Centralight, Central Michigan University Alumni Magazine, Summer 2026

Features Centralight

On the cover

CMU’s University Center was dedicated in 1960, added to campus to accommodate the growing number of students on campus. In 1984, it was named in honor of Norvall C. Bovee, a member of CMU’s administration for 30 years. Coming back to campus for a visit? Be sure to stop into the CMU Bookstore’s flagship location.

PHOTO BY ADAM SPARKES

Centralight is published three times each year by the Central Michigan University Office of Alumni Relations. It is printed by Walsworth Printing, St. Joseph, MI, and entered at the Mount Pleasant Post Office under nonprofit mailing. CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight. Copies of Centralight are distributed to alumni and friends of the university who are paid Gold Members or donors to CMU. A virtual edition of the magazine is available free online at go.cmualum.com/centralight UComm 12071–24,000+ (5/26)

9

Living on the Edge

Meet four CMU Chippewas who thrive on the thrill of adrenaline, from jumping out of planes and setting themselves on fire to climbing epic mountains and racing sled dogs across Alaska.

20

Big Picture

The annual Threads Fashion Show gives students the opportunity to design, model and produce a professional-level runway event. This year’s show, Avant Garden, brought a garden to life on the runway, capturing its full cycle from birth, to growth, to decay.

Executive Editor and Deputy Chief of Alumni Relations & Constituent Engagement

Marcie Otteman, ’87

Editor

Robin Miner-Swartz

Visual Media Director

Amy White

Graphic Designer

Erin Rivard, ’07, MBA ’16

Photographer

Megan Dunn

Lance Gascho, ’22

Maddi Hill, ’24

Steve Jessmore, ’81

Rod Sanford

Adam Sparkes

Evan Wishloff

Writers

Reuben Chirikure

Kevin Essebaggers, ’98

Jason Fielder

Terri Finch Hamilton, ’83

Melissa Foster, ’08

Ari Harris

Aaron Mills, ’02

Farirai Murwira

Robert Wang

Research Associate

Bryan Whitledge, M.A. ’19

Editorial Assistant

Alison Foster, ’25

Vice President for Advancement

Jennifer Cotter, ’01

Deputy Chief Marketing Officer for University Communications

Abby Dean, ’01

Executive Director for Strategic Communications

Ari Harris

For advertising information

Call Cindy Jacobs, ’93 (800) 358-6903

Send change of address information to:

Carlin Alumni House

Phone: (800) 358-6903

Fax: (989) 774-7159

Email: alumni@cmich.edu

And now for something completely different

Thrill-seeking alumni have a unique — and daring! — view of the world

Marcie Otteman, ’87, Executive Director of Alumni Relations

Bold. Outside-the-box thinker. Living on the edge. Risk taker.

All are terms used to define people who don’t follow the expected or ordinary path. These people see the world from a different angle — and it changes their entire perspective.

In this issue, you’ll meet some alumni who fall into this category. People who jump out of perfectly fine airplanes, climb mountains into the sky or stare down a sled dog pack while racing across the Alaskan wilderness. I hope their stories inspire you to challenge yourself and see what you might do if you look at the world through a different lens.

Speaking of different, we’ve got an exciting partnership to share between CMU and Gift of Life Michigan that will literally give the opportunity for our university community to save lives. It’s the first of its kind in the country, and we’re really fired up about it!

It’s summer on campus and we’re excited to see all the students joining us for orientation with their families and supporters. It’s a strong reminder of the circle of life we see here at CMU, saying goodbye to our graduates in May as they step into the world as CMU alumni and welcoming the next generation stepping onto campus to begin their own CMU journey.

I hope your summer is filled with lots of fun and adventure. If that includes a trip through Mount Pleasant, be sure to stop by the Carlin Alumni House and say hello!

We’re fired up for a Michigan summer with long days and beautiful sunsets. And we’re wishing the same for you.

Fired Up forever,

Stay FIRED UP

Connect with CMU alumni at upcoming Alumni Association events across the country! Find the complete schedule of in-person and virtual opportunities here: go.cmualum.com/alumni-events

Get SOCIAL

Follow our activities and updates on your favorite social channels:

Central Michigan University – Alumni

Fulfilling our mission, one success story at a time

CMU is preparing the next generation of leaders

There is no vantage point on Central Michigan University’s campus quite like the one I have on Commencement day. Looking out at the sea of caps and gowns, I see students celebrating an academic milestone and their boundless potential. The energy in McGuirk Arena is palpable. I can only describe it as a mixture of relief (especially among some parents), excitement, pride and the nervous thrill of the unknown.

