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Hitting the High Notes p. 10
spring 2007
The magazine of aquinas college
Hitting the High Notes p. 10 In the fall 2006 edition (P. 47, The Arthur R. and Elizabeth
Snell Scholarship A Gift to the Future), we inadvertently
misidentified two of the scholarship recipients. The student on
the left is James Wahmhoff, Jr. and the student on the right
is Joshua Wilford. Hilary Atkin is the student pictured in the
middle. We apologize for the mix-up.
And.our most sincere apologies to the Most Reverend Walter
A. Hurley, Bishop of Grand Rapids who was misidentified as
William Hurley, (P. 46, Enchanting Evening of Elegance).
It was an historic beginning to the New Year for Grand Rapidians.
It was one of those Remember where you were when In
this case, it was downtown for the final goodbyes for President
Gerald R. Ford, who died December 26. In early January 2007, he
returned to his hometown to be laid to rest on the grounds of the
presidential museum that bears his name.
For a period of almost twenty hours on January 3 and 4 in Grand
Rapids, nearly 60,000 people waited in line, some for up to eight
hours, to pay their final respects as Fords casket lay in repose inside
his museum. It was a time to remember all that he had done for a
nation in crisis in the mid-1970s and for the service he rendered to
those he represented as their Congressman here in West Michigan
for 26 years (1948-1974).
It was a time, too, for Aquinas College to remember when it
honored Ford with the Emeritus Award in June 2000. That wasnt
his only visit to the campus. He came in the mid-1990s to speak
to members of the freshmen class about how ones childhood
environment can impact and influence them in adulthood.
As the New Year began, the nation said goodbye to Gerald R.
Ford during the national funeral in Washington, D.C. The news
media was replete with coverage of all three funerals for the former
President as well as the motorcades and military salutes. For those
of us living in Grand Rapids, his final homecoming was especially
important, not only for Ford family members, but to his West
Michigan family. In this issue, we offer a brief glimpse at how
those of us living in Grand Rapids said goodbye to the nations
thirty-eighth president, Gerald R. Ford.
Elsewhere in this edition, Aquinas realized its largest bequest
ever. Youll learn about those who made it happen and how many
students will benefit from the financial support the bequest makes
possible through new scholarships.
At press time, the College had yet to select its next president.
The Presidential Search Committee diligently continues its efforts
to identify qualified candidates for the post. It is the Committees
hope that a finalist would be selected this spring so that he or she
could begin presidential duties in July.
In the meantime, theres a genuine sense of gratitude for Interim
President Ed Balog, whose wisdom and guidance has ably brought
us through this academic year. Since taking the helm last July
following the retirement of President Harry Knopke, he has been
wearing multiple hats: provost, president and fundraiser. The
campus owes him a great deal of thanks for his leadership and help
in preparing the way for the Colleges sixth president.
If you have any comments you would like to share with our
readers, please forward them to me at faheymar@aquinas.edu.

Marty Fahey, Editor
Editorial Team
Marty Fahey MM06
Laura Bennett Kimble 95
Rene Palileo 98
Sally Reeves
Julie Ridenour
Contributing Writers
C. Edward Balog, Ph.D.,
Interim President
Courtney Bender 07
Laura Bennett-Kimble 95
Terry Bocian 70, staff
Eric Bridge 92, MM05 staff
Cecilia Cunningham, staff
Michael Cushion, Ph.D., faculty
Ken Czop, junior
Cindy Dorman, staff
Marty Fahey MM06, staff
Linda Nemec Foster 72
Brenda Hennink 96, staff
Marjorie Kindel MM06, staff
Crystal (Lubbers 01) Laska, staff
Kristin Leamon 93, staff
Connie Kowalsyk 99
Tom Mikowski 89, staff
Barbara Witham McCargar 77, faculty
Noddea Moore, staff
Linda Nash, staff
Rene Palileo 98, staff
Sally Reeves, staff
Sarah L. Swart 89
Monica Tyler 98, staff
Ronda Varnesdeel 01, staff
William Weitzel, staff
Sr. Catherine Williams 62, O.P., faculty
Sr. Alice Wittenbach 60, O.P., Ph.D., staff
Layout/Design
D&D Printing, Grand Rapids
Silvija Visockis, staff
Design/Photo Archive
Silvija Visockis
Photography
Eric Bridge 92, MM05 staff
Michael Cushion, Ph.D., faculty
Courtney Fahey 07
Marty Fahey MM06, staff
Grand Rapids Community College
Brian Kelly
Noddea Moore, staff
Katy Moore McAvoy 01, staff
Arturo Ortega, student
The Grand Rapids Press
Andris Visockis, staff
Silvija Visockis, staff
OUR APOLOGIES.
