Quest Summer 2012

summer 2012

Athletics

Return to the Gridiron 4

Whitewater Adventures 8

A Great One-Two Punch 10

quest • page 2

from the president’s desk

marvin henberg

Athletics In the contest that lies at the heart of athleticism, physical joy and physical pain, mental joy and mental anguish connect and intertwine. We all too easily dismiss sports as “only a game,” forgetting that without games, life would be dreary indeed. In athletics, exuberance and exertion go hand in hand. Every concerted push for victory contains the potential seeds of defeat, as when a runner takes the lead in the straightaway, and yet is run down from behind. On the official timer’s sheet, only one first place is allowed. Still, when athletics are pursued correctly, all participants are winners to the extent they have given their best in combining exuberance with exertion. Athletics and youth likewise go hand in hand. Those of us past our prime physically can recapture some of our lost youth by admiring the skills of those still in their prime. Culturally,

the connection between youth and athleticism sometimes takes an elegiac turn, as in A.E. Housman’s To an Athlete Dying Young:

Smart lad to slip betimes away From fields where glory does not stay, And early though the laurel grows It withers quicker than the rose. Better, Housman implies, to die at the height of one’s athletic powers than to outlive one’s prime. We too often separate athletics from the rest of life when we should instead make connections, especially connections between study and athletics. Competition has an artful, contemplative side just as great literature often explores the triumphs and travails of athletics. At The College of Idaho, connections between serious study and athletic prowess have long been celebrated. James Boone, son of founding President William Judson Boone, was an outstanding scholar and captain of the

football team. In the Class of 2012, five of the 15 students inducted into the Scarab Society—our highest academic honor—were intercollegiate athletes. So as we celebrate the re-establishment of football at the College, let us affirm that its place will be no different from that of any existing sport. Games elicit our exuberance, but like everything else in the co-curriculum of the College, they must serve the main purpose for which we exist—namely, to prepare the rising generation for the intellectual and moral challenges they will face after their athletic glory fades. Let us, though, not be mournful that our glory days have passed, or will shortly. Let us instead fix moments of past athletic triumphs for celebration in our time, as do so many of the stories in this issue of Quest. Equally importantly, let us celebrate the range of activities that our College community has fostered. Sports have come, gone, or come and gone (baseball and football have done both), but the qualities that most count are the devotion and skills of the participants, as with the Spanakos brothers in the now lost sport of boxing. Some sports have never come at all to the College in a formal sense, yet the whitewater kayaking achievements of Devon Barker illustrate that we find a way to prize individual excellence as much as team excellence. At The College of Idaho, we make room in athletics for choices across a broad spectrum. Our sports programs, formal and informal, reflect the values of our PEAK curriculum, where depth is required but never at the expense of breadth.

8

summer 2012 • page 3

10

15 19

4

editor: Jordan Rodriguez Assistant editor: Dustin Wunderlich

editorial Board: Louie Attebery ’50, Jan Boles ’65, Jake McClean ’06, Alan Minskoff, Rachel Moore ’96, Michael Vandervelden

contributing writers: Jordan Rodriguez, Mike Safford, Robyn Sanow, Dustin Wunderlich

contributing artists/photographers: Jan Boles, Michael Capell, Reinaldo Gil, Freddie Loucks ’12, Jordan Rodriguez, Mike Safford, Dustin Wunderlich

cover illustration: Forthcoming Football, by Michael Capell Design: Michael Capell

Departments 14

college News Tyler Hatch wins Truman Scholarship; Students promote peace

through soccer in Brazil; Alumnus wins military award

18 Yote Notes

Runner Hillary Holt captures national championship;

Baseball star Izaac Garsez goes pro

20Alumni News

Horse racing is a passion for Ed McNelis ’64; Summer fun in photos

22class Notes

23campus Notes

26 Alumni Profile

27 Alumni calendar

Features4

A legacy Restored by Jordan RodriguezCollege football makes its return to the C of I campus

8 taking the Plunge by Jordan Rodriguez

Kayak adventures take Devon Barker ’94 around the globe

10 Fighting for a Better life by Dustin Wunderlich

The tale of boxing twins Nick and Pete Spanakos ’60

12 Photo essay

A Winning Tradition

14

8

quest • page 4

A Legacy Restored


By JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

There is something magical about a college football game. Sunny afternoons tinged by the autumn chill and filled with anticipation. The smell of grass and sizzling tailgate burgers. The buzz of the crowd before kickoff & the roar of excitement afterward. The sound of shoulder pads popping and the referee’s whistle, signaling the end of one skirmish and beginning the countdown to the next. For a sports fan, it is a one-of-a-kind experience. It has been more than 12,700 days since The College of Idaho hosted a football

game. More than three decades since crowds celebrated a momentum-swinging

Coyote touchdown. Thirty-five seasons since a high school football star accepted

a scholarship to play for the C of I. Reviving the football program had been

discussed and debated since the team disbanded in 1977, but the College’s

Board of Trustees officially ended the wait this spring, voting to reinstate the

team.

Beginning in the fall of 2014, college football will return to the C of I.

“This is a great day for The College of Idaho,” longtime Athletic Director Marty

Holly said after a crowded May 14 press conference announcing the decision.

“Football is going to bring so much excitement to our campus and so many

great opportunities for our student-athletes, our fans and the entire Caldwell

community.”

The announcement brought an immediate buzz to the C of I campus. But it

also came with a long list of questions to answer and tasks to complete in order

to ensure the Coyotes enjoy a successful kickoff.

WhY NOW? Reinstating football is a bold move that, if carried out effectively, could make

a big impact on the College. In addition to bringing an exciting sport to Caldwell

and more than 100 new student-athletes to campus, football should improve

the College’s ability to attract students, raise money and enhance its public

recognition and reputation.

“Restoring Coyote football is an opportunity for us to extend our mission of

providing an outstanding liberal arts education,” C of I President Marv Henberg

said. “We believe that football is going to be a shot of adrenaline for the College

and for the Treasure Valley community.”

Prior to the Board of Trustees vote, Henberg and Holly held meetings with

students, alumni, faculty and staff to hear their thoughts about football and

how it would impact student life, alumni engagement, revenue and community

relations. The Board weighed that feedback and ultimately decided that the

timing was right.

“The bottom line is that things today are totally different from what they

were when the College discontinued football,” Holly said. “In the 1970s, the

Treasure Valley had 200,000 people. Today, it has close to 700,000. Back then,

we competed against Boise State for the same players. Now, Boise State is a

national top-10 program—and there is nowhere for Idaho students to play small

college football close to home. We want to fill that void.”

National Alumni Board President Diana Dron ’75 is hoping football will

generate positive energy throughout the alumni base. Dron spoke with alumni

both for and against football prior to the vote, but she would like to see the sport

have a unifying effect, particularly during on-campus events in the fall.

“I’m hopeful that football will increase College of Idaho spirit and enthusiasm,

especially during Homecoming,” Dron said. “I understand the positions of both

sides, but now that the vote has been taken, I would like to see football become

a rallying point for all of our alumni.”

the c OF i cUltURe One of the primary football concerns raised by students, faculty, alumni and

staff is the potential impact the sport will have on the College’s academic focus and

tight-knit campus community. Football is expected to bring more than 100 new

students to campus, increasing enrollment by 10 percent or more. Holly, however,

is intent on bringing in student-athletes who will be a good fit for the College. A Legacy Restored

The College of Idaho welcomes football back to campus

C of I Athletic Director Marty Holly addresses the media during a packed press conference announcing the restoration of Coyote football May 14 in Sterry Hall.

quest • page 6

“The No. 1 thing we are concerned about in hiring the coach is: Does he fit our

mission? Does he understand our culture?” Holly said. “We believe there are a

lot of good football players out there who also are interested in the high-quality

education and tight-knit community the College offers.”

Alumnus Ed “Buzz” Bonaminio ’56, who played football for the Coyotes and

later coached the team between 1965 and 1971, doesn’t believe football players

deserve the reputation they often receive.

“The guys you see on TV, getting into trouble at the big universities, that’s not

football at The College of Idaho,” Bonaminio said. “When I played and coached,

football was a very important part of the College. It provided opportunities for

players to get a great education at a great school. It played a very important role

in a lot of lives, and now that’s going to happen again.”

Current students voiced a variety of opinions on both sides of the argument,

and preserving the C of I culture was at the top of their list of priorities. But

many, including senior theatre major Taylor Hawker, feel football will only add

to the diverse, fun-loving atmosphere on campus.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Hawker said. “I think it will add a new life to campus.

Football games will give us a place where we can join together as Yotes, have some

fun and increase school spirit, which is something that really could use a boost.”

Football received a rousing vote of support from the C of I faculty, which

unanimously passed a referendum in favor of football prior to the Board vote.

Longtime political economy professor Kerry Hunter said he understands why

some students and alumni have reservations—he wasn’t convinced football

was a good idea until recently—but he believes the administration can carry

out its plan while preserving the things that make the College special.

“The referendum was unanimous,” Hunter said. “Now, inside that referendum

are expectations that we will maintain our same culture, but we as a faculty

really believe we can do it. We’re not afraid for a moment that bringing football

to campus is going to change who we are.”

History professor Steve Maughan ’85 echoed those sentiments, pointing to

the success the College has had integrating other sports such as baseball and

softball over the years.

“Those teams have become a big part of our campus,” Maughan said. “Students

don’t change The College of Idaho—The College of Idaho changes students.”

lOGistics Now that the decision has been made, the College is moving ahead with

preparations for the 2014 season. The search for a head coach will begin this

fall, and the plan calls for the coach to be in place by January 2013. The coach

will recruit a class of 35–50 players who will enroll and participate in practices

in 2013. After a second recruiting class the following year, the team will be

ready for action in the fall of 2014.

“We copied the timeline from several other small colleges who have introduced

football in the past five years,” Holly said. “We didn’t invent it. It’s proven, and

it works.”

The Coyotes will play their home games in Simplot Stadium, located across

Cleveland Boulevard from campus. Simplot seats up to 6,000 fans and served

as the home football stadium in the 1960s and 70s. Improvements to the

stadium—which could include a press box and lights to accommodate night

games—will be made in partnership with the City of Caldwell, which already has

added new bleachers, upgraded bathrooms and applied a fresh coat of paint in

recent years.