However, the true joy of my role is not simply handing out diplomas. The best part is witnessing what happens next. The greatest delight for me, and for CMU’s dedicated faculty and staff, is watching our graduates transform into successful alumni.

At CMU, we are defined by the success of our graduates — it’s literally in our mission statement. We believe this so strongly that we created the Central Career Guarantee, which launched in January. This program is a promise to students that if they commit to the valuable preparation

and professional development we offer, they will step into the world ready not just to work, but to lead. Read more about it on Page 26.

CMU alumni are the living proof that what we do changes lives. Whether you graduated last fall or 50 years ago, your achievements are the metrics by which we measure our own success.

As we send another class of graduates out into the world, I am reminded that while their time at CMU may be ending, their connection to this community is permanent. Thank you for setting the standard high for them, and for always demonstrating the transformative power of a CMU education.

Fire Up Chips!

Neil MacKinnon, Ph.D. President, Central Michigan University

CMU TODAY

Health care access in Michigan to expand through new funding to CMU

Endowment, grant to benefit university’s mobile health clinic

BY JASON FIELDER

Hundreds of Michigan children and families will have increased access to preventive health care — and future health care providers will gain more hands-on training — thanks to new funding for Central Michigan University’s Mobile Health Central.

A $75,000 grant from the Towsley Foundation and a nearly $40,000 endowment established by CMU alumni Gary Russell, ’66, ’70, and Barbara Russell, ’66, ’70, will fund care such as immunizations and sports physicals in rural communities. The funding also will promote health equity and prepare the next generation of health care professionals to work effectively with underserved populations.

Mobile Health Central is a mobile medical unit that has expanded health care in underserved and rural communities for more than a decade. It is equipped for multipurpose care, staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and supported by students in CMU’s medicine, allied health, nursing, athletic training and physician assistant programs.

“People who live in rural communities are more at risk for disease and their life expectancy is lower because of a lack of access to care,” said Kathleen Hodgkins, director of clinical services in CMU’s CARLS Center for Clinical Care and Education. “Going into communities and providing care is rewarding, especially when we can offer it for free.”

The Towsley Foundation grant will provide school and sports physicals,

immunizations and basic health screenings over the next three years to families in rural, central and northern Michigan facing barriers to preventive care.

The grant will advance CMU partnerships with school districts, county health departments and community organizations. It also will promote health literacy and whole-family wellness.

The Towsley Foundation is a Michigan-based family foundation that works to maximize impact through organizations that strive to improve lives and communities.

The Gary and Barbara (Anderson) Russell Mobile Clinic Fund was created to provide future health care providers with hands-on educational experiences while also benefiting communities. The former teacher and school librarian have given more than $335,000 to CMU through the years, for causes that create positive change, provide student

experiences and expand awareness of the university. Their newest endowment will fund mobile health clinics, physicals, hearing screenings and other special projects.

Mobile Health Central was established in 2014 through a generous gift from The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. •

CMU TODAY

Central’s cybersecurity program ranked one of the best in Michigan

Cybersecurity Guide honors CMU’s work to prepare graduates to meet the ever-growing industry needs

BY ROBERT WANG

CMU’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program has been ranked one of the best in Michigan in the 2026 Best Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Programs rankings by Cybersecurity Guide.

The ranking evaluates cybersecurity bachelor’s programs across the state using key performance indicators such as student-to-faculty ratio, graduation and retention rates, and tuition costs.

Pat Kinnicutt, chair of CMU’s Department of Computer Science, said the ranking

Turning volunteerism into leadership in action

How Business Residential College students are giving back to the Mount Pleasant community

BY FARIRAI MURWIRA

On any given weekend, CMU business students serve meals, clean barns, organize donations or prepare buildings for whatever the next season will bring.

They aren’t doing it for class credit. They’re doing it because they believe leadership starts with service.

For Emma Cummins, an event and recreation management major from Livonia, that belief guides both her academic path and her role as philanthropy coordinator for the Business Residential College. Now in the second semester of her sophomore year, Cummins has already helped lead dozens of service initiatives that connect

reflects the program’s comprehensive and forward-looking curriculum.

