. “As we grow more diverse
through our strategic enrollment efforts,
we must work to ensure that we are putting
in place structures and systems that
demonstrate our commitment to diversity
and inclusion.”
Brown holds a Bachelor of Business
Administration degree and a Bachelor of
Business Science — Sport Science degree,
both from Ohio University. He earned a
Master of Arts degree in physical education
and sport, with a concentration in sport
administration, from Central Michigan
University.
Pictured from left are Alma College BPA members Allison Harbaugh,
Samantha Courtright ’21, faculty advisor Tina Rolling, Madeline
22 Kugler and Brianna Sharpsteen. Not pictured is Kasidey Easlick ’21.New center will provide opportunities for
community engagement, experiential learning
CENTER FOR COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
GEARED TOWARD COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN
STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY AND COMMUNITY,
OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES.
Alma College has announced the partnerships and curricular program-
launch of its Center for College and ming to promote ethical reflection and
Community Engagement (CCCE). engagement.
The CCCE will create collaborative The Center will also play a pivotal
opportunities for the college and role in organizing and expanding
community to develop strategic already-existing programs, including:
partnerships, share knowledge, Plaid Serves summer service, lead-
and serve mid-Michigan together, ership and community organizing
said Alma College President course, the Scots in Service living
Jeff Abernathy. learning community, Alternative
Breaks, the Rural Michigan Initiative
“We are excited to announce the and Alma Venture programming.
launch of the Center for College and
Community Engagement, which we Through the Center, the college will
expect will assist students in learn- develop pipelines to internships,
ing the value of civic responsibility, civic engagement, student leadership
engaging in meaningful service, development, and volunteer opportu-
and discovering their purpose and nities for students. It will help facilitate
vocation, in ways they never have faculty and staff development for
before,” Abernathy said. “Alma experiential and service learning, as
College is poised to act locally and well as academic and co-curricular
impact the state, nation, and the experiences that will enhance stu-
world around us. Through this dents’ community involvement, social
center, we’ll be able to do just that.” capital, civic knowledge, and skill
development for respectful and mean-
The Center’s activities focus on four ingful community engagement.
key areas: engage-
ment, community, “It’s an exciting time to be at Alma,
sustainability, and and witness this investment in our
purpose. Initiatives students, our college and our commu-
and activities that nity,” said Vice President for Student
will work through Affairs Damon Brown. “The Center will
the Center include help Alma College further entrench
new service and itself in the area, while developing
service-learning better senses of generosity, compas-
opportunities, sion, collaboration and empathy. It will
faculty and staff allow the college to engage thought-
engagement and fully with the community to identify
training, interfaith ideas and areas of need where we can
be truly helpful.”
23ATHLETIC NEWS
Playing
through the
pandemic
ALMA COLLEGE ATHLETES WORKED
HARD TO STAY IN THE CLASSROOM
AND ON THE FIELD THIS YEAR.
The pandemic was challenging for student-athletes, but Scots sports teams
did all they could to continue to excel. The Scots competitive cheerleading
team was named the NCA Advanced All-Girl Division III champions in April,
while Alma’s STUNT team won the inaugural Division III STUNT National
Championship on May 2. The Alma College dance team was named the
NDA Division III Team Performance Champions.
Bowling, track and field and softball also enjoyed strong seasons. Bowling
won the Collegiate Club Championships on April 11, while several women’s
track and field student-athletes qualified for the Division III Elite Indoor
Championships that took place on March 12. On the men’s side, Nolan
Rowland was named MIAA champion in the pole vault at the conference
outdoor championships, which Alma hosted in May. Softball reached the
MIAA Championships Series.
Although there were restrictions, some Scots supporters were in the stands
in spirit the entire season, as the athletic department gave the opportunity
to purchase fan cutouts. As the winter term progressed, family members of
participating student-athletes, as well as campus community members, were
allowed to attend athletic events.
— MATT MORAN
24Alexis Abu, a captain on the Alma
College dance team, is pictured in the
new dance team space, The Sanctuary.
Dance team
moves into new,
state-of-the-art
facility
“HAVING OUR OWN SPACE IS GOING TO BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR US, AS FAR AS
FOCUS IS CONCERNED. NO DISTRACTIONS — WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SIMPLY
FOCUS ON OUR GOALS AND PRIORITIES.” – HEAD COACH TRACY BURTON
On March 8, head coach Tracy Burton told the Alma Reactions from the team when they learned the news
College dance team to meet at a building off campus to came almost in unison. As they broke out into tears of
take part in a volunteer project. joy, thrilled shrieks and — of course — dancing in cele-
bration, they expressed feelings of shock and gratitude
In actuality, there was no volunteer project in the works. at having a space to call their own.