Caldwell Mayor Garrett Nancolas said football will boost the local economy

as fans from around the Treasure Valley patronize Caldwell businesses while

enjoying games and tailgating festivities. The city and the College already

enjoy a successful partnership at Wolfe Field Baseball Stadium.

“The C of I football program is going to add prestige to our community,”

Nancolas said. “It’s going to bring the City of Caldwell and the College closer

together. I look at it as a win-win for everybody and a very positive thing for

our community.”

In June, the C of I was accepted into the Frontier Conference for football

only—other sports will remain in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The

Coyotes’ Frontier Conference opponents will include Carroll College (Montana),

The College of Idaho football team will play its home games inside Simplot Stadium, a 6,000-seat facility located just a block away from campus.

“Restoring Coyote football is an opportunity for us to extend our mission of providing an outstanding liberal arts education.”

—College of Idaho President Marv Henberg


Dickinson State University (North Dakota), Eastern Oregon University, Montana

State Northern, Montana Tech, Rocky Mountain College (Montana), Southern

Oregon University and the University of Montana Western.

Fundraising efforts also are under way. Funds in the neighborhood of $5

million are needed for startup expenses, including scholarships, equipment,

travel, additional faculty and staff positions, coaches’ salaries and facility

upgrades, including a new athletics locker room and weight room facility on

campus. The College is aiming to raise $2 million before opening kickoff.

“This is an exciting challenge,” said Michael Vandervelden, vice president

for college relations. “But our alumni and friends already have shown great

support, and we are confident we can raise the money necessary to make

football a reality.”

A PROUD tRADitiON When the new-look Coyotes take the field in 2014, the team won’t have a

single player who was alive the last time the College hosted a football game.

Those players will be writing a new chapter in C of I football lore, but they also

will have a storied tradition to live up to—one that spans more than 70 years,

beginning at the turn of the 20th century.

The first official Coyote football game was played during fall 1905. The team

was successful during its early years under coach Anson Cornell, who compiled

a record of 55-36-4 between 1916 and 1932, including back-to-back Northwest

Conference championships in 1926 and 1927.

Coyote football experienced its golden years during the 1950s. Led by star

wide receiver R. C. Owens ’58—whose athleticism allowed the Coyotes to play a

wide-open style of offense not utilized by many teams of that era—the College

won four consecutive NWC titles between 1952 and 1955, posting a record of

28-8-1 in the process. Owens led the NAIA with nearly 1,000 yards receiving in

1953 as the Coyotes enjoyed an undefeated regular season and an invitation to

the Refrigerator Bowl.

Four 1950s alumni—Owens, halfback Thomas Winbigler ‘50, running back

Bob Morford ’53 and offensive lineman Joe Kahahawai ’55—went on to play

in the National Football League. Other famous alumni who played football at

the College include supermarket magnate Joe Albertson ’29, former Idaho

Governor Robert Smylie ’38 and current Idaho Gov. Butch Otter ’67.

“Football has quite a legacy at the College, and it’s something we all take a lot

of pride in,” Bonaminio said. “The former players I’ve talked to are overwhelmed

with joy that the program is coming back.”

cOUNtDOWN tO KicKOFF With the wheels set in motion, the next two years promise to be a busy time

at the College. There are coaches to hire, players to recruit, dollars to raise,

facilities to build and uniforms to design amongst a host of other tasks to

complete before the Coyotes take the field. All the while, the College is moving

forward with its innovative PEAK curriculum, its effort to establish a joint

physician’s assistant program with Idaho State University, and its Advance The

Legacy campaign to raise $175 million by 2016.

“These are exciting times,” Henberg said. “The sport of football is going to

benefit our campus in many ways, but I’m most pleased with the fact that more

students than ever before will have access to a College of Idaho education.”

Henberg’s words bring to mind an oft-repeated quote attributed to College of

Idaho Founding President William Judson Boone, who said: “Let them come,

let them all come, and we will see what they can do.”

College football players now will have the opportunity to show what they can

do on the field, in the classroom and as members of The College’s of Idaho’s

distinctive community.

It promises to be an exciting and unpredictable ride. Go Yotes!

JORDAN RODRIGUEZ is the editor of Quest.

The fledgling C of I football team was named “Champion of the State of Idaho” as the Gem State’s top college squad in 1908.

The C of I loses a legend The College of Idaho lost one of its most beloved alumni when R.C. Owens ’58

passed away June 17. Owens was a pioneering star athlete at the College who went

on to NFL fame with the San Francisco 49ers. He was 78 years old.

Owens was a three-sport star at the C of I, excelling in football, basketball and

track. After college, Owens was drafted by both the 49ers and the Minneapolis

Lakers of the NBA. He chose to play pro football and became famous for his

“Alley-Oop” catches, where he would use his 6-foot-3 frame and legendary leaping

ability to soar above defenders for game-winning catches. The term “Alley-Oop”

later became widely used for the lob pass-slam dunk play in basketball.

Owens is a member of several sports halls of fame, including The College of Idaho

Athletic Hall of Fame and the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame. He is survived by

his wife, Susan. The C of I extends its heartfelt condolences to the Owens family.

quest • page 8

From her childhood in North Idaho to her college years in Professor Howard Berger’s history classes, College of Idaho alumna Devon Barker ’94

dreamed of exploring the world. Barker never imagined her kayak would become her global passport. But

her 2001 decision to paddle professionally has led to many memorable

moments, including two freestyle national championships and more than 20

international voyages to some of the world’s wildest waters.

“I’ve wanted to see the world ever since I was little,” Barker said. “And

kayaking has taken me to so many amazing places. It’s such a unique

experience to view people and cultures in all parts of the world from the

perspective of your kayak.”

Barker split her formative years between Lewiston and McCall. She chose

to attend The College of Idaho primarily because of its ski program—she

competed all four seasons for coach Ron Bonneau’s alpine team, earning

Academic All-American honors in 1993. Barker also honed her kayaking

talents through trips with the C of I outdoor program and rolling sessions in

J.A. Albertson Aquatics Center. Academically, Barker wasn’t sure what to study

at first, but her Finney Hall roommate Julie Mitchell recommended Berger’s

“Western Civilizations” course, and Barker soon became hooked on history.

“Devon was a great student,” Berger said. “She was always ready for

adventure.”

Berger recalled one infamous event that illustrated Barker’s courageous

spirit. She was one of nine students in Berger’s “History of the 1960s” winter

course, which focused on the American student activist movement. When it

came time for the final exam, the students came to class dressed in trench

coats and nailed a portion of the Port Huron Statement—the student activism

manifesto—to the blackboard in Berger’s classroom. When the exam began, all

nine students removed their trench coats and took the test naked.

“Though I said nothing, I was so very, very proud,” Berger said. “That

portion of the Port Huron Statement remains on the back of my office door

to this day.”

After graduating with a degree in history and a minor in education, Barker

took a job teaching the 4th grade at Nez Perce Elementary School. She

taught for seven years and enjoyed the work, but found herself spending

every spare moment in her kayak. When a friend urged Barker to give the

professional tour a shot, her sense of adventure again took over.

“There just weren’t enough hours in the day for me to do both (teaching

and kayaking),” Barker said. “Going pro was a bit of a leap of faith, but it felt

like the right thing to do.”

Barker immediately made her presence felt on the pro circuit, competing

in three different disciplines: freestyle kayaking (performing tricks in

whitewater), surf kayaking (tricks on ocean waves) and squirtboating

(similar to freestyle, but in a smaller boat on calmer water). She captured

back-to-back freestyle national titles in 2004 and 2005 and won the 2005

world championship in surf kayaking.

Competing professionally is a physically demanding commitment that

requires hours each day training and practicing tricks, from flips and

cartwheels to aerial blunts and “Space Godzillas.” But Barker, who turned

40 last year, shows no signs of slowing down—she recorded two third-place

finishes at the 2011 World Championships, earning squirtboating bronze in

Germany and surf bronze in North Carolina.

“Devon’s desire and her love for kayaking transcend the competition,” said

Mike Hicks, Barker’s husband. “She finds great joy in the sport. Everything

is good in her life when she’s on the water, and I think that’s what allows her

to remain competitive with athletes who are half her age.”

In addition to her competitive career, Barker works alongside Hicks as

co-director of Kelly’s Whitewater Park in Cascade, which opened in 2010 and

recently hosted Freestyle Kayak Nationals for the second consecutive year.

tAK iNG t he PlU NGe

Sense of adventuretakes kayaker Devon Barker ’94 around the globe

By JORDAN RODRIGUEZ


KWP is set on the Payette River and includes four whitewater features for

kayakers, surfers, tubers and canoeists of all ages and ability levels. The park

is funded by Mark and Kristina Pickard, who dedicated KWP to the memory

of Kristina’s late sister, Kelly Brennan.

Barker has directed Kelly’s Kayak School since the park opened, teaching

about 60 kids each summer. The park is bidding to host the 2017 World

Championships and also puts on whitewater competitions, fishing

tournaments and other events for the Cascade community.

“The park is such a great opportunity for people to experience whitewater

sports here in Idaho,” Barker said. “It’s great to see local kids come out and

develop a love for kayaking at a young age.”

For Barker, her teenage hobby blossomed into a lifelong passion. And while

she’s enjoyed her share of competitive triumphs, Barker also has experienced

some of life’s most poignant moments while paddling her kayak.

One such moment came on a trip to Uganda. Barker took on the biggest

surf wave of her life in the Nile River, but she was affected even more by what

she saw on shore.

“The Nile was amazing — just the sheer power of the river and seeing hippos

in the eddies,” Barker said. “But I was struck even more by the utter poverty

people live in. They don’t have paper because the termites would eat it.

Malaria and (tuberculosis) are devastating. It was super impactful to see

how people’s lives are being ruined by mosquitoes and diseases we never

have to worry about. It helps you appreciate how truly fortunate you are to

be born in the U.S.”

In 2007, Barker traveled to the Basque Country in Europe for the surf World

Championships. It was Barker’s first-ever trip to her ancestral homeland, and

she celebrated by taking third place and attending a family reunion where

she was pleased to discover one of the area’s finest kayak rivers running

alongside one of her family’s homes.

Barker even met Hicks, whom she married in 2011, while paddling at Mill

Wave on Idaho’s Salmon River in the late 1990s. And kayaking also has

led to many of Barker’s most cherished friendships, including with the

professionals she competes against.

One of Barker’s closest friends, Japanese kayaker Motoko Ishida, paddled

at last year’s Squirtboating World Championships in Germany just weeks

after losing her boyfriend in a devastating tsunami. Ishida placed second

and Barker finished third, and the two friends shared bittersweet tears

afterward on the awards podium.