“We are pleased and honored to be listed as one of the top B.S. cybersecurity programs in Michigan,” Kinnicutt said. “Our program is designed so that when students graduate, they not only leave with the skills to detect and defend against cybersecurity attacks, but they also gain the technical expertise to design and review software solutions that help prevent attacks from occurring.”

Artificial intelligence is also a main focus of the program, Kinnicutt said. “Students learn the underlying concepts of AI while also using AI to aid in cybersecurity prevention and defense.”

CMU’s cybersecurity program emphasizes both defensive and proactive strategies, preparing graduates to address current threats while developing

secure systems designed to mitigate future risks. The integration of artificial intelligence concepts further positions students at the forefront of emerging technologies within the cybersecurity landscape.

As demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals continues to grow nationally and globally, the ranking underscores CMU’s role in preparing graduates to meet industry needs and contribute to a more secure digital future. •

This year alone, BRC students have supported a wide range of community partners, including Isabella County Restoration House, Hopewell Ranch, Friends of Veterans Memorial Library, Zonta Apple Fest, Karma Kat Café and local can drives benefiting Ganiard Elementary and the Oiler Pack therapy dogs.

For Cummins, volunteerism is especially important for students preparing for careers in business.

business students to the Mount Pleasant community.

“The mission of the Business Residential College is to provide an enriching academic living-learning community. We value active participation, service leadership, and networking opportunities that connect students both personally and professionally,” she said. “To us, it is more than just words; we make it a point to live by them.”

Business careers are built on relationships. Serving others helps students better understand people — and themselves.

Service also sharpens practical skills that employers value including communication, teamwork, adaptability and empathy.

“These service opportunities help students develop skills and values that extend beyond the classroom because they provide a different perspective on life,” Cummins said. •

Inaugural Financial Planning Invitational

debuts at CMU

Competition bridges the gap between academic theory and industry expertise

BY REUBEN CHIRIKURE

CMU hosted its inaugural Financial Planning Invitational in Grawn Atrium in April, bringing together student teams from universities across the region — including Michigan State University, Calvin University, Northwood University, Spring Arbor University, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and Cornerstone University — for a competition designed to mirror the realities of a professional financial planning career.

Organized by the Financial Planning Association at CMU, the student-led event challenged teams to analyze real-world client cases, present recommendations to professional judges, and apply both technical and interpersonal skills central to the profession.

“It’s more than just a competition. It’s an opportunity for them to learn from and network with experienced professionals,”

Research sheds new light on how brain responds to stress

‘Bold’ and ‘shy’ zebrafish demonstrate diverse coping styles

BY ROBERT WANG

Why do some people seem better equipped to manage stress than others? New research from CMU suggests the answer may lie in the brain’s chemistry.

Peter Dijkstra, a faculty member in the Department of Biology at CMU, collaborated with Ryan Wong of the University of Nebraska at Omaha on a study examining how different stresscoping styles affect the brain’s biological response to stress. Their findings provide new insight into how the brain protects itself from stress-related damage.

The project was funded through the Nebraska INBRE (IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence) program, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) IDeA (Institutional Development Award) initiative

said Mark Potts, finance faculty member and personal financial planning program director.

“It complements well what we do in the classroom. And from a CMU perspective, it’s a credit to the students that this was their idea, their concept and their execution.”

A defining feature of the invitational was presenting as though judges were clients.

“It correlates very closely with my

supporting biomedical research and student training.

The researchers used zebrafish lines selectively bred for different responses to novel environments, categorized as either “bold” (proactive) or “shy” (reactive), based on how they behaved in a new environment. Just before collecting brain tissue, the fish were briefly exposed to a novel environment to induce a stress response. The team then measured stress-related chemical changes in the brain.

Stress is known to increase reactive oxygen species, which are unstable molecules that can damage brain cells if they are not properly controlled. The brain relies on antioxidant defenses to

professional work,” said Ryan Iles, CFP, financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, competition judge and 2011 CMU alumnus. “I think it’s the blend of technical competency with the human element and the interpersonal skills.”

Supported by industry sponsors and professional judges, the invitational reflected the kind of hands-on, relationship-driven learning that defines CMU’s personal financial planning program. •

counteract this damage, but the role of coping style in these defenses has not been well understood.

