Lindenwood - Winter 2017 - Connecting to Alumni and Friends

ALUMNI GET FREE TICKETS TO NOISES OFF AT LINDENWOOD BELLEVILLE Lindenwood Belleville alumni and their guests may enjoy complimentary tickets to the Theatre Department’s production of Michael Frayn’s hilarious, fast-paced farce, Noises Off —7:30 p.m. April 12-14 and 2 p.m. April 15. The play is set within a production called Nothing On as the cast and crew try to perform their play in some ridiculous circumstances. “This production has had an iconic film made of it, and we are proud to present it to the Belleville community this year,” said Assistant Professor of Theatre Nick Moramarco. Theatre Department Chair Marsha Parker said the play is part of a full schedule of spring productions that span the spectrum from comedy to drama. Tickets cost $10 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Lindenwood students and employees are free. Shows will be performed in the Lindenwood Auditorium, 2600 W. Main St., Belleville. To reserve a complimentary alumni ticket, contact Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events Jennifer Ferguson at jferguson@lindenwood.edu or call 618.239.6033. Zandra Harvey (’11, ’13) was only 22 years old, but she was done. She was done working a minimum wage job at a gas station; she was done struggling to make ends meet; and she was done not affording herself the opportunity to thrive and reach her full potential. That’s why she decided to go back to school at Lindenwood University-Belleville. “It didn’t take me too long after high school to realize that I needed to do something more with myself if I wanted to succeed in this life,” said Harvey, who graduated from Triad High School in Troy, Ill. She applied and was accepted to Lindenwood Belleville, where she completed undergraduate and graduate degrees through the Accelerated Degree Program. Harvey said she faced a variety of challenges as an adult learner returning to school. She had to juggle raising a young child and making finances stretch to cover tuition and other life expenses, but for her, the biggest challenge was her self-confidence. “I was so intimidated being in a classroom with real-world working people who were professionals, on top of facing the other distractions in life,” explained Harvey. “I got so bogged down in feeling like I wasn’t capable enough that I almost let it slip away.” Harvey said that she was approaching academic probation when her advisor, Dr. Andrea Frazier, set up a meeting with her. “Dr. Frazier looked me in my eye and asked, ‘What do you want out of life? This is your make it or break it point,’ and that conversation spurred me into action,” said Harvey. Harvey re-dedicated herself to her academic pursuits, and school became her number-one priority. With her newfound confidence and Frazier’s support, Harvey excelled academically and completed a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in marketing. She has since opened two businesses in the Metro East, a cleaning company she co-owns with her husband and an insurance agency she opened last year, Cut-Rate Insurance. “Zandra has done well, and I am very proud of her and her achievements,” said Frazier. “She used this turning point in her life to make a decision as motivation to become all she was meant to be.” Harvey said without her time at Lindenwood Belleville, she wouldn’t have had the knowledge or wherewithal to build her businesses from scratch. Since the time of her graduation, Harvey has found value in participating with the Belleville alumni group and has represented her businesses at the annual Homecoming parade, Move-In Day, and other special events. “Lindenwood Belleville is great,” she said. “The people are so supportive, and I feel blessed to have the ongoing connection through the alumni programs and opportunities.” Harvey said that she knows there are a lot of other young women in the world who could use a confidence boost in pursuing their dreams, and to them, her advice is simply, “do it.” “There’s always going to be an excuse, a distraction,” she said, “but you have to get to a point where you know what you want and get it.” HARVEY GOES FROM MINIMUM WAGE TO ENTREPRENEUR WITH BUSINESS DEGREES by JENNIFER FERGUSON Lindenwood University-Belleville ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT LINDENWOOD Winter 2017 17 CAMPUS NEWS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT UPCOMING EVENTS LINDENWOOD SPORTS ALUMNI EVENTS AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES Zandra Harvey