Instead, Burton surprised the team by unveiling a
secret she had been keeping from them for months: the “In the history of this program, we’ve never had our
building, a former church, had been transformed into a own space, so to have one that is so perfect for this
state-of-the-art dance facility. team is really amazing,” said Jenna Baker, a junior from
Byron, Michigan. “This is more than I ever could have
And it was all theirs. imagined.”
“This team deserves some good news with the maturity To date, the team has mostly used the dance studio in
they have shown through the pandemic, and it feels great the Oscar E. Remick Heritage Center for the Performing
to provide that. Now, we’re ready to go to the next level Arts as its practice area. Since that studio is also used
as a program,” Burton said. by theatre and dance students, scheduling time for
themselves has been tricky.
The social distancing restrictions brought on by the
COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated those issues.
Sometimes, over the course of this past season, the
dance team was not even able to dance together as
a group, and had to get creative to maintain a sense
of synchronicity.
The dance team won’t have those issues any longer in
their new facility, named The Sanctuary — a nod to the
building’s former identity as the Community Baptist
Church of Alma. The college purchased the church in
2018, but efforts to renovate the structure only began in
earnest in October.
25ALUMNI NEWS
Researching
COVID-19
ALL THE WAY FROM SINGAPORE,
SARAH COX-VAZQUEZ ’15 WORKS
TO BRING DOWN COVID-19
TESTING COSTS.
Since the start of the pandemic, organizations and
countries around the world have struggled with the
testing costs of COVID-19. Sarah Cox-Vazquez ’15, an
Alma College alumna living in Singapore, hopes to
change that.
Cox-Vazquez is working to develop a new way of
testing samples possibly infected with COVID-19 that
will get results out faster and more accurately. From
thousands of miles away, she says, she hopes the
research will eventually save her own country — and
the entire world — billions of dollars.
“Millions of people have been tested in the United
States and it has cost us more than $30 billion,”
Cox-Vazquez said. “Those numbers are obviously
growing every day. If we’re able to reduce the time
it takes to detect the virus, we can save a lot of that
money — and potentially a lot of lives.”
Cox-Vazquez explained she is primarily working
with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, com-
monly known as a nasal swab test. When scientists
inspect those nasal swabs, they are seeking the ge-
netic material for COVID-19 present in an individual.
If that genetic material could be amplified, she said,
it would be easier to detect COVID-19.
Cox-Vazquez and her team, led by Guillermo Bazan
at the National University in Singapore, are current-
ly working to establish a pattern with their testing,
which would allow it to be taken to a commercial
level — not solely used for academic purposes. She
added that the processes involved wouldn’t only
benefit detection of COVID-19, but any kind of virus.
“COVID-19 is definitely a hot topic right now, so
this is really exciting research,” Cox-Vazquez said.
“I’m grateful that I was able to experience all that
I saw at Alma College, including my first research
opportunities.”
26Getting better with age ALUMNI BOARD
President
David DeLine ’11
HILARY GOERGE ’70 IS ONE OF THE TOP TRACK AND FIELD Vice President
ATHLETES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD FOR HIS AGE GROUP. Mark Kraft-Strong ’08
Secretary
Hilary Goerge ’70 was a self-described “pretty good” athlete during his time at Laura Zuidema ’96
Alma College. But as he has aged, Goerge has become one of the top track and
field athletes in the world for his age group.
Goerge, now 73, won four national championships in 2019 for men ages 70-74; Michael Altman ’80
competing in the shot put, weight throw, super weight throw and the ultraweight Tom Anthony ’72
pentathlon. His efforts in the shot put and pentathlon were good enough at the time
to place him No. 1 in the world for that year. He ended the year ranked No. 1 in Hugh Brenneman ’67
pentathlon and No. 3 in the world in shot put (No. 1 in the United States). Leslie Burgess ’85
Goerge competes through the USA Robyn (Paige) Carr ’04
Track and Field (USATF) Masters Samantha Coykendall ’15
program, which is designed for com-
petitors ages 35 and older, as well De’Andre Crenshaw ’12
as the Senior Olympics, designed Laurie (Eccles) DeYoung ’04
for competitors 50 and older. At the
USATF National Masters Track and Ronda Guimond ’96
Field Championships in July 2019, he Alexandria (Cnudde) Huntoon ’11
threw the shot put 47 feet, 3 1/2 inches,
and in the weight throw, he totaled Samantha (Perrin) Jackson ’13
59 feet, 7 1/2 inches. Mary Kushion ’85
In August 2019, at the USATF National Zabrina (Santiago) Lindsay ’87
Masters Throws Championships, he
placed first in the 35-pound super Shelia (Arrington) Minetola ’82
weight throw, with a distance of Lisa Anne (Tomei) Mithen ’84
29 feet, 8 inches, as well as in the
ultraweight pentathlon, in which he Blake Padget ’15
scored 3,878 total points (throws of Amy Pratt ’04
five different weights ranging from 16
Rugelio Ramereiz ’10
to 100 pounds). For his age group, he
took home national championships in Eric Sanko ’97
all four events.