“Kayaking has made my world so much smaller,” Barker said. “I really felt

the loss, felt the impact when that tsunami hit Japan. I was happy Motoko

came to worlds and we were able to share that moment together.”

Fittingly, Barker’s love of kayaking eventually reconnected her with her

passion for teaching. She enjoys directing Kelly’s Kayak School and recently

resumed her teaching career as a middle-school English instructor in the

Meadows Valley School District.

“Devon has a heart of gold,” Hicks said. “Every time a youngster gets their

first successful roll, her face lights up just like theirs. She’s very nurturing,

and she enjoys helping kids discover a love of kayaking.”

Barker said she would love to see one of her students go on to compete on

the professional circuit, or even in a future Olympics. But most of all, she hopes

to instill in her pupils the belief that has guided her for more than a decade:

With passion in your heart and a paddle in your hand, no adventure is too

big to take on.

JORDAN RODRIGUEZ is the editor of Quest.

Devon Barker trains at her home facility, Kelly’s Whitewater Park on the Payette River in Cascade. Barker paddled to a third-place finish in July as KWP hosted the 2012 Freestyle Kayak Nationals.

Barker, left, and friend Motoko Ishida, right, celebrate with champion Claire O’Hara after making the podium at the 2011 Squirtboating World Championships in Plattling, Germany.

quest • page 10

they set up a ring in the gym for us, the place was packed full. It was great to

box and have people coming from such a distance.”

Ed “Buzz” Bonaminio ’56 was teaching at Caldwell High School when the

Spanakos brothers arrived at The College of Idaho and remembers watching

their bouts at the old Kirkpatrick Gymnasium (subsequently converted into

McCain Student Center).

“They were good, crowd-pleasing fighters as speedy as they were,”

Bonaminio recalls. “They were really quick getting in there and mixing it up.”

RePReseNtiNG theiR cOUNtRY

While boxing for The College of Idaho, the Spanakos twins also traveled the

country, competing in AAU and Golden Gloves bouts. Pete was an unprecedented

10-time, undefeated Golden Gloves champion from 1955 to 1964, while Nick

won seven Golden Gloves championships between 1955 and 1961.

It was a golden era for boxing, and while representing the C of I, the

twins were able to meet and fight alongside the legendary Muhammad Ali,

then known as Cassius Clay.

Pete first met Ali in 1959 as a teammate on the United States boxing

team at the 1959 Pan-American Games, where Pete won a bronze medal. Also

on the team was C of I boxer Heiji Shimabukura.

In 1960, the Spanakos twins and Ali each won the Outstanding Fighter

trophy in their respective weight classes at the Western Golden Gloves at

Chicago’s Soldier Field as well as the National (Inter-City) Golden Gloves at

Madison Square Garden.

While Pete lost a qualifying bout to make the 1960 U.S. Olympic team,

Nick, alongside Ali, did qualify and boxed in Rome. Nick lost a disputed

decision against a Russian boxer—the Rome Olympic Committee removed

half of its boxing officials, all from Soviet Bloc countries, the day after his

fight—but the U.S. team and his roommate, Ali, did capture gold medals

in the Games. Nick also had an exhibition match against the champion of

Greece outside of Athens during the last week of the Games.

An Americ An S t ory: Fighting For a better liFe

Nick and Pete Spanakos ’60 were born fighters. The identical twin sons of Greek immigrant parents—neither of whom received an education beyond the 6th grade—grew up in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, a poor, crime-ridden area in the 1940s and 50s. It was a place where opportunities to climb out of poverty or avoid being drawn into criminal activity were few.

Boxing proved to be the Spanakos’ salvation. Instead of succumbing to

the violence surrounding them, the brothers channeled their energy, spending

nearly every day of their adolescence in a Red Hook gym. Working the speed-

bags, skipping rope and sparring, Pete and Nick learned discipline and hope.

During their senior year at Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton High School, Nick

Spanakos said he and his brother got a list of colleges across the country that

offered scholarships for boxing and wrote them letters.

“We got responses back from (The College of) Idaho and Wisconsin,

which both offered us scholarships,” Nick said. “Coming from New York to

Caldwell was a big downsizing, and it was very refreshing. Instead of being

filled with despair, it was inspiring to be in this small town and on a campus

where everyone was happy and friendly.”

The Spanakos twins—who in 1955 became the first twins to win the

Daily News Golden Gloves, amateur boxing’s most prestigious crown—started

boxing for The College of Idaho in 1957.

Pete Spanakos recalled the initial shock of arriving at the College, which

at the time had approximately 600 students.

“We never knew what western culture was like or how to behave,” Pete said.

“The hospitality was amazing and we were a little paranoid at first, thinking

people were setting us up because it was so unlike where we grew up.”

They weren’t the only C of I students who came hundreds or even

thousands of miles from home to attend the small liberal arts college,

dreaming about a better life. Pete said many of his boxing teammates and

other student-athletes came from big cities like Chicago, Boston and New

York, or from lower income families as far away as Hawaii.

“The College of Idaho gave us an opportunity to see a very different way

of life and to fulfill our aspirations,” he said.

The C of I boxing team traveled to places such as Washington State,

the University of Nevada and California Poly Tech for bouts, while boxing

matches on campus were a prime event not just for the campus, but for the

entire region.

“They were just starting to get TV in the Northwest at the time, so

we would have to drive into Boise to be able to watch a boxing match on

television,” Nick said. “We had people coming from Oregon and Washington

and all across Idaho to watch our boxing matches at the College, and when

By DUSTIN WUNDERLICH

Nick Spanakos (front left) was a teammate of Cassius Clay (far right) on the 1960 United States Olympic Team in Rome. Clay went on to fame as the legendary heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.


The brothers continued to box until 1964, when Pete was in law school

and Nick was working on his doctorate in business. By the time the twins

hung up their gloves, each had racked up 200 fights during careers spent

juggling school, work and boxing.

“We have no regrets,” Pete said. “It left us with a rich legacy of wellness:

healthy eating, daily exercise and controlling stress, anxiety, depression,

fear and hubris. Boxing defined our lives.”

AN eDUcAtiON FOR liFe The discipline the Spanakos twins learned in the ring complemented their

education at The College of Idaho and led each to successful careers: Pete is

a counselor at junior high schools in Brooklyn and Nick retired as a tenured

business academic for the State University of New York.

Nick said his professors at the C of I such as George Wolfe in political economy,

Robert Bratz in biology, Edward Allen in business and Joseph Dadabay in

sociology were easy to get to know on a personal level, and their example has

influenced his own career in education.

“I was inspired to emulate the professors I met at The College of Idaho who

were always willing to meet with me outside the classroom and engage with

me,” Nick said.

Pete said he was impressed by the College’s diversity and the tolerance

displayed by its students, faculty and staff. He and Nick remembered the

College’s academic dean at the time telling a local barber to learn how to cut

the hair of African-American students after the barber said he didn’t know how.

“Kids from the south side of Chicago blended in with the kids from New York

and kids from Hawaii. It was a really interesting cross-cultural experience for us,”

Pete said. “I think it may have been a combination of the western attitude and

the Presbyterian legacy of the College that carried over into a valuing of

diversity.”

Bonaminio, who grew up next to the steel mills on Chicago’s south side,

experienced the same cultural adjustment that the Spanakos twins did and,

like them, found Idaho to be an invigorating environment.

“[Nick and Pete] were a novelty,” Bonaminio said. “That made them stand out

on campus and they were very friendly. They had a great rapport with everyone

on campus and with the local community; people really appreciated them.”

Most of all, the Spanakos brothers treasure the relationships that they had

with their fellow student-athletes, professors and other members of the C of I

family. During their senior year, when the twins missed six weeks of class

as they traveled across the country to box and achieve their Olympic dream,

their professors did everything they could to help Nick and Pete make up their

homework and tests.

“They were in our corner all the way,” Pete said. “The College bent over

backwards to help Nick and me. Those were precious years that Nick and I

enjoyed and grew from.”

DUSTIN WUNDERLICH is the assistant editor of Quest.

Nick Spanakos won seven consecutive Gold Gloves championships between 1955 and 1961. While boxing for the C of I, Nick won titles at both the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast Collegiate Championships in 1958. He was a three-time competitor at the U.S. Olympic Trials and qualified for the 1960 Summer Olympic team.

Pete Spanakos was a 10-time Gold Gloves champion and a bronze medalist at the 1959 Pan-American Games. Pete also was a three-time competitor at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Both Spanakos brothers were inducted into The College of Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

quest • page 12

A Winning Tradition

For more than 100 years, College of Idaho student-athletes

have excelled both in the classroom and on fields of competition.

Those who have worn the Coyote uniform include NBA Hall-of-

Famer Elgin Baylor and NFL “Alley-Oop” innovator R.C. Owens,

whose recent passing was felt by the entire C of I community.

Countless others have gone on to great success, not only in

professional sports but also in business, public service, teaching

and coaching. Today, the century-old tradition lives on.

faces and places

The 1998 Baseball Team won the NAIA National Championship, defeating Indiana Tech 6-3 in the title game to finish with a record of 55–8, the best in school history.

Elgin Baylor led the C of I to a perfect 15–0 record during the 1954–55 season, averaging 31.3 points per game. He went on to make 11 NBA All-Star teams and score 23,149 career points with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers.

Bernie Hamilton won back-to-back-to-back Northwest Conference championships in the 100-meter dash between 1970 and 1972. He still holds the school record in both the 100 and 200 meters.

R.C. Owens starred in football, basketball and track at the College. He collected 206 catches for 3,285 yards and 22 touchdowns in his NFL career, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers.

James Ralph Bennett was a five-sport star from 1938–1942, excelling in football, baseball, basketball, track and boxing during his C of I career. He is considered one of the great multisport athletes of his era.

Then:


Whitney Brigham was named a 2011 NAIA First-Team All-American, capping an amazing senior season during which she led the Coyotes to the best finish in program history at the National Championships.

The 2011–12 Women’s Basketball Team captured the Cascade Collegiate Conference championship and enjoyed its fourth consecutive trip to the NAIA Division II National Championships.

Kelley Fitzpatrick won the 2011 USCSA Freestyle Skier-X national championship, securing the 17th individual title in the history of the Coyote ski program.

