Lindenwood - Winter 2017 - Connecting to Alumni and Friends

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE OUR ALUMNI ARE INCREDIBLE This issue of Lindenwood magazine is especially thick with amazing alumni accomplishments, and it reinforces what I’ve known all along—some amazing people have strolled our campuses, studied in our classrooms, and walked across the stage to get a Lindenwood diploma. Take the Cathcart family , who run one of the largest general freight railcar facilities in the country, and it is still growing. Casey Cathcart and his father, Tom, have three Lindenwood degrees between them. Our own Brooke Johnson moved back to her home state of Alaska after graduation and embarked on a career in television news. She was also recently crowned Miss Alaska USA and will compete for Miss USA in the spring. We couldn’t be prouder of her. You will find articles about two of our successful entrepreneurial alumni, Sharece Johnson and Zandra Harvey , who are both running successful businesses in Illinois, and a group of alumni from our Belleville campus have banded together to provide opportunities to stay involved with the university and the community. When Rich Reighard stepped down after 30 years as station manager KCLC, our campus radio station, his old graduate assistant, Chad Briesacher , returned to his alma mater, from which he has two degrees, to take the job. Anthony Arington , who has two degrees from Lindenwood, found out in his early 20s that he had a progressive heart condition and had to have a heart transplant in 2012. With his new heart, he has participated five times in a 340-mile kayak race on the Missouri River, raising thousands for transplant patients. It’s a truly inspiring story. We’ve also got pictures from Homecoming on both campuses, Dark Carnival, and our recent Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, as well as articles about the cemetery on our historic St. Charles campus, sports, and our 2017 Sibley Medallion of Honor winner, Jerry Scheidegger , of our Board of Trustees. In our next issue of Lindenwood , we look forward to telling you about our new strategic plan for the university, which was approved by our Board of Trustees in November and takes effect at the beginning of the year. It’s an exciting time, indeed. Check out the News and Notes to see what your fellow alumni are up to, and have a happy and blessed holiday season like no other! MICHAEL D. SHONROCK, Ph.D. President, Lindenwood University System EDITOR .............................. Scott Queen (’99, ’07) COPY EDITORS, WRITERS, AND PHOTOGRAPHERS .............................. Christopher Duggan (’00, ’12) Jennifer Ferguson Rachel Johnson (’04, ’10) Bailey E. Kinney Charlie Mager Chuck McPherson Lennon Mueller Daniel Newton (’09) Scott Wuerz (’07) Phil Vida Brian Vorce Don Adams Jr. OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT .............................. Dan Grigg Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations Kate O’Neal (’07, ’08) Assistant Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations Michelle Giessman ( ’16) Director of Alumni Relations Jennifer Ferguson Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events, Belleville Nathan Payne Director of Development Mark Bohr Director of Development Kassandra Linzmeier Associate Development Officer Bryan Stone (’16) Associate Development Officer April Kernan (’16) Administrative Assistant for Development John Creer Consultant LINDENWOOD is published by the offices of Marketing and Communications and Development at Lindenwood University. Lindenwood is mailed free of charge to Lindenwood alumni. Story ideas are welcome and should be forwarded to Director of Alumni Relations, Lindenwood University, 209 South Kingshighway, St. Charles, MO 63301 or via email at alumni@lindenwood.edu . CHANGE OF ADDRESS notifications should be sent to the Office of Alumni Relations at the address above. The Alumni Office telephone number is 636.949.4975. LINDENWOOD Real Experience. Real Success. Enhancing lives through quality education and professional preparatory preparation. ON THE COVER ................................. During a quiet snowfall, the Lindenwood campus takes on a sublime beauty. Approved by Board of Trustees Nov. 10, 2017