Mary (Skinner) Sexton ’68
Goerge, who also competed in track Marc McKenzie Stanley ’98
and field during his time at Alma,
remains modest about his success. Kristin Swihart ’96
“The better guys are getting hurt, Susan Latham Timoner ’85
aging out or dying. So far, I have Steven Whetstone ’04
managed to hold up well,” he said
with a laugh. “I would say I’ve been Sarah White ’93
very lucky to avoid serious injuries.” Matthew (Yettaw) Yuill ’15
Hilary Goerge ’70 is pictured competing
in the hammer throw event during the
2017 Michigan Senior Olympics.
27Annual Three w a ys to
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the foundation
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28 alma.edu/donaIN MEMORIAM
HONORING OUR DEPARTED SCOTS
Alma College mourns the loss of the alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students who have passed away. This
page specifically honors the lives of the college community members whose passing we have become aware of
since the last issue of The Tartan. To continue paying meaningful tribute to those we have lost, we have created a
website where you can view full obituaries for each person. Visit alma.edu/in-memoriam to learn more.
1940s 1960s 1980s
Donna Cappell-Smith ’43 Barbara Busby White ’60 Timothy Martin “Mit” Tyler ’80
William A. Newton, Jr. ’43 R. George DeVries ’61 Paul G. Curry ’89
Mina Marie Monteith Sturmer ’44 Barbara Ann Loomis Greer ’61
Thomas A. Jamieson ’61
Betty A. Hartley Bailey ’48
Carol Stamper Ringenwald ’61 1990s
Bubba Anderson Popa ’93
1950s Martha Dent Dice ’62
Dennis F. Ellis ’62
Joyce Gardner Van Aelst ’50
James G. Crawford ’51
John “Pat” Patrick McGuire ’62
John Mitchell Rowland ’62
2010s
Lillian M. Goodwyn ’51 Benjamin Ryan Brow ’15
Michael A. Maus ’63 Ryan M. Maguire ’18
Shirley Stewart ’51 Donald D. Metcalf ’64
Nancy Wilbur Dunstan ’53 Donald Fullenwider ’65
Robert L. Kersten ’53 Thomas B. Warth ’65
Shirley Simpson Walker ’53
Mary Dahl Brower ’54
Betty M. Wheeler DeReyes ’66 Former Faculty
Paul E. Faeth ’54
Raelyn A. Janssen ’67
Kathleen Goodenow Johnston ’68
and Staff
Gene Schnelz ’54 William Beaty Boyd
Frederic Peter “Rick” vandenBerg ’68
Phillip Ezra Smith ’54 Carroll “Jake” Lee Fisher
Robert F. Burlingame ’69
Mary Jane Black ’55 Jon Groteluschen
Mary “Libby” Child ’69
Frederick Ahrens ’57 James E. McCarty ’69
Jean Molyneux Choate ’58 Friends of
Joseph V. Edward Coe ’58
Stephen E. Crowell ’58 1970s the College
Lyleen Ann Haller ’58 Randall “Randy” Papp ’70 Stanley Gawel
Rodney C. Shoemaker ’70 Chloe Flowers Hampton
Barbara Jo Sawyer-Koch ’71 Donald A. Hawkins
Barbara J. Klepper ’72 Robert L. Moore
Karen E. Roepcke Kooistra ’73 Russell C. Youngdahl, Sr.
Michael John Yavenditti passed away on graduating classes in 1980, 1985, 1995 and 1998.
May 13, 2021, in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Yavenditti served as chair of the history de-
Few faculty in the long history of Alma College partment and was faculty advisor for pre-law
have as much longevity — or are so beloved — as students. He was awarded the Barlow Award for
Yavenditti, known affectionately to students and Faculty Excellence in 1984 and 1991.
friends as “Yav.”
Yavenditti shared his love of learning, especially
Yavenditti, a professor emeritus of history, taught of history, with his students. He made his classes
for 38 years (1968-2006) at Alma and was chosen as interesting and relevant. He was a friend, a men-
the Outstanding Faculty in Social Sciences by the tor and an example for his students.
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