Izaac Garsez was a two-time All-American and NAIA West Player of the Year for the Coyote baseball team. He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 30th round of the 2012 MLB Draft.

Hillary Holt won the 1,500-meter title at the 2012 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, becoming the first individual national champion in program history.

Now:

quest • page 14

Tyler Hatch is the third Truman Scholar from The College of Idaho.

Fiifi Appiah receives his diploma from C of I President Marv Henberg during the 2012 commencement ceremony.

The College of Idaho welcomed 163 new graduates to its alumni ranks May 12 as the Class of 2012 celebrated commencement in

Morrison Quadrangle. Commencement speaker Dr. Joan Houston Hall ’68, C of I President Marv Henberg and senior class speaker Jon Weese addressed a crowd of more than 1,000 and each graduating senior then received his or her diploma on the steps of Boone Hall. Weese spoke of the personal changes each member of the class has undergone over the past four years, comparing them to the many on-campus building renovations that have taken place. “We may look the same on the outside,” Weese said. “But internally, we’ve all done some serious remodeling.” Cheers, hoots, hollers and cat calls showered each graduate as Dr. Mark Smith read the names and Henberg awarded the diplomas, underscoring the close personal connection the class shared as Yotes. “The Class of 2012 had a lot of fun,” student body president Amanda Frickle said. “We’ve

had a really special bond together ever since freshman year.” Hall, a 1968 C of I alumna and current chief editor of the Dictionary of American Regional English, received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, as did Shelby Davis and Phil Geier from the Davis United World College Scholars Program. The C of I President’s Medallion was awarded to Caldwell physician

Dr. Patrick Stowell as well as to Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History director William Clark ’68 and his wife, Mary Clark ’67. The alumni office’s Half-Century Lifetime Achievement Award winners were Dr. Dean Barnhouse ’62, Don Hendrickson ’62, Dr. Leroy Lewis ’62 and Dr. Don Mott ’62. check out more than 300 photos from commencement on the c of i Flickr page at www.flickr.com/thecollegeofidaho

college newsC of I student Tyler Hatch named a Truman Scholar

College of Idaho student Tyler Hatch has a passion for effecting social change through public policy.

As a 2012 Truman Scholar—one of 60 students nationwide selected for the prestigious award—

Hatch hopes to draw on that passion to help protect the rights of students in America’s public schools.

Hatch, a senior political economy and history double-major from Nampa, believes that a safe school

environment is essential to a quality education. His Truman-winning policy proposal to Idaho Senator

Mike Crapo advocated an amendment of the No Child Left Behind Act that would extend anti-bullying

protection to students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“I think it’s a timely issue,” Hatch said. “In the past year, teen suicide rates among LGBT youth have

skyrocketed. We can see that bullying within public education is something that has lifelong effects on

individuals, and refusing to protect certain classes of students because of their orientation or identity, I

don’t believe is acceptable.”

Hatch and his fellow Truman Scholars were chosen from a pool of more than 600 applicants. Each

scholar will receive up to $30,000 in grant money toward graduate school as well as leadership training,

foundation support and special internship opportunities within the U.S. government. In return, each

scholar is expected to dedicate at least two years of their life to public service.

Hatch is The College of Idaho’s third Truman Scholar, joining James Wonacott (1993) and Varina Van

Veldhuizen (1984). He also is the first Idahoan to win while attending an in-state school since 2003.

“I think it’s very telling that the foundation believed an Idaho student attending an Idaho school

was capable of making social change,” Hatch said. “I hope that my experiences here at the C of I will

prepare me for larger experiences throughout the country and, hopefully, the globe.”

C of I political economy professor Jasper LiCalzi encouraged Hatch to apply for the Truman, and

English professor Sue Schaper served as his fellowship coordinator. Hatch also credited political

economy professor Kerry Hunter and history professors Steve Maughan and Mee-Ae Kim for helping

him pursue his academic and career goals.

See a video interview with Tyler on the C of I YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/goyotes

c of i celebrates the class of 2012


is majoring in business, language and culture at the C of I. “Most of these kids are homeless, and it’s hard to see those situations. We want to use soccer to educate kids and get them to use their talents for the best.” Like many Latin American boys, Santiago and Reyes played soccer growing up. They met while attending an international high school in Costa Rica and both came to the C of I as Davis United

World College Scholars. Their inspiration for “Peace Me the Ball” came while watching a group of shoeless boys kick an old ball around on the dusty streets of Havana during a recent visit to Cuba. “We just thought about how people are investing in our education in the U.S. and how there are a million boys just like us back home who will not have that chance,” said Reyes, a native of Lima, Peru, who is studying anthropology, sociology and political economy at the C of I. “At that point, we agreed we should use the resources and opportunities we had if it could help even a small number of people.” In preparation for the project, Santiago and Reyes organized two on-campus fundraisers: a PlayStation tournament and a 7-on-7 soccer tournament. The students also received support from professors, the International Student Organization and community members. The soccer equipment purchased with the extra funds will be left in Brazil at the end of the project in hopes that “Peace Me the Ball” will be replicated throughout Latin America. The College of Idaho now has had a Davis Project for Peace funded in each of the last five years. Students previously completed projects in Malawi, Tanzania, Egypt and Ecuador. to learn more about the project, check out the “Peace Me the Ball” Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PMtBP

The Carter Family Scholarship is one of more than 200 endowed scholarships at The College of Idaho—funds that ensure virtually all C of I students receive financial assistance. The scholarship gift is in addition to decades of annual gifts made by Carter and a designated $150,000 donation from his estate to establish the endowed Carter-Chalker Lectureship Series on Faith and Contemporary Issues in 2011.

A cOMMON GOAl c OF i stUDeNts PROMOte PeAce thROUGh sOcceR iN BRAzil By JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

College receives $500,000 scholarship gift from Carter estate

As native South Americans, College of Idaho juniors Mauricio Santiago and Luis Reyes know firsthand how poverty impacts their homeland. Santiago and Reyes also share their culture’s deep love of soccer, an affection they plan to use to help impoverished children this summer through their Davis Project for Peace, “Peace Me the Ball.” The two students will travel to Santiago’s hometown of Lauro de Freitas, Brazil, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Davis Foundation. From July 30 through August 25, the students will coach soccer and help teach children— including homeless street kids, public school students and residents of the local SOS Children’s Village—about the dangers of drugs and delinquency through conflict resolution seminars and other activities aimed at developing tolerance, respect, humility and honesty. “Luis and I really care about our Latin American communities,” said Santiago, who

The College of Idaho in April received a $512,043 gift from the estate of the late William J. Carter, a grandson of founding C of I President William Judson Boone. Carter, who passed away in 2011, left his estate to the John O. and Sara Boone Carter Family Scholarship, an endowed fund set up to honor his parents and support students who are in need of financial assistance to complete their educations. The gift makes the Carter Family

Scholarship the largest endowed scholarship fund at the C of I. “We are delighted to assist in helping deserving young men and women afford the quality education for which The College of Idaho is justly known,” said William’s brother, James Carter. “The bequest is likewise a testament to how firmly we descendents of President William Judson Boone believe in the continuing mission derived from his founding vision.”

C of I student Mauricio Santiago plays with children from his hometown of Lauro de Freitas, Brazil.

quest • page 16

heroism on display: Eric Grunke ’01 named Marine Corps Aviator of the Year By DUSTIN WUNDERLICH

Flying in the darkness toward Libya’s coastline on

March 22, 2011, Maj. Eric Grunke ’01 raced to save a

brother in arms.

On the ground below, an Air Force pilot

whispered to Grunke from a hiding place near his

crashed F-15.

“Tell my wife I love her.”

It was day three of Operation Odyssey Dawn, an

international effort to protect the Libyan people

from Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, and the pilot

was being pursued by several vehicles near the city

of Benghazi. As the Libyan troops closed in, Grunke

dropped two bombs from his Harrier, destroying

their targets and causing the other pursuers to

retreat.

Thanks largely to those heroic actions, Grunke

recently was named Marine Corps Aviator of the Year.

“I never thought I’d be in the same category as a

person like John Glenn, who was first recipient of

the award,” Grunke said. “I was not alone that night.

It was a team effort, everyone from my wingman

who flew right next to me and looked out for surface

threats to the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft pilots who

flew out to pick up the pilot. I was so happy to be a

part of that.”

FROM cOlleGe tO the cORPsGrunke’s connections to The College of Idaho and

the military are extensive. Both of his parents, a sister

and his wife are alumni of the College, while his father

served in the Navy Reserve and brother served in the

Marine Corps Reserve.

While the Weiser native started as a pre-med

student, his thoughts soon turned to flying, and he

discovered the Marine Corps would guarantee him a

spot in its pilot training program. So Grunke attended

officer training at Quantico Marine Corps Base during

his summers and went on active duty after graduating

from the C of I in 2001.

Throughout his time in the Marine Corps, Grunke

said his experiences at the C of I have been invaluable.

“I was part of a tight knit community at The College

of Idaho, and being a pilot is like that...the sense of

camaraderie is similar,” Grunke said. “The diversity,

being a music minor and biology major, that broad

background has been really helpful as a Marine officer.”

PROtectiNG liBYA’s PeOPleBefore participating in Operation Odyssey Dawn,

Grunke’s unit had been deployed on a humanitarian

aid mission to Pakistan.

Grunke’s Harrier jet on the deck of the assault ship U.S.S. Kearsarge the night of March 23, 2011.

college news

“We were following along what was happening

with the Arab Spring, but we weren’t sure whether

we’d get involved,” he said.

The situation escalated, however, and on March

19, Grunke’s squadron was called into action,

tasked with destroying tanks and other military

targets that Gadhafi was using to attack his own

people.

Grunke is proud of what he and his fellow Marines

accomplished during two weeks of operations in

Libya. On the first night of operations, one of the

major roads into Benghazi — a flashpoint for the

Libyan uprising — was completely blocked off by

troops loyal to Gadhafi.

“By night four after we had been pounding him,

the road was open and there was civilian traffic

going both ways,” Grunke said. “I witnessed a really

tangible result from that mission to support the

rebels. I could see the difference and I’ll always

remember how important that was.”

Maj. Eric Grunke ’01 is an 11-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.


Mark Owen ’85 is a basketball legend at The College of Idaho. From his playing days—which included NAIA All-

American honors and the most assists in school history—to a successful coaching career that spanned nearly two decades,

Owen was fueled by a raw, competitive drive to be the best.