“What interested us was whether behavioral coping strategies map onto real biochemical differences in the brain,” Dijkstra said. “Our results suggest that individuals who are more reactive to stress may actually have stronger antioxidant defenses.”

The study found that stressed zebrafish showed increased antioxidant activity, particularly higher levels of glutathione, a molecule that helps protect cells from damage. Shy fish consistently showed greater antioxidant capacity than bold fish, suggesting a built-in protective mechanism that may help limit stress-related harm.

“This collaboration has been scientifically exciting and deeply rewarding from a training perspective,” Dijkstra said. “It’s a great example of how cross-institutional partnerships can advance discovery while mentoring the next generation of scientists.” •

CMU TODAY

National Science Foundation grant expands meteorological STORM field research

Program at CMU’s Biological Station on Beaver Island provides faculty, students with immersive opportunities

BY ROBERT WANG

Faculty members in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Central Michigan University have secured new funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand the Student Training for Observational Research in Meteorology (STORM) program, an immersive field research experience designed for rising sophomore meteorology majors.

Jason Keeler and Daria Kluver received the NSF award to broaden the reach of STORM and expand early-career experiential learning opportunities in meteorology. Collaborators include Matt Johnson and Collin DeYoung of CMU, along with Wendi Flynn of the University of Northern Colorado.

STORM is a field research experience held each August at CMU’s Biological Station on Beaver Island. The program provides students with hands-on training using professional meteorological equipment, including mobile mesonets (instrumented weather research vehicles), radiosondes (weather balloons), drones and surface weather stations.

Unlike many atmospheric field research opportunities that are typically reserved for juniors, seniors or graduate students, STORM is designed specifically for students who have completed their first year and are entering their sophomore year.

Since its launch in 2019, the program has expanded and now supports 18 students annually. Thirteen participants are from CMU, and five are from the University of

Students use weather balloons (top) and drones to conduct field research for the STORM program, an immersive field research experience for rising sophomore meteorology majors.

Northern Colorado, accompanied by one faculty member.

The Beaver Island location provides a natural laboratory for studying boundary layer and mesoscale phenomena, including lake breezes and island-induced weather modification.

Students observe atmospheric processes in real time and later analyze those processes in upper-level coursework. •

LIVING ON the Edge

Meet four adrenaline-chasing alumni who thrive on thrills

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

They’ve been set on fire, leaped out of airplanes, climbed 2,000 grueling vertical feet and traveled thousands of miles by dog sled in brutal subzero temperatures. What have you been up to lately?

These alumni adrenaline junkies aren’t out to make the rest of us feel like sloths. They’re just wired this way.

As Hollywood stuntwoman Jessi Fisher, ’02, mused: “For some people, what’s in front of them isn’t enough.”

Meet four adventurous alumni who share why they dare. Inspired? Go for it.

As mountain climber Matthew Spence, ’89, likes to say: “We’re all capable of more than we think.”

‘LESSONS FROM THE WALL’

Matthew Spence, ’89, had been climbing uphill for nearly 28 hours when his foot slipped on loose gravel and a jolt of sharp pain shot up the back of his left leg.

This wasn’t part of his plan.

He was attempting to climb the vertical equivalent of Mount Everest — 29,029 feet — by scaling a ski mountain in Sun Valley, Idaho, 15 times in a row. He had 36 hours to complete the event, called the 29029 Everesting Challenge. This was his 12th ascent. Three more to go. The clock was ticking. Should he quit? Or keep going?

“When you’re spending 36 hours climbing straight uphill, you’ll want to quit,” Spence said. “Your body is suffering and breaking down. Your brain will try to protect it by saying, ‘Why the hell are you doing this?’ ”

Why the hell was he? More on that in a bit. Meanwhile, he had a crucial decision to make.

“I had a choice: do I let the pain stop me or do I let it be part of my story?”

We love suspense as much as the next guy, but Spence wrote a book about the experience called “Lessons from the Wall: 15 Things I Learned About Leadership & Life by Doing Something Really Hard.”

So, it’s part of his story.

“The Wall” is a punishingly steep stretch near the summit of that Sun Valley ski mountain. Spence uses the lessons learned there in his work as an executive coach, encouraging high-achieving leader types to dig deeper, test their limits, do the hard things.

Need motivation? He’s pretty good at it.