Picture identifications got the better of the Editor in the last edition.
Aquinas magazine is published in March
and August by the Aquinas College
Office of College Relations. It is created
for alumni, friends and benefactors of
the College as well as parents of enrolled
students. Aquinas is a private, four-year
Catholic Dominican liberal arts College.
Letters, comments and suggestions are
encouraged. Change of address requests
can be made through the channels listed
below.
E-mail:
collegerelations@aquinas.edu
Mail to:
College Relations Department
1607 Robinson Road, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799
Web site:
www.aquinas.edu
Alumni news:
www.aquinas.edu/alumni
Main number:
(616) 632-8900 x 2844 / (616) 632-2844
Fax:
(616) 459-2563
Editors Note. MISSION STATEMENT
Aquinas College, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition, provides a liberal arts
education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters
a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ....................... 4
CAMPUS NEWS
Aquinas College Receives Largest Bequest ....... 5
President Gerald R. Ford Remembered ............ 6
Feature: Music Department ............................. 8
Earth Day Founder Selected for
Wege Speaker Series ................................... 11
Campus Sustainability Charges Forward ........ 16
2007 College Hall of Fame
Honorees Identified .................................... 19
STUDENT NEWS
Rwandan Student Finds Opportunity
at Aquinas .................................................. 28
SIFE Students Unveil Life-saving Product ...... 29
Continuing Education:
Making the Transition ................................. 31
FACULTY NEWS
Pedaling for fun .............................................. 34
ALUMNI
2007 Alumni Award Nominees ...................... 37
Alumni Association: Saints are Everywhere .... 38
Alumni Survey ............................................... 40
Alumni Receptions ........................................ 42
ADMISSIONS
Integrated Enrollment Plan See Results .......... 47
EMERITUS COLLEGE
Lyle Morrison 52 to Receive
Emeritus Award .......................................... 49
ADVANCEMENT
Aquinas Names Interim Director of
Advancement ............................................. 51
2007 Evening of Elegance .............................. 52
AQ Fund Marches Toward New Goal ............ 58
ATHLETICS
AD Terry Bocian Recognized as
Region Eight AD of the Year ...................... 60
2007 Athletic Hall of Fame
Candidates Selected ................................... 65
TRUSTEES
Profile: Patrick Miles, Jr. 88 ............................ 70
CLASS NOTES ..................................... 74
Cover Photo:
The Aquinas College Choir, under the direction of Mark Webb, performs at
St. Isidores Church during one of its many concerts throughout the year.
Music Dept p.8
Mohler Gift p.5
Rwandan Student p.28
Emeritus Award p.49
John Wheeler p.71
spring 2007 vol. 6 no. 1
The magazine of aquinas college
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
Aquinas College Magazine Spring 2007
Presidents Message
A
s we look back at the months since my
comments in the last Aquinas Magazine, several
events spring to mind. Homecoming was a
striking success, providing opportunities to renew
friendships and to experience firsthand recent
campus developments. On this same weekend
we celebrate current students who qualify for the
Deans List and alumni from recent graduates to
Golden Saints, and we welcome back emeritus
faculty. It is both a time of renewal and
recommitment to the Aquinas experience.
The annual Scholarship Reception in November
provided the opportunity for both students
and benefactors to get acquainted and for the
College to recognize the generosity of those who
support scholarships for our students as well as to
celebrate the achievements of those students.
We also dedicated the new Grace Hauenstei