It’s a drive that led Owen to the brink of the NBA—and one that he passed down to a new generation of Coyote athletes.

“I loved to play against anyone and everyone,” Owen said. “The drive to win inspired me to try and get better every time

I was on the court.”

Owen won a state championship at Boise High School in 1980 and then played a year at College of Southern Idaho. He

took a two-year hiatus from the sport before enjoying three outstanding seasons at the C of I, where his quickness and

shooting ability caught the attention of NBA scouts.

“It’s unusual for the NBA to look closely at a player from a small college,” said C of I athletic director and former

basketball coach Marty Holly. “But Owen was so quick and put up so many big numbers that he made an impact.”

After his senior season, Owen was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers, becoming the College’s fourth NBA draftee.

Owen never played in an NBA game, but Holly offered him a position as an assistant coach in 1991, and Owen began a

new chapter of his C of I career. He was an assistant on the Coyotes’ 1996 national championship team, and he went on to

coach the team for a decade after Holly retired. He currently works as the College’s NAIA compliance officer and head of

game management.

Owen also established a family legacy at C of I—his son Josh Owen ’08 is the fourth-leading scorer in program history

and his daughter Whitney Brigham ’12 was an All-Conference performer in both basketball and volleyball.

“C of I people stick together—it’s a special place,” Holly said. “Back then, it was a special place for Mark, and now it has

become a special place for his whole family.”

ROBYN SANOW is a College of Idaho senior and freelance writer.

A Competitive Legacy By ROByN SANOW

c of i alumna reaches for the stars through NAsA academy By JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

Working in outer space is a dream shared by many and realized by a very hard working and fortunate few.

This summer, College of Idaho graduate Trisha Randazzo ’12 is taking a big step toward achieving her ultimate goal. Randazzo, a Salt Lake City native who in May received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics, is working at the prestigious NASA Ames Academy for Space Exploration in Moffett Field, Calif. She is one of 16 students from around the globe chosen for the immersive 10-week program, which provides opportunities for future leaders of the space industry.

“I’m really interested in understanding the universe and where we come from,” Randazzo said. “And I like the challenge and adventure of going to space and trying to explain the phenomena that happen that we don’t see or experience on our own planet.”

Randazzo already has completed three NASA internships— two at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and one at the Ames Research Center, which inspired her to apply for the Ames Academy. Randazzo currently is working

alongside a NASA professional on a space debris research project. The academy also includes group and individual projects, lectures, team building, community service and a trip to NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

As Randazzo continues her pursuit of outer space, she is grateful for her experiences at the C of I. In addition to her math and physics studies, Randazzo earned a minor in German, competed for the freestyle ski team, served as student director of the Outdoor Program and cofounded the Space and Aeronautics

Club. After the Ames Academy, she plans to study planetary physics in graduate school.

“I was able to use my interests to a bigger potential as part of such a small community,” Randazzo said. “I’m really grateful that I had so many opportunities in leadership, athletics and volunteer work. And it was a big advantage that teachers knew me personally—they wrote great letters of recommendation, which is such an important way of getting into the industry I want to pursue.”

Former C of I skier Trisha Randazzo poses with Robonaut 2 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Mark Owen is the ninth-leading scorer and second- winningest coach in the history of the C of I basketball program.

quest • page 18

College of Idaho sophomore Hillary Holt became the first individual national champion in the nearly 100-year history of the Coyote track and field program this spring, winning the 1,500-meter title at the NAIA

Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 26 in Marion, Ind. Holt, a graduate of Mountain View High School in Meridian, defeated a field of 15 runners in a school-record time of 4 minutes, 30.10 seconds, winning by 1.5 seconds over Maria Bernard of the University of British Columbia. “My goal all year had been to win the 1,500,” Holt said. “(C of I track coach) Pat McCurry gave me a great race plan that played to my strengths...I just hung back and waited and was really patient. And then I got to the last 200 meters and took off and didn’t look back.”

It was a victory that seemed unlikely for Holt earlier in the season, when a stress fracture in her leg held her out of the NAIA Indoor National Championships and had her walking on crutches. But the resilient junior-to-be was able to overcome her injury and Indiana’s sweltering 104-degree heat index to bring home the first national title in program history. “It was pretty spectacular,” McCurry said. “Two months ago, she had a broken bone in her leg and now she is a national champion. We have told Hillary all along that she could win the 1,500, and today it set up perfectly.

The race was very tactical and she executed our plan perfectly and pulled away on the final lap.” Holt also placed fourth in the 800 meters, earning her third career outdoor All-America honor and capping a successful weekend for the Coyotes at nationals. Sora Klopfenstein added a second-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing in 11:16.32. The sophomore from Meridian High School is the second C of I runner ever to earn a national runner-up finish. “I couldn’t have asked for a better meet at nationals after all that happened this year,” said Holt, who also battled a thigh injury during winter training. “To come back and win the 1,500, I just feel so thankful and so blessed. And I was so excited for Sora also. She ran so well.” On the men’s side, C of I junior Greg Montgomery placed third in the 5,000 meters, finishing in 14:55.75. Montgomery is the College’s first male student-athlete to earn All-America honors in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in the same season. Holt’s victory and the Coyotes’ overall performance at nationals mark another big step for McCurry and the track program, which has grown rapidly since its restoration in 2005. And with six of the seven student-athletes who qualified for national finals returning next season—including all three of the program’s 2012 All-Americans—the Coyotes’ future looks even brighter. “In just one year, we doubled the number of people that we qualified for

nationals,” Holt said. “It’s awesome. I think it says a lot about our coaches and shows that we are really improving as a program. It’s just really exciting to be a part of.”

Mike Safford is the sports information director at The College of Idaho.

yote notes

HIllArY HolT CApTureS nATIonAl CHAmpIonSHIp VICTORy CAPS AN OUTSTANDING WEEKEND FOR THE C OF I TRACK TEAM By MIKE SAFFORD & JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

College of Idaho runner Hillary Holt pulls away from the field during the 1,500-meter final at the 2012 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Indiana.

Sora Klopfenstein hurdles to a second-place finish in the national 3,000-meter steeplechase final.

The 2012 baseball season was a banner year for The College of Idaho as the Coyotes recorded the ninth 40-win season in program history and qualified for their fifth NAIA World Series. Led by NAIA West Player of the year and first-team All-American Izaac Garsez, the yotes were dominant at Wolfe Field, winning 24-of-30 games in their home park including series victories over rivals Menlo College and the University of British Columbia. Starting pitchers Chad yeggy and Taylor Nicholson were solid all season, helping the Coyotes earn the No. 1 seed into the NAIA West Tournament and an at-large spot in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round site in Azusa, Calif. The C of I advanced to the National Tournament title game, where senior shortstop Tanner Hodges scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Coyotes toppled Azusa Pacific 7–6 in dramatic fashion to earn their first NAIA World Series berth since the 2002 season. “It was an amazing run by our team,” said C of I coach Shawn Humberger. “I am proud of the guys who stepped up this season into their roles and took advantage of the opportunity.”

The Coyotes lost a pair of tight games at the World Series in Lewiston, but the season was still considered a surprise by many and a success by all. Four players—Garsez, Nicholson, Hodges and junior catcher Jarel Lewis—were honored as All-NAIA West selections, with Lewis earning honorable mention All-America recognition. Senior pitcher Todd Griffiths also stepped up down the stretch, going 2–1 with a 1.23 ERA in his six postseason appearances—including three complete games—while racking up seven saves as the team’s closer, one shy of the school record.

Garsez set a new school record with 12 triples on the season, while Lewis racked up 24 doubles and hit .370 on the year. Hodges knocked in a team-high 67 RBIs, and yeggy finished his career with 19 victories, among the top-10 in program history. Humberger will have to replace eight departing seniors next season, but the Coyotes should once again contend in the NAIA West thanks to a talented group of returning players led by Lewis, Nicholson, outfielder Tyler Andazola and first baseman Jesse Dodd.


Former College of Idaho outfielder Izaac Garsez on June 6 was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 30th Round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft, joining nine other former Coyote baseball players who’ve been drafted by MLB clubs. Garsez, a two-time NAIA All-American and two-time NAIA West Player of the Year, hit .389 as a senior with eight home runs and 53 RBIs, leading the NAIA with 12 triples. He also led the NAIA West with 93 hits and 75 runs scored. Garsez was recommended to the Cubs by the team’s area scout, Al Geddes. “There definitely were a lot of emotions when I got the call,” said Garsez, the 914th overall pick in the draft. “I was so relieved and also extremely, extremely excited. I just feel really blessed.” In four years with the Coyotes, Garsez posted a .361 batting average while accumulating 45 doubles, a school-record 30 triples, 27 home runs and 151 RBIs. He becomes the first C of I player to be drafted by an MLB club since Jason Stefani in 2001. The highest draftee in C of I history was Don Bellum, taken in the eighth round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1992. “I’m so glad I was able to play for the C of I program,” Garsez said. “Coach (Shawn) Humberger is an unbelievable coach—he taught me so much and helped me get better and expand on my game every year. I’ll have to continue improving to compete at the next level, but I know playing for this program has helped prepare me for what I’m about to face.”

Shortly after the draft, Garsez signed a contract and reported to the Cubs’ training facility in Mesa, Ariz. He then was assigned to the Arizona League Cubs, Chicago’s rookie-league affiliate, where he began his professional career June 21.

GArSez drAfTed bY CHICAGo CubS

Izaac Garsez is the tenth C of I baseball player to be selected in the MLB Draft, and the first since 2001. On July 17th, Garsez was called up to play for the hometown Boise Hawks, a Class A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

coyote baseball team enjoys NAiA World series run By MIKE SAFFORD

quest • page 20

keep Idaho horse racing traditions alive and

strong.

Today, McNelis travels the Northwest showing

horses and advocating equine and livestock

issues as a director of the American Quarter

Horse Association. He also encourages local

youth to get involved with the ranching scene,

horse breeding programs and higher education.

McNelis’ children and grandchildren are avidly

involved with horse shows and horsemanship

competitions and have impressive experience,

including championship victories and AQHA

Board positions.

Like McNelis before them, these youngsters

are learning the hard work and appreciation

essential to becoming a successful horseman.

They are a living continuation of the

determination that has taken McNelis so far.

ed McNelis’ column, “sagebrush smoke,” appears in Intermountain Farm & Ranch, a weekly newspaper distributed throughout eastern idaho.