‘I wanted to do something big and bold’

Spence, who lives in the San Francisco Bay area, has done these Everesting challenges three times — in Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado. His fourth attempt will be in June in Washington near Mount Rainier.

After that painful hamstring injury in Sun Valley, you might figure he’d hang up his hiking poles and switch to a more relaxing pursuit, maybe yoga.

Oddly enough, he was doing yoga a few years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic when he injured his back so badly, he was in bed for four months. Which brings us back to that “why the hell?” question.

He had two reasons.

“I wanted to reclaim my body after a back injury that made me think I might never be active again,” he said. “I wanted to do something big and bold to say, ‘I’m back.’ ”

Secondly, several men in his family died young from illness.

“I wanted to honor those men in my life and show my two sons we can be healthy and live long lives,” he said.

He’s had other adventures.

Spence once signed up for a triathlon that included an open-water swim — and he didn’t know how to swim. He learned by race day “but that morning, I was terrified.”

But something changed on that Sun Valley mountain.

“The marathons and triathlons I did in my 30s were about me trying to prove something to other people,” he said. He paused for a minute.

“I was a scrawny kid,” Spence said. “I was picked on, bullied.” He was the last kid at recess picked for flag football.

“Those marathons I did were me pounding my chest trying to prove myself to the world,” he continued. “What’s different now is that I don’t care what other people think. It’s about what I can learn about myself.”

Climbing 29,029 feet in 36 hours, testing his grit and attacking goals, he said, “I feel more whole.”

Training for life started at CMU

Spence didn’t always dream of conquering mountains. He majored in theater and broadcasting at CMU, planning a career as an actor. He even spent a semester in London studying acting.

After graduation he moved to San Francisco and landed a job in a theater troupe that performed educational plays about AIDS at high schools and youth shelters.

His favorite part was the live question-and-answer sessions with students afterward.

“I realized I liked the live interaction with audiences better than performing as a character in a play,” he said. “I liked thinking on my feet, providing information that could drive positive change.

“It took me a while to figure out how I could do that and make a living.”

Things worked out. A retail job at The Gap transitioned into facilitating leadership classes for the company.

Spence kept learning, training and earning professional certifications in leadership development.

He led learning and development teams for some of the nation’s biggest companies — Nike, Meta, Levi Strauss & Co. — before starting his own business.

His training started at CMU.

“Without the skills I learned in the theater program at CMU, I never would have been able to do what I do today,” Spence said. “I’m comfortable on any stage — small, medium or large — presenting skills, thinking on my feet, being comfortable and confident to present myself in any situation.”

His improv classes were a life skill, he said. “You learn to take what’s thrown at you and figure out what to do with it.”

Do the hard things

“Find something bigger than what you think you’re capable of doing,” Spence said. “It doesn’t have to be physical. It could be playing guitar. We’re all capable of more than we think.”

Most people don’t seek out hard things, he said.

“We seek comfort. On vacation, we go to the spa or to the beach. But that’s not how we were designed. We used to have to do hard things in order to survive.”

He recommends it.

“I’m 58,” he said. “I know life will throw harder things at me in the coming decades. If I can build deep resilience now, I can face what I’ll need to face.”

Back on that mountain in Sun Valley, when searing pain shot through his hamstring, Spence was evaluated at a medical tent, massaged, iced and taped, and cautiously advised by a physical therapist that if he climbed slowly and could manage the pain, he might be able to complete the challenge.

He kept climbing.

“If I chose to quit halfway through, I’d come out a different person,” he said. “What impact would that have?”

He doesn’t know.

FEARLESSNESS IN THEIR GENES

Jessi Fisher, ’02, has tumbled out of exploding cars, plummeted from tall buildings and been set on fire.

A Hollywood stuntwoman for the past 13 years, she gets paid to be in peril.

“There’s something absolutely exhilarating knowing you’re so close to danger,” she said.

Jessi’s dad, John Fisher, ’70, ’71, must worry about her. Then you learn he’s leaped out of airplanes from 11,000 feet 2,180 times.

“It’s not that they have no fear,” said Jeanne Fisher, ’71, Jessi’s mom and John’s wife. “They’re willing to set their fear aside for the sense of adventure and thrill.”

Jessi has been in a multitude of movies and TV shows, from “Ghostbusters,” “Jason Bourne” and “The Terminator: Dark Fate” to “The Walking Dead” and “Stranger Things.”

