Do you have a hard time remembering that you are here on this earth for a greater purpose? Our students are hearing this message repeatedly throughout the year in our chapels on Wednesday morning and Sunday evening. Campus Chaplain, Christian Dashiell ’02, has us listening to Scripture for testimony of who the Lord is in our lives.

That’s the short and sweet of it, of course. You are each invited to join us for chapel if you are in town Wednesdays at 10 am or Sundays at 7 pm. Come and worship with us!

A greater purpose. God’s purpose. That stills my heart and sets it racing all at once. I’m not just rambling along if I’m focusing on God and His word. He will direct my path. God’s word is full of promises for us. I’m working on being in the Word more and more. Some days are better than others. Then I hear testimony of some of our alumni and how God has encouraged, challenged and used them. People leaving a legacy behind in their family and career. People like the thousands who are raising their own children as well as foster children “in the way they should go.” People like the numerous scientists and medical and behavioral professionals working diligently to find ways to heal God’s people.

I’m moved. I’m moved to action in my life and in the world. I pray that you remember that you are here for a greater purpose. I hope that you see Sterling College as part of your greater purpose. Your support of SC is helping so many students see the greater purpose God has for them. You are helping make God’s love tangible to so many. Thank you, for your testimony.

Amy Thompson ‘96
Dir. of Alumni & Parent Relations

Convocation

Convocations are a time for the campus to come together to learn and reflect as a community. This spring semester there are four convocations scheduled. Students are required to attend two each semester. The community and alumni are welcome to join us if you are in town.

The first convocation of the semester was held the end of January and was presented by the Kansas Teachers of the Year. All convocations are Fridays at 10 AM in Culbertson Auditorium. At this time, convocations are not currently being filmed; however if you are interested in assisting to make this technology available to our students for their educational benefit and the benefit of the greater SC community, you may contact Dr. Marv Dewey, vice president of institutional advancement at 800.346.1017 or mdewey@sterling.edu.

February 17 - Black History Month Convocation. SC Alum Windell Middlebrooks will be speaking.

March 30 - Heritage Convocation. An enjoyable time to connect with Sterling College’s rich history, focusing on the legacy of the theatre and Diane DeFranco-Kling and Gordon Kling, retiring theatre professors.

April 27 - Honors Convocation. An opportunity to recognize student achievements.

Alumni Interview Series
This e-news was created a number of years ago to bless you with information about the current state of the College. We want to include things you, as alumni, want to read. We’ve heard from several of you that you would like to hear from other alumni and where they are today. This is the first of many such interviews that we hope you will enjoy.

Sterling College: When did you graduate from Sterling College?
Mary Trotter: 1969.

SC: What were your major and minor?
Mary Trotter: Biology and psychology, respectively. They’ve both come in handy over the years.

SC: What activities were you involved with while on campus?
Mary Trotter: The home economics club, Le Bon Ton, and SGA.

SC: What residence hall did you live in?
Mary Trotter: I lived in Evans as an underclassman and McCreery as an upperclassman.

SC: What are you doing now?
Mary Trotter: [Dr. Corky Trotter fs69, my husband, and I] run the Dodge City Round-up Rodeo. We have been raising money to fight cancer at the rodeos in Dodge. Saturday nights are huge. We partner with Wrangler in an initiative called, “Tough enough to wear pink.” We raised over $100,000 for Dodge City residents with cancer in the last year. Women are able to get free mammograms with our funds. We feel like we’re called to this. It’s not exactly mission work, but we meet a lot of good families. “We also work with a group called Circle of Hope, which functions by collecting donations to help folks pay for groceries and rent, etc. Corky and I work with our church youth group, too.
SC: You are married with children. What are their names? Did they go to Sterling College? We have three kids. Their names are Shannon Hare ’94 (FL), Courtney Bauer fs98 (McPherson, Kan.), and Seth Trotter (MO). We also have 5 grandchildren.

SC: Where do you live?
Mary Trotter: Dodge City, Kan.

SC: How did your experience and time at Sterling College shape you?

Mary Trotter: I think a lot of it was just the friendships and the people who I met who had a positive influence on me. They did introduce dancing while I was there. That was kind of fun.

SC: What did you enjoy or appreciate most about Sterling College?
Mary Trotter: The closeness, the smallness, the family atmosphere, you pretty much knew everybody. I liked that so much. Everywhere you went, you knew someone you could talk to or who could help you if you needed it.

_SC: Do you have any children or relatives who attend or work at the College now? _
Mary Trotter: No, but we have friends like Amy Thompson ’96 and Don Reed ’68.

SC: How are you remaining involved on the campus?
Mary Trotter: My husband worked with the Athletic Training team a couple of months ago. They came down here to get training in care for concussions.
Note: Dr. Trotter gave a donation this fall to pay for Impact, software that test baseline neurological functions in athletes after a concussion. He is a close friend and supporter of the Sterling College Athletic Training program.

SC: Do you mind if we include an email address so people can get a hold of you?
Mary Trotter: maryktotter@gmail.com

A Sterling College Fairy Tale

Once upon a time in Sterling, Kan., there lived a homecoming princess. Her name was Caitlin Magee, a kindhearted volleyball player from San Leandro, Calif. When she was nominated by her class to the 2011 homecoming court, she thought nothing of it. Ever humble, the princess lived day to day focusing on her school work, athletics, and resident assistant duties, never dreaming of what was ahead. When they nominated her, the campus could not have imagined that they had begun a new chapter in the story of the queens of Sterling’s past.

Every good fairy tale has a royal family, and Sterling’s is no different. This particular royal family’s story extends back 63 years and three generations. In 1948, Sterling College’s Homecoming Queen was freshman Marjorie (Tedford) Cunningham. She found her way here in pursuit of a higher education, one of sixteen women in her graduating class. Twenty-seven years later, Cunningham’s crown was placed on the head of her daughter, Louise (Cunningham) Magee. Louise was a junior at the College at the behest of her mother, Marjorie. Louise came back to campus another 36 years later to see her daughter, Caitlin Magee, crowned queen.

Had the tale ended there, it would have been interesting. However, the story goes on to inspire every girl who ever watched a Disney movie. Minutes before Magee’s coronation, Jordan Stineman of Salina, Kan., was announced king. The audience waited with bated breath to see if Stineman’s girlfriend, Caitlin Magee, would be announced queen. She was! As she bowed her head to receive the crown, Stineman turned to face her, got down on one knee and proposed. Amidst the cheers of well-wishers and the smiles and joyful tears of family, Magee agreed to marry him.

The happily ever after:
Today, Marjorie lives in Tulsa, Okla. She has five grandchildren. Louise is a high school English teacher in San Leandro, Calif. She is married to Randy Magee and they have three children: Bill, Caitlin, and Laura. Caitlin is a business major who will graduate in May 2012. She and Stineman plan to be wed in the summer following graduation. It seems that one can never know which ordinary lives will be touched by a fairy tale.

The family has spent time talking about how Sterling has shaped their heritage since Marjorie first arrived. All three of the women met their husbands here. Caitlin laughs and says, “We always joke that I am the favorite grandchild because I’m the only one who went to Sterling. It’s a place where all three of us have grown deeper in faith and in relationship with [Christ].”

--

Although it buzzed for weeks after Homecoming, the campus has since calmed down. However, with the recent arrival of the Sword in the Stone on Cooper Lawn, things seem to be shaping up for another fairy tale to begin.