With a rich ranching culture, a large

network of breeders and a local

racetrack at Les Bois Park in Boise,

the Treasure Valley is a horse racing hotspot.

College of Idaho Alumnus Ed McNelis ’64 is

proud to be in the middle of the action, raising

and entering dozens of prize-winning horses

into races every year.

“Racing has a deep, rich history and a huge

future potential,” McNelis said. “It has a

wonderful story to tell.”

So does McNelis. Born and raised on a farm in

rural Nebraska, he learned early to respect hard

work, the fragility and luck of horse breeding

and his family.

“Horses were in my blood to begin with,”

McNelis said. “They have been a part of most of

my life.”

McNelis enjoys relating the following story

to illustrate his early relationship with and

lasting appreciation for horses: When McNelis

first moved to Idaho at age 8, his cousin gave

him a few glass starters for the game of marbles.

McNelis prized the marbles dearly, and he

gradually learned the stakes and the skills of

the game by watching his friends closely until,

little by little, he was able to win marbles from

other kids. Eventually, McNelis’ small handful

of marbles grew into an entire oats container

full of winnings. He learned from his experience

the significance of taking smart risks and

appreciating what he had, and took these

values with him into the businesses of banking

and horses.

When McNelis arrived at The College of Idaho

in the early 1960s, he continued to hone his

professional skills and business acumen. All of

the tools he needed for success in the equine

business were sharpened and encouraged,

including management, presentation, business

and leadership.

“The C of I has made all the difference in my

life,” McNelis said. “Everything I learned there has

been applicable to what I do now. I couldn’t be

more appreciative.”

As a result of his experiences at the College,

McNelis has made it a personal goal to recruit at

least one new student to the C of I every year. He

also is a strong believer in equine programs for

youth, including horsemanship programs, trailing,

rodeo and local shows. McNelis and his family are

heavily involved in these programs and look to

groom future generations of horse lovers who will

By ROByN SANOW

Former Idaho Horse Council president Ed McNelis ’64 spends time with Little Amy, his four-month-old Quarter Horse filly. Little Amy’s mother passed away, but the young filly was adopted by a Thoroughbred mother at McNelis’ stables in Nampa.

Ed McNelis’ horse Eyes Movin races to victory at Les Bois Park in Boise. Eyes Movin will run in a $100,000 race this fall at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Iowa.

alumni news

A Winning pedigree: Alumnus Ed McNelis ’64 thrives in the horse racing business


summer Fun

homecoming 2012 November 7–10

Go Yotes! The College of Idaho is building this year’s

Homecoming festivities around the annual rivalry game between the Coyote

men’s basketball team and NNU! Come to campus for a

weekend full of school spirit and activities, including tailgating, food and fun on the day of the game and the annual Alumni

Awards Dinner. For more information, call the Alumni

Office at (208) 459-5770 or visit

www.collegeofidaho.edu/homecoming

We hope to see you in November!

Aurora Kyle starts a game of soccer at the Alumni and Friends Picnic.

History majors gather during a GOLD alumni happy hour event at Highlands Hollow in Boise.

(above) Helen Strine and Dr. Gary Strine chat with the guest of honor at the Frank Specht Pasta Feed.

(right) Jasper LiCalzi and Steve Maughan serve up some fun at the Frank Specht Pasta Feed.

The College of Idaho welcomed successful fundraiser Jack Cafferty ’97 and long-time educator Sally Skinner ’78

to its staff this summer as director of development and director of alumni and parent relations, respectively.

Cafferty earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the C of I in 1997 and began his career in corporate

real estate at Albertsons Inc., cultivating acquisitions across a nine-state-territory. In 2001, he started working

for The Peregrine Fund as program executive. Cafferty in 2003 was named the Fund’s interpretive center

director, managing the operations of the Velma Morrison Interpretive Center and leading Treasure Valley

development activities. During his tenure, Cafferty orchestrated significant gifts from corporations, foundations

and private individuals for operating support, capital campaigns and planned giving.

The College always has remained a special place for Cafferty, who met his wife, Ashley, while they both were

pursuing degrees in biology. As director of development, Cafferty will manage the College’s fundraising office,

which currently is in the midst of its Advance The Legacy campaign to raise $175 million by 2016.

Skinner comes to the College after a 34-year career as a teacher and administrator in the Boise and

Meridian school districts. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education and

administration at the C of I in 1978 and 1981, respectively, and has remained active as an alumna ever since.

She first served on the College’s National Alumni Board in the early 1990s and recently returned to the Board

as a Treasure Valley area alumni representative.

Skinner also earned an education specialist degree in adult and organizational learning from the University

of Idaho and has long enjoyed teaching classes for teachers as well as working with students. As director of

alumni and parent relations, Skinner will oversee the College’s efforts to cultivate relationships with alumni

and friends, involve parents of current students and engage alumni in events both on and off campus.

college Relations hires two new directors

Sally Skinner ’78 is the new director of alumni and parent relations at The College of Idaho, while Jack Cafferty ’97 has been hired as the College’s director of development.

quest • page 22

Want to submit a class note? Quest would love to hear from you. Share your news at www.alumniconnections.com/yotes. Or, email us your information at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing about your accomplishments.

1960s

Dean Farley (’61) is enjoying retired life with his wife, Lola, in East Wenatchee, Wash. Farley’s career as a teacher and school administrator spanned 40 years and included stops in both Idaho and Washington. He retired for good in 2001 as superintendent of the Mackay, Idaho school district. Dean and Lola’s two children both work as school admin- istrators in the East Wenatchee area.

Jan Boles (’65) had artwork featured in “Sustenance: An Exhibition about Food by Idaho Artists” May 11–23 inside the Visual Arts Center at Boise State University. College of Idaho alumna Terra Feast (’02) and current student Rahul Sharma also contributed to the exhibition.

Dr. William Clark (’67) and his wife, Mary E. Houston Clark (’68) in May were honored as 2012 recipients of The College of Idaho President’s Medallion. William is the co-founder and longtime director of the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History, while Mary is a lifelong College and O.J. Smith Museum supporter who worked at the Idaho Department of Labor for more than 25 years.

Don Haagensen (’67) was featured on the cover of the 2011 Oregon issue of Super Lawyers magazine. Haagensen is an environmental attorney with the firm Cable Huston Benedict Haagensen & Lloyd LLP in Portland. He is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and often uses his background in oceanography to help him tackle cases involving hydroelectric projects and other environmental issues.

Leon Long (’63) will be inducted into the Idaho High School Activities Association Hall of Fame on Aug. 3, 2012 for his contribution to Idaho athletes and youth. Long was a coach and longtime athletic director for the Nampa School District.

Diana Thomas (’66) was elected mayor of the city of Weiser in November 2011. Thomas spent more than 30 years as a teacher, principal and superintendent in Idaho and Oregon. She also served for seven years as Washington County

Commissioner and spent one year as a representative in the Idaho State Legislature. Diana lives in Weiser with her husband, Mike.

1970s

Kay (Cottrell) Field (’78) in June was named the 2012 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by the State of Washington Bar Association. Field works for the free family law clinic at Pathways for Women/YWCA in Lynnwood, Wash., which she founded in 2002. She studied political philosophy at the C of I and earned her master’s degree and law degree from the University of Washington.

Dr. Kent Holsinger (’78) recently was named a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the highest faculty honor given at the University of Connecticut. Holsinger majored in biology at the C of I. Tim Rosandick (’79) has been hired as the new superintendent of Caldwell Schools. Rosandick, a graduate of both Caldwell High School and the C of I, previously served as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent in Caldwell. He has spent the past seven years as a superintendent in nearby Homedale. The Caldwell School Board announced Rosandick’s hiring in April and he began the job July 1.

Stan Zatica (’76) has been named to the board of the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture in Boise. Zatica studied business administration, marketing and management at the C of I and currently is the owner of Paul’s Markets in Homedale, Nampa, Caldwell, McCall, Kuna and Boise.

1980s Ray Lopes (’87) has been hired as an assistant coach of the Washington State University men’s basketball team. Lopes, who played basketball and majored in business administration at the C of I, has enjoyed a successful coaching career for more than 20 years, including head and assistant coaching positions at Fresno State University, the University of Idaho, Oklahoma University and the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Developmental League.

Mike Zollman (’88) has been named a vice president at Hill International, a construction risk management firm. Zollman joins the company’s

Construction Claims Group. He has more than 20 years of experience in construction claims and project management oversight. Zollman studied accounting at the C of I and also earned a law degree from Pepperdine University.

1990s

Bryon Farnsworth (’95) has joined the Denver law office of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP as a senior counsel. Farnsworth’s public finance practice concentrates on complex conduit and governmental bond counsel representations and health care financing. Prior to joining Fulbright, Bryon was a member with the law firm of Sherman & Howard LLC in Denver.

Chris Farnsworth (’93) on April 25 released his novel Red, White and Blood, the third installment of The President’s Vampire book series. To learn more about the books or to order a copy, visit Farnsworth’s website at www.chrisfarnsworth.com

Joshua Pilote (’98) was the inspiration behind a $5,000 gift from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to the North Idaho AIDS Coalition in Coeur d’Alene. Pilote works as a stage manager in New York City and is an active volunteer for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Sean Rogers (’94) has embarked on a career as a full-time music composer, arranger and traveling performer. Rogers, who plays piano and organ, has earned degrees in organ performance, piano performance, sacred music and religion from the C of I. Rogers is on tour this summer, playing concerts in more than 15 states.

2000s

Tim Callender (’00) has been named to the position of corporate counsel with AmeriBen/IEC Group in Meridian. Callender has spent the past seven years in various areas of the law, including a position as an assistant city attorney with the city of Boise and as an associate attorney with Foley Freeman, PLLC, in Meridian. In addition to earning his bachelor’s degree from the C of I, Callender earned his law degree from the University of San Diego in 2004.

Kate Comstock (’03) recently released her debut album as a jazz singer. The

album, Up!, is available on her official website at www.katecomstock.com Comstock majored in music at the C of I.

Samuel Elias (’04) is a professional climber who was part of a recent National Geographic adventure team that climbed to the summit of Mount Everest.

Maj. Eric Grunke (’01) recently was honored as the Marine Corps Aviator of the Year for his role in a rescue mission in Libya. Read more on Page 16.

Jeremy Johnson (’05) and Rachel Johnson (’03) are members of the Nashville country/folk band The Barrel Jumpers,

class notes

Singer Kate Comstock ’03 (above) recently released her debut album, while musician/composer Sean Rogers ’94 (below) is on a 15-state concert tour this summer.


which will record its first studio album this year. Become a fan of The Barrel Jumpers on Facebook to hear sample tracks and to learn more about the band. Jeremy and Rachel are siblings.

Marissa Price (’01) appeared in episode 19 of the hit NBC show Grimm on April 27. Price played a minor role as bereaved assistant Diana Massey.

Cassandra Schiffler (’07) displayed her new artwork, “Constructing a Visual Space,” during a First Thursday reception June 7 in Downtown Boise. Schiffler currently is the Artist in Residence for the Boise City Department of Arts and History’s AiR program.

Ineke (Wanders) Severa (’02) married Tony Severa on June 4, 2011. The couple has five beautiful children, and the family lives in Caldwell. Ineke works in marketing for St. Luke’s Health System and also is an active volunteer and board member of the Caldwell YMCA advisory committee. Tony is supervisor of the Caldwell and Wilder Grower Solution agri-business centers for Simplot.

2010s

Joseph Hilby (’10) has been commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. During his June graduation from Officer Candidates School, Hilby was awarded the prestigious Leadership Award from the Navy League, as selected by his OCS peers. Hilby is pictured with his father, Bruce Hilby.

Adam Nunez (’10) and Emily Manny (’10) were married on March 15, 2012, five-and-a-half years after first laying eyes on each other at the C of I freshman orientation in McCall. Adam will

graduate next spring with an MFA in fiction from the University of New Mexico. Emily is working with visually impaired elementary school students and plans to attend graduate school and study art history after Adam graduates. The couple currently lives in Albuquerque, N.M., but hopes to settle in the Northwest.

Ali Rabe (’10) has been awarded a Boren Fellowship to study in Cambodia. Rabe, a law student at William and Mary, is working as an intern for the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime in Cambodia until her fellowship begins in August. The highly competitive Boren Fellowship provides American graduate students with up to $30,000 to support study and research in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests. Rabe’s fellowship will support research, language development and exposure to international law that will help her pursue her goal of working for the U.S. government in Southeast Asia.

Jenna Raino (’12) has been accepted into graduate school at Southern Oregon University, where she will study environmental science and education beginning this fall. Raino also received an assistantship position that will help pay for tuition and living expenses.

Trisha Randazzo (’12) is participating in the prestigious NASA Ames Academy for Space Exploration in Moffett Field, Calif., which aims to provide opportunities for future leaders of the space industry. Read more on Page 17.

Campus notes

“The Hat” at The College of Idaho is a 2012 winner of an Orchids and Onions Award, given annually by Preservation Idaho to celebrate individuals and organizations that have made a positive contribution to historic preservation. The Hat, formerly known as College Heights Station, recently was renovated by the College and the Caldwell Historic Preservation Commission, with funding from the Idaho Heritage Trust.

FACULTY FOOTNOTES

Dr. Paul Blom, a research associate at the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History, and his wife, Gwen, welcomed a son, Samuel John Charles Blom, on April 19, 2012. Samuel weighed 9.0 pounds and was 20 inches long at birth. Both he and his mother are happy and healthy.

Dr. Robert Dayley (political economy and Asian studies) was the keynote speaker at a recent Northern Illinois University conference themed

“Building our Global Future: Teaching Southeast Asia to Undergraduates.” Dayley’s speech was titled “Using Discovery to Inspire Exploration: Teaching Southeast Asia at Liberal Arts Colleges.” Dayley earned his Ph.D. from NIU, which is home to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

John Rember, The College of Idaho’s writer-at-large, recently published a new book of stories titled Sudden Death, Over Time. Rember describes the book as a collection of “dark, seductive and broodingly ironic” short stories. It is available for purchase on the publisher’s website, www.wordcraftoforegon.com

STANDOUT STUDENTS

Hailey Bull (track), James Collet (tennis), Jocie Cracroft (golf), Jesse

Dodd (baseball), Trish Gibbens (golf), Andi Hayes (track), Bryan Hildebrand (baseball), Tanner Hodges (baseball), Meghan Hughes (basketball), Andrew Hugill (track), Jordan Huttash (softball), Cassie Low (tennis), Matt Malek (swimming), Molly Mills (softball), Nikki Shumway (softball), Chenjerai Simpson (tennis), Elynn Smith (track), Brett Ward (baseball) and Tyler Young (basketball) were named NAIA Scholar-Athletes this spring and summer.

James Collet (tennis) and Trish Gibbens (golf) were honored this spring as first-team Academic All-Americans. Collet becomes the College’s first two-time Academic All-American. Jesse Dodd (baseball) was named a third-team Academic All-American.

Izaac Garsez was named an NAIA First-Team All-American, becoming the second first-team honoree in school history. Garsez, a senior outfielder, also was named the NAIA West Player

The following alumni and friends of the College have passed away. When you learn of the death of a College of Idaho alumnus or alumna, please email the information to: [email protected]

1920s

Helen Lowell (’26)

1930s

Mary Baxter (’37)

Irene Bevington (’37)

Edna Conley (’39)

E. Hurd (’34)

Margaret Mattson (’39)

John Settle (’38)

1940s

Aayrelle Anderson (’41)

Elwood Becker (’45)

Francis Byer (’40)

Eldon Holcomb (’43)

Grace Iverson (’42)

Lila MacLeod (’48)

Eledes McConnel (’40)

Wilma Strasser (’46)

Warren Tolmie (’43)

Leo Wissel (’44)

1950s

Evaine Fehrer (’58)

Irene Jackson (’57)

Lorin Kenyon (’59)

Richard Mosman (’59)

Wayne Naylor (’51)

R.C. Owens (’58)

Dencel Pollett (’56)

Dale Ross (’52)

Elmer Thomas (’56)

1960s Obed Dahl (’60) Bruce Donnelley (’61)

Roy Griggs (’60)

Kathleen Lattimer (’69)

Miriam Terlisner (’65)

1980s

Rodney Pharris (’84)

Earl Williams (’80)

Friends

Joan Carley

Edmond Robert Mansoor

Forest McConnel

Terry Porter

Robert Stolz

Cathy Warren

George Weitz

in memoriam

quest • page 24

of the Year for the second consecutive season. He was joined on the 2012 All-NAIA West team by shortstop Tanner Hodges, catcher Jarel Lewis and pitcher Taylor Nicholson. Third baseman Jeffrey Harris and pitcher Chad Yeggy earned NAIA West Gold Glove honors. Lewis was an honorable mention All-American.

Ryan Gibson and Kendra Knighten are working as interns for Partners in Sustainable Development International this summer in the South Asia nation of Bangladesh. Gibson and Knighten both are majoring in political economy. The internship includes projects such as well building and tin roofing in rural Bangladesh and producing content for the PSDI website in the capital city of Dhaka. Follow what the interns are doing through their blog on the C of I website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/blog/bangladesh Felicity Jones this spring was named to the 2012 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball All-America Team. Jones earned honorable mention status after averaging 13 points and 5 rebounds per game while leading the Coyotes to the Cascade Conference Tournament championship.

Austin Mendiola and Nate Gier in May were named to the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League’s 2012 All-Conference team. Mendiola, a second-team midfielder, is the first C of I freshman to earn All-Conference honors. Gier, a senior defenseman, earned an honorable mention.

Molly Mills, Nikki Shumway and Nickayla Skinner were named All-Cascade Conference First-Team softball players. Mills, an outfielder, also was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches

Association All-NAIA West Region first-team, while outfielder Shumway and pitcher Skinner were named to the All-CCC Gold Glove team.

Luis Reyes and Mauricio Santiago are in Brazil carrying out their soccer-themed Davis Project for Peace, “Peace Me the Ball.” Reyes, an anthropology/sociology and political economy major from Peru, and Santiago, a business, language and culture major from Brazil, received $10,000 for the project from the Davis Foundation. Read more on page 15.

David Seppi is spending the bulk of his summer performing a service project in Costa Rica. Seppi, a junior majoring in math and physics, is in the midst of a 10-week trip renovating and building child-care facilities in conjunction with the International Volunteer HQ program, an independent volunteer organization based in New Zealand. Seppi lives with a host family and takes daily Spanish lessons. He will have the opportunity to help out at a wildlife turtle conservation center during his last week in Costa Rica.

Katy Stewart is working as a farmhand at an organic cheese farm in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Stewart, a senior from Coeur d’Alene, will be in Italy through Aug. 11, helping her host farm family raise and care for 500 sheep and 100 goats while learning the process of making traditional Italian cheeses. The project is part of Stewart’s senior honors thesis for her anthropology and sociology major. She will compare her experiences in Italy to her work on a local Idaho farm, from the way the animals are raised and fed to the methods used for harvesting, producing and selling farm goods.

Ben Tjaden is participating in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of North Texas this summer. The course offers students full room and board, a $4,000 award and the

opportunity to benefit from workshops in conjunction with research design and analysis on an international topic of their choice. Tjaden, a junior majoring in political economy, plans to study the Kurdish population in the Middle East. He will use what he learns to deliver a paper on the subject at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference next spring.

C of I graphic design instructor Michael Capell, students Reinaldo Gil and Kier Padilla and Capell’s wife, Brita, were part of the “Team Yotes” squad that captured the “People’s Choice” award at the July 4 Idaho Statesman Chalk Art Festival at Ann Morrison Park in Boise. “Team Yotes” created a colorful composition honoring the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The C of I speech and debate team enjoyed unprecedented success at the 2012 National Parliamentary Debate Association Championship Tournament, held this spring at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. The 48th-seeded Howlin’ Yotes defeated 17th-seeded Abilene Christian University and

49th-seeded Carleton College to advance to the round of 16, where they fell to eventual champion Washburn University. The C of I tied for ninth, the highest finish in school history. Participants included Kris Cruz, Tyler Guryan, Scott Culpepper and Skylar Hall. The Howlin’ Yotes are coached by Mack Sermon and Jerry Mooney. JOB CHANGES

Tracylea Balmer (’02) has been promoted to events director for the College’s Office of Special Events and Conference Services. Balmer formerly was the events coordinator and has worked for the College since 2004. Former director Maggie Colwell will continue in her position as President Marv Henberg’s executive assistant.

Dr. Lauren Brewer has been hired as an assistant professor of psychology. Brewer recently earned her Ph.D. in social psychology from Florida State University, where she also completed her master’s and bachelor’s degrees. She also has worked as a psychology instructor, research assistant and lab manager at Florida State.