You might not recognize her, though. She often wears a wig. She’s doubled for dozens of actors, including Kristen Wiig, Linda Hamilton and Elizabeth Banks.

She tells about working on the film set for “Mile 22,” a 2018 action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg. Jessi was the stunt double for actress and mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey and would come tumbling out of a car as it exploded and launched into the air.

As the special effects team carefully rigged the car with explosives, they cautioned the cast and crew to stay far back from the action.

“They were shouting, ‘Everybody stay back! Stay back 100 yards from the car!” Jessi said. “Then they motioned to me and said, ‘OK, get in.’ ”

She laughed.

“You start to question your life choices.” Maybe they’re not so much choices, she mused, as destiny.

“There has to be something, a gene or a personality trait,” that draws some people to adventure, she said. “If you need a level-headed mathematician, that’s not me. That’s the beauty of life. Everybody brings something different to the table.

“You do something exciting once and it becomes a pivotal moment,” Jessi said. “But I get a lot of this from my dad.”

John Fisher’s leaps of faith

Jessi’s dad retired from CMU in 2015 after a long career that started as assistant manager of the campus bookstore and ended as associate vice president of residences and auxiliary services.

His first skydive was in 1971 in the Army when he checked out the skydiving club out of boredom one day.

“I had no fear of it,” John said. “But I had this terrible sensation of falling when I left the plane.” (Who says auxiliary services guys have no sense of humor?)

John completed 75 club jumps while in the Army, in the U.S., Germany and France, but when he returned to the states, “I never thought about skydiving again.”

Life got in the way. He was busy working at CMU and raising Jessi and her younger sister, Jillian.

Then Jessi told him she wanted to skydive for her 18th birthday.

Thrill, that temptress, lured him back in.

The next thing you know, John bought his own parachute rig and was ducking out to the Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport for lunch-hour leaps.

Not many people knew about John’s daredevil exploits, so when he parachuted into Kelly/Shorts Stadium one Saturday to deliver the game football, “it surprised a lot of people,” he said. “It was pretty exciting.”

“It gave me goosebumps,” Jeanne said. At age 79, John still does 100 jumps a summer.

“I’m one of the oldest guys there whenever I go,” he said. “I’ll do it as long as my body holds up.”

Why?

“The adrenaline rush,” he said.

Dad and daughter daredevils

Jessi and her dad have always thrived on thrills and speed, hurtling down ski mountains together, riding motorcycles, tackling the tallest roller coasters.

Jessi majored in hospitality and tourism (there wasn’t a major in defying death) but that was too tame for her ambition.

On a family trip to SeaWorld, sure, the dolphin show was fun, but Jessi was transfixed by the human performers doing high dives, water skiing tricks and aerial acts.

A gymnast since age 2, “I wanted to do that,” she said. SeaWorld soon hired her. Jessi went on to perform at state fairs and theme parks, traveling to China, South Africa and Taiwan.

“I was basically a carnie,” she said. “I loved it.”

Then she achieved the performer pinnacle: a coveted job at Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, performing in the stunning aquatic acrobatic show “O” at the Bellagio Hotel.

One day the stunt department from “The Hangover III” movie filming in Vegas came to see the show. Jessi led them on a backstage tour and got a thrilling invitation.

Did she want to be an extra in the movie? Not surprisingly, she did.

After impressing everybody with her years of acrobatic experience, Jessi landed a stunt performer contract that usually takes years to achieve.

She moved to Los Angeles and trained with experienced stunt pros, learning about fighting, falling and camera angles. The fire safety training alone took months. Now Jessi’s IMDb page is packed with nearly 100 stunts and a demo reel of her on fire, being punched and crashing through glass.

She lives in Florida and Georgia, traveling to sets as needed and spending most

mornings at the gym to stay in shape.

How much time does she spend in the hospital?

“In 13 years of stunt work I’ve never had a major injury,” she said. “Safety is one of the biggest aspects of the film industry. We specifically train to mitigate danger.”

So, her husband doesn’t worry about her?

That “Mile 22” movie she talked about earlier? Her husband, Mike Jamorski, was Wahlberg’s stunt double.

A ‘springboard of encouragement’

When Jessi talks about her time at CMU, the stunt pro uses words like “springboard” and “safety net.”

She spent more time there than most of us, with her dad on staff.

“I spent my whole life growing up at CMU,” she said. “I felt safe and at home there. That safety net of support gave me the confidence to step out of my small-town comfort zone and move toward something less secure. It was a springboard of encouragement.

“I’m so grateful to have had that, along with a supportive family and a strong faith,” she said. “Otherwise, it might have limited what I was willing to risk.”

John and Jessi went skydiving together a couple of times. Once, as they plummeted toward the ground, John maneuvered over to his daughter in midair.

“I grabbed her hands and gave her a kiss,” he said. “That was the coolest thing.”

It was, Jessi agreed.

“It was the coolest experience in the world to have with your father.”

DOGGED DETERMINATION

The first time Keaton Loebrich, ’22, raced the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, things went wrong from the very beginning.

His truck broke down on the way to the start. His sled runner snapped in half. He had to send one sled dog home early with a toe injury.

Then, things got challenging.

The famous 1,000-mile race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, covers treacherous terrain, with racers enduring subzero temperatures and sudden, intense blizzards that make it impossible to see.

It’s a grueling 10 days or so of rigor and resilience, navigating a rugged landscape of tundra and forests, over mountain passes, across rivers and sea ice.

“Your mental faculties aren’t working the way they should,” Loebrich said.

“You’re not getting the hydration or the calories you need. There’s very little sleep. And 30 mph sustained wind in your face is horrible. I was often miserable out there.”

Then, a couple of months ago, he packed up his excited dogs and his sturdy gear and did it all over again at Iditarod 2026, facing a storm along the way so treacherous that race organizers required mushers to stop at a safe checkpoint for 34 hours to wait out the blizzard. Loebrich came in 27th place out of the 29 finishers, windburned and smiling at the Nome finish line.

He needs adventure like he needs air.

“I have to be out here doing something like this,” he said from his home in Fairbanks. “It makes life worth living.

“The most surprising thing is once you get into the rhythm of it, it’s not that bad.”

We’ll take his word for it.

Hooked on Alaska

How did a guy from Midland with a finance degree from CMU end up living a rustic life in Alaska with 23 sled dogs and a craving for wilderness adventure?

It took one visit.

In spring 2021, before his senior year at CMU, Loebrich landed a summer job giving Jeep tours near Denali National

Park. He flew to Anchorage then took an eight-hour train ride to Denali through snowy peaks and pristine forests. He was captivated.

Then he met four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King and his team of engaging sled dogs.

“It took everything in me to go back and finish school,” Loebrich said.

The day after commencement, he headed to Fairbanks.

Now, Loebrich and his wife, Erika, own Star Gazers Racing, where they train 23 Alaskan husky sled dogs and hit the snowy trails.

He adores his athletic canines.

“They want to run more than anything in the world,” he said. “It’s incredible what these dogs are capable of. They have the most endurance of any animal on the planet.”

These impressive huskies are powerful, fast, tough. Three of his are named Cookie Dough, Button and Spicy Tuna Roll.

Turns out they’re also big fluffy cuddle puffs.

“You could take any of my dogs home and they’d be the best dog you’ve ever had,” Loebrich said. “They’re smart, well behaved, lovable. You’d never know what badasses they are out on the trail.”

He gets emotional talking about them.

“It brings me to tears, how incredible they are,” he said. “I love seeing the joy in their eyes when we’re out there running. They love this way more than I do. They’re what keeps me doing this.”

That, and something else that turns Loebrich into a bit of a poet.

“It gets tough out here, but I think how fortunate I am to be able to do something so incredible,” he said. “The return you get outweighs the pitfalls.”

He paused for a minute.

“Mushing is like a microcosm of life,” he said. “There are incredible ups and downs. You know the downs will pass. You keep moving. It makes you better at living life and dealing with the challenges that come along.

“Out there, just to live is challenging.”

Caring for his crew

Good gear helps. And the distraction of caring for a team of dogged furry athletes.

“When you see what your dogs are willing to do for you,” he said, “it makes you want to do everything for them.”

Loebrich preps their meals of fish, chicken, beef, fat balls and kibble. (They get steak after the finish line.)

He massages their muscles and rubs ointment on their feet to soothe their paw pads.

He and his dogs spend equal time running and resting on the Iditarod Trail, he said — six hours running, then six hours resting.

