Ahhh, fall. Can’t you just smell the freshly sharpened pencils? Or is it the smell of laptops these days? Regardless, it is good to be back at Sterling College. It’s been eight years since last I worshiped with students at chapel in Spencer Hall, or ate in the cafeteria at the Student Union or walked that long beautiful tree-lined sidewalk leading all the way across campus.
Now I find myself sitting in this amazing, historical office in Cooper Hall. It’s an emotional thing to be back. As I literally walk through these halls and across campus, I figuratively walk through thousands of memories. At times it is overwhelming and I admit to finding tears at the corners of my eyes.
This year is going to be outstanding and I invite you to come along. Please join us for activities in your area, reunions on campus, sending prospective students our way, the Kansas State Fair, networking with our students, Choir Tour and any of the other myriad of things that are coming. You’ll see some of them listed below.
However, we are not just about memories of days gone by, but the excitement that is happening on campus today. We’re also about things that are making new memories for the Sterling family. You’ll see some of those things listed below as well.
We are bringing back some old programs – like birthday gifts for alumni children when they are born, turn 5, 10 and 15. Please be sure that we have all of your children’s names and birthdates. We’re going to start honoring our sophomores again, with our Sophomore Mugging. We have new programs starting – like connecting our business alumni with our business students.
It’s exciting to be back, and a bit overwhelming. I can hardly wait to reconnect with many of you and meet the rest of you. We have great things to do together and I have no doubt that with God, we are going to thrive.
I welcome you to flip through your yearbooks, reconnect on Facebook and even stop by campus. I’m in Cooper Hall at the top of the stairs on the third floor (the former Education Department main office where Mrs. Enola Ward held court). Come by and we’ll have a cup of tea together as we remember the past, imagine and plan the future and perhaps even wipe those tears from the corners of our eyes.
-Amy Thompson '96, Director of Alumni Relations
NEW Facebook Page!
Due to the way Facebook is changing its Groups option, we have decided to move our official site to a page rather than a closed group. Everyone is invited to ‘like’ us and find out the calendar of events, see photos and video, connect with other alumni and the Alumni Office. There will be contests and fun ways to be involved. The former site is still there but will no longer be used or accepting members. It remains because there are some conversation lines that people may want to go back to periodically.
Not only is there a new Alumni page there are also pages for Sterling College, the chapel program, future students and SC parents. Feel free to friend your Alumni Director as well (Amy Thompson AlumniDirector – email alumni@sterling.edu)!
Come, Tell Your Story … October 14 and 15
The 2011 Homecoming activities will provide a wonderful setting to connect alumni near and far, from students, faculty, and staff to the greater Sterling community. There will be class reunions for the classes of 1951, 1956, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, and 2006. There will also be a Jim Chroust Era reunion that includes all classes from 1971 to 1991. Each class planning committee is communicating directly with class members with more details on reunion events as well as information being posted under the ‘events’ tab on our Facebook page.
One of the highlights of every Homecoming is the Alumni Banquet, where alumni awards are announced. There will be a special presentation at the reception prior to the Alumni Banquet is for the Fine Arts Hall of Fame induction. Also, this year’s Homecoming musical will be Children of Eden, the last Fall production Gordon Kling and Diane DeFranco-Kling will direct before their retirement at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year.
Alumni Healthcare Professions Forum, October 15
Dr. Greg Kerr, VP of Academic Affairs will be facilitating an Alumni Healthcare Professions Forum on October 14 - 15. The conversation focus will be on strengthening our pre-health profession curriculum and pipeline into graduate and professional schools. This forum will be an opportunity for alumni to learn about our program, provide guidance, help craft a vision, and meet with current students, perhaps even connect with other Sterling College alumni in the health professions. For more information and to RSVP, please see the Facebook page at or contact the Academic Affairs office at 620.278.4217.
ATTENTION ALL SC/CAMPBELL HALL ROWDIES:
You know who you are; you kilt wearing, face-painted warriors. We are encouraging you all to return to campus for Homecoming. Come grab some pancakes at the UP at 8:30 and then we can watch the parade together (or perhaps ride in it?!) at 930. The Homecoming Hangout is on the East Lawn of Cooper this year and lunch is sure to be tasty. Then, the reason you came together in the first place – WARRIOR FOOTBALL! SC plays Bethel College. Come out and make some noise! If you are interested in participating IN the parade, contact SGA President, Sarah Tucker at sga@sterling.edu.
Kansas State Fair
Be sure to stop at the Sterling College/Sterling Online booth at the Kansas State Fair 9 am to 9 pm, September 9-18. We’re in the southwest corner of the Meadowlark Building and will have prizes and fall athletic calendars. Admissions will be staffing the booth on Tuesday September 13 to celebrate all the high school bands that are performing at the fairgrounds – send your students our direction! If you would like to volunteer for a fun afternoon reconnecting with fellow SC alumni, please see the schedule on our Facebook page.
Athletic Training Education Program Earns National Accreditation
Sterling College is proud to announce that the Athletic Training Education Program has been given the Continuing Accreditation award by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. The athletic training program has met all of the nationally-recognized Standards for Entry-Level Athletic Training Education, to receive the highest award of reaccreditation for ten years. The CAATE commends Sterling College for its “commitment to the advancement of quality education in Athletic Training,” as well as its “dedication to the preparation of highly qualified Athletic Training professionals.” Read more
Not only was our program showered with cheers of excellence, Exercise Science Department Chair and Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), Pete Manely was recently named President Elect of NAIA Athletic Training Association. Read more
Prayer Warriors
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12
Many of you are familiar with the Prayer Warrior Program that has been at SC for many years. We want to invite those of you not already participating to request to be added to the list. You may receive the Prayer Warrior calendar, two months at a time, via email or USPS. Notify the Alumni Office at alumni@sterling.edu if you would like to be added to this list and which delivery you prefer.
New Scoreboards for Gleason
Sterling’s First Bank and JACAM agreed to provide funds for new basketball and volleyball scoreboards to meet the new NAIA regulations. “These new scoreboards accomplish two goals. They are a great representation of the excellence our athletic teams are striving to reach and we want to value our student-athletes as people and athletes and these scoreboards help show our appreciation for all their work and commitment to the mission of the college,” SC Athletic Director Gary Kempf said.
“Second, the new scoreboards offer our fans new opportunities to follow the statistical side of the game with who is in the game currently, point totals, and fouls. We also have a new message board that can update scores of other games, other Sterling teams, announce upcoming events, and thank sponsors. This is a wonderful opportunity to up-grade fan appreciation of the game.”
We are grateful for the generosity of these two Sterling businesses. In addition to meeting the NAIA regulation, these scoreboards are a significant upgrade to the current scoreboards. This gift affirms the important place these sports have at the college and fans that attend basketball and volleyball games and summer leagues and camps will enjoy them for years to come.
Events
It’s been said that as we gather together for Commencement, that is the final time we will all be in the same place at the same time. However, that doesn’t mean that we should not gather and gather we shall! We are traveling the countryside to share updates of the College, hear what you are doing these days and give away Sterling College memorabilia. Whether you live in the area or are traveling through the area, you are invited to any or all of the following events. More information can be found online under the ‘events’ tab on our Facebook page.
Friday, September 9, Alumni and friends are invited to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 309 SW 2nd Ave., Aledo, Illinois 61231. The program for the evening includes video testimony of alumni in the mission field of East Africa and how their Sterling education prepared them for service. The event will begin at 6:30 pm. RSVP by September 5 to norm_cheryl@hotmail.com or call 309-582-7781.
Saturday, September 17, “Warriors in the Woods” are invited to the Heather McCreery and Scott Carter residence at 1400 McCreery Lane, Estes Park, CO from 3 pm – 5 pm. President Dr. Paul Maurer, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Amy Thompson ‘96, and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dr. Marvin Dewey will be present for this event. RSVP by September 15 to davidscottcarter@gmail.com.
Sunday, September 18, Alumni and Friends are invited to “Warriors at the Springs” event from 3 pm – 5 pm, at Embassy Suites, 7290 Commerce Center Drive, Colorado Springs, CO. President Dr. Paul Maurer, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Amy Thompson ‘96, and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dr. Marvin Dewey will be present for this event. RSVP by September 13 to Amy Thompson ‘96 at alumni@sterling.edu.
Saturday, October 29, Alumni and Friends are invited to the Kansas Museum of History, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS, at 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm. Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, Amy Thompson ’96, will be present. Admission to the museum is free for alumni and families attending the Sterling event. The museum is open from 1-5 pm on Saturdays. RSVP by October 20 to Amy Thompson ’96 at alumni@sterling.edu.
Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kan., with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.