Dr. Dennis Cartwright has retired as a professor of education and director of The College of Idaho’s education programs. Cartwright joined the C of I in 2006 and brought great vigor and professionalism to his multi-faceted role. Cartwright’s kindness and inimitable laugh will be missed greatly, but the College thanks him for his service and looks forward to continuing to benefit from his many contributions.

Dr. Scott Draper has been hired as an assistant professor of sociology. Draper comes to the College from Baylor University, where he has

campus notes

David Seppi is spending 10 weeks of his summer vacation performing a volunteer service project in Costa Rica.

Pitcher Nickayla Skinner was one of three softball players named to the All-Cascade Conference team.


campus notes worked as a sociology instructor since 2007. Draper earned his Ph.D. and master’s degree in sociology from Baylor. He also holds a secondary teaching license from Metro State College of Denver, an MFA in acting from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Wheaton College.

Dr. Ryan Francis has been hired as an assistant professor of exercise physiology. Francis received his Ph.D. in kinesiology from Michigan State University in 2010. He also holds a master’s in kinesiology from Michigan State and a bachelor’s in health science from Lock Haven University. Francis’ teaching experience includes work as a visiting lecturer at Skidmore College and positions as a teaching and research assistant at Michigan State.

Victoria Jaurena has retired after nine years as an instructor in modern foreign languages. Jaurena offered these thoughts about her tenure at the College: “These last nine years of teaching at The College of Idaho have been the most rewarding of my career. Nelson Mandela, while commenting on language in 1995, said, ‘Without language, one cannot hope to talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their history or savor their songs.’ My students have shared with me all of those things in my native language, and I am very thankful for that wonderful experience. I will miss very much the daily contact with the students and the wonderful friends I made among faculty and staff. For all of this, and the opportunities I was given, there in only one word I can say: ¡Gracias!”

Dr. Scott Johnson has been hired as director of the business and accounting program. Johnson comes to the College from the University of Greenwich in London, where he has worked as a lecturer and employer liaison for the business school since

2008. He also has worked as a professor at Southeast Missouri State University and San Jose State University in addition to several visiting lecturer positions. Johnson earned his Ph.D. in business administration from Arizona State University. He also holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fresno.

Frank Jones has been hired as an assistant professor of computer science and mathematics. Jones is completing a Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Colorado. He holds master’s and bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Idaho. Jones’ professional experience includes graduate assistant teaching at U of I and work as a National Science Foundation Fellow assisting Colorado high school students.

Ann Kuck (’75) has retired as registrar. Kuck held the registrar post for 21 years, and the College thanks her for more than two decades of outstanding service on behalf of the thousands of students and faculty members she assisted.

Freddie Loucks (’12) has been hired as the College’s audio-visual technician and support staff for the Office of Special Events and Conference Services. Loucks is responsible for event set up and AV duties. He graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in theatre.

Lonnie Marshall (’10) has been hired as the events coordinator for the Office of Special Events and Conference Services. Marshall comes to the College from United Way, where she most recently served as the community engagement coordinator.

Dr. Gregory McElwain has been hired as an assistant professor of religious studies. McElwain comes to the College from the University of Florida, where he received his Pd.D. in religion and philosophy while working as an instructor and graduate teaching assistant. McElwain holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical text from Abilene Christian University and a master’s in ethics from Vanderbilt University Divinity School. His wife, Alyson McElwain, also works at the College as an institutional research assistant.

Dr. Terah Moore has been hired as an assistant professor of education. She comes to the College from George Fox University, where she was co-chair for the Master of Arts in teaching program. She previously was a bilingual classroom teacher in the Nampa School District. Moore holds a Ph.D. in adult and organizational learning from the University of Idaho, a Master of Arts in education from Boise State University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a Spanish minor from Idaho State University.

Dr. John Ottenhoff has been hired as vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. Ottenhoff comes to C of I from the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, where he has served as vice president for the consortium of 14 liberal arts colleges since 2007. Prior to ACM, Ottenhoff worked at Michigan’s Alma College for nearly 20 years, serving as a professor of English, an English department chair and an associate provost. Ottenhoff received a bachelor’s degree in English from Calvin College in Michigan in 1972. He went on to receive his master’s and Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Chicago.

Susan Randolph has retired after 36 years as assistant registrar. Randolph helped keep the registrar’s office running smoothly for more than three decades and formed a great team alongside longtime registrar Ann Kuck. The College extends its sincere gratitude to Randolph for her countless hours of diligent work serving the C of I and its students.

Dr. Mark Smith is returning to the classroom after serving 10 years as the College’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. Smith, a professor of history, will resume teaching classes this fall. Smith is in his 23rd year at the College overall.

The 2012 winners of The College of Idaho’s Half-Century Life Achievement Award are, from left to right: Dr. Donald Mott ’62, Don Hendrickson ’62, Dr. Leroy Lewis ’62 and Dr. Dean Barnhouse ’62. The four recipients were honored during 2012 commencement festivities in May.

quest • page 26

STATSname Ray Marshall

year of graduation 1975 major History and American

Studies

favorite professors Frank Specht, Chris Eismann, Ralph Sayre, George Wolfe

professionAttorney and partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP in San Francisco, representing clients in both complex civil and white collar litigation cases.

The College of Idaho was the beginning of big things for alumnus Ray Marshall. After graduating in 1975, Marshall went on to Harvard Law School and has since become one of the most respected attorneys in California. He also is actively involved in community affairs and civil rights advocacy. This summer, Quest caught up with Marshall to discuss his career, C of I memories and his recent recognition as the 2012 winner of the Judge Learned Hand Award.

Quest: When did you decide you wanted to be a lawyer? Not until my senior year at the College. I was originally thinking of going into grad school for teaching, but Professor Eismann suggested to me that there were a lot of unemployed Ph.D. candidates at that time and asked me to consider going into law. I thought about it and ultimately met with George Wolfe and decided law school would be the better path for me. I applied and was lucky enough to be accepted into Harvard.

Quest: How did you feel about getting into Harvard? I was thrilled. Harvard had the name, the reputation, the mystique. It was clearly a big jump to go from The College of Idaho to Harvard on the East Coast, but I was excited, proud and confident that I had received an education that would help me do well there.

Quest: What kinds of cases do you handle, and what do you enjoy most about your profession? My work is extremely interesting, complex and filled with great diversity—I’ve handled cases dealing with the financial crisis of 2008, white collar crime

investigations, environmental litigation and pro bono work on behalf of civil rights organizations. But the thing I enjoy most is that the law is a service profession. At the end of the day, it’s about helping people during critical and often difficult times in their lives.

Quest: How do you feel about being selected as the 2012 Judge Learned Hand Award winner? It’s an honor. I am very happy to receive it, and very appreciative of the American Jewish Committee for the acknowledgement. The award is given for work promoting equality and civil rights across the board, so I am thankful that the AJC views me as someone who is helping afford people opportunities and equal rights in my community.

Quest: Tell us about your athletic career at The College of Idaho.I was a wrestler. I wrestled at 126 pounds, so I remember always being hungry between September and March (laughs). It was fun; it was a good outlet for me. The wrestling program was just getting started when I came to the College, but our coach Lloyd Hardesty was a good guy and I met a lot of great people through wresting.

Quest: How do you feel your C of I education has helped you succeed in your legal career? The College had good academic rigor. The small class size was a great benefit. My professors were supportive, but they also pushed and challenged me to excel. And they gave me the confidence that I could and would. I also think the emphasis on reading, writing and analytics was essential, because that’s what you do as a lawyer. I didn’t feel intimidated when I got to law school.

Quest: Do you have a favorite C of I memory? The thing I remember most is the people. People like George Wolfe, who was retired but served as my unofficial advisor while I was applying to Harvard. Also student dean Sue Weitz and my professors, such as Frank Specht and Ralph Sayre, who provided support and motivation to excel at the College. Those were difficult years for the College and, at times, for me. But I’m glad I stayed and I’m certainly pleased to see the College has weathered the storm. I’m very excited about the direction the College is headed, with continued emphasis on academics and diversity.

alumni profile


Share your feedback! Our goal is to make each issue of Quest better than the last. With that objective in mind, we created a short online survey to gather feedback from our readers. Please take a few minutes to share your ideas about Quest and let us know what we can do to improve the magazine. We thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from you!

To take the survey, please visit: tinyurl.com/7ou9rxx

For a complete schedule of events, please visit the Alumni Calendar at www.collegeofidaho.edu Event dates are subject to change. For more information or to RSVP for specific events, email [email protected] or call (208) 459-5770.

AUGUst 2012

10 McCall Alumni & Friends Event

22 Alumni & Friends Night at Idaho Shakespeare

Festival (Boise). To receive your C of I discount,

mention source code #3579 when you call the

box office at (208) 336-9221.

sePteMBeR 2012

12 Ada County Luncheon (Boise)

18 Half Century Luncheon (Simplot Dining Hall)

OctOBeR 2012


18 Alumni Book Club

NOveMBeR 2012

7–10 Homecoming 2012, featuring the United

Heritage Insurance Mayors’ Cup: NNU vs. C of I

men’s basketball game at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 inside

the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. For more

information and a full schedule of events, please

visit www.collegeofidaho.edu/homecoming

14 Ada County Luncheon (Boise)


alumni calendar

2112 Cleveland BoulevardCaldwell, Idaho 83605

The College of Idaho loves its yotes.

From football games in Simplot

Stadium to basketball contests in

Kirkpatrick Gymnasium and the J.A.

Albertson Activities Center, the

College’s student body, faculty, staff

and alumni have shown great support

for Coyote athletics over the years.

Today, the College has 19 varsity teams,

and attending games clad in school

colors and body paint remains a favorite

campus pastime. This photo shows

the C of I student section cheering on

the men’s basketball team during a 1971

home game. Then, now, and always,

Go yotes!

Quest is published by The College of Idaho. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.Editorial offices are located in Sterry Hall, 2112 Cleveland Blvd., Caldwell, ID 83605-4432. Telephone 208.459.5529. Email: [email protected] Opinions expressed in Quest are those of the individual author and do not neccesssarily reflect the views of the College administration or the Board of Trustees.

r e m e m b e r w h e n…

Quest Summer 2012

Documents

separate athletics

travails of athletics

college of idaho

college community

athletic glory fades

athletic prowess

football team

ones prime