“The dogs are getting more rest than I do,” he said. “As soon as that straw hits the snow they’re out, snoring. They completely charge their batteries. But I’m working. Getting the food ready for the dogs, repairing my sled if it needs work, repacking the sled. You get maybe 90 minutes of sleep.”

The hardest thing is getting out of that sleeping bag, he said. “You just want to keep sleeping.”

“It’s incredible,” he said. “It becomes almost a spiritual adventure. You’re seeing the most gorgeous scenery with your best friends in the world.”

He’ll happily show you that gorgeous scenery. Loebrich leads scenic tours in the summer and sled dog tours in the winter.

“I love sharing Alaska with people,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like working. I love it when people get it — when I can see that they feel the way I did when I first came out here.

“Every day I’m living in a painting.”

Loebrich, a former Marine who studied astrophysics before his time at CMU, competes in other challenging events, too, including Yukon Quest Alaska, an arduous sled dog race often described as tougher than the Iditarod.

It feeds his soul.

“Working in an office 40 hours a week sounds like the worst thing,” Loebrich said. “I have to be out here doing this.” •

CMU Professional Development o ers short courses, certificates, and training to help you build skills, grow your career, and stay competitive. Whether advancing or exploring something new, we’re here for what’s next. Your career doesn’t stop after a degree AND NEITHER DO WE.

online.cmich.edu/pd

Finding fashion in

The annual Threads Fashion Show featured the theme Avant Gardens, drawing inspiration from garden aesthetics. The student-run show allows both designers and guests to interpret the theme in their own unique way, resulting in a range of creative perspectives.

UNPRECEDENTED PARTNERSHIP

‘Central Michigan University is redefining what leadership looks like’

BY MELISSA FOSTER, ’08

PHOTOS BY ROD SANFORD FOR GIFT OF LIFE MICHIGAN

Central Michigan University is taking an extraordinary step to make saving lives easier than ever for its staff and faculty.

Through a historic partnership with Gift of Life Michigan, CMU employees were able to register as organ, eye and tissue donors through the university’s annual April employee benefits enrollment.

The partnership provides a simple and seamless way for them to say yes.

CMU is the first employer in Michigan — and the first college or university in the nation — to integrate donor registration into annual health benefits enrollment, setting a new national standard for workplace engagement in donation.

“Central Michigan University is redefining what leadership looks like in public health and community engagement,” said Dorrie Dils, president and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s federally designated organ and tissue donation program. “CMU is creating a meaningful opportunity for

Michiganders to say yes. The easier we make it, the more lives we can save. We hope other employers and colleges are inspired to do the same.”

A culture of advocacy

CMU’s commitment to donation extends beyond this initiative.

Last year, it registered a student organization dedicated to raising awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation. It did so under the leadership of second-year student advocate Erika Thomas from Stanton.

Erika’s father, Erik, died waiting for a heart transplant and became an organ and tissue donor, saving the lives of others. She has become the most active college voice for donation in Michigan — inspiring fellow students to learn more about it, sign up and share their decisions with family.

“The fact that it’s all coming together while I’m here is so exciting,” Erika said. “I get to make an impact for Gift of Life while I’m a student on campus, it’s just an amazing thing to be a part of.”

Champions

of donation

Gift of Life recognized CMU’s groundbreaking partnership and Erika’s advocacy at its 2026 Champions Gala in May. The university received the Community Partnership Award and Erika was given the Honoring Life

Through Donation Award — one of the organization’s most prestigious. The annual awards celebration recognizes people, institutions and organizations making meaningful contributions to promote organ, eye and tissue donation.

Expanding access, saving lives

About 2,700 patients in Michigan are waiting today for a life-saving organ transplant. Roughly 2,300 are waiting for kidneys. Others need a heart, liver, lungs or pancreas.

While Michiganders can join the registry at the Secretary of State, online or when filing state income taxes, CMU’s integration creates one more pathway to make a life-saving decision.

The partnership aims to normalize the conversation about donation and make signing up easier than ever before.

At a press conference about the partnership in March, CMU President Neil MacKinnon said the university looks for new ways to serve people and communities, and this first-of-its-kind initiative aligns perfectly with CMU’s mission, values and strategic goals.

To learn how your workplace can save lives, email Betsy Miner-Swartz at bminerswartz@golm.org.

Honoring her father’s legacy

When Erik Thomas died in 2018 while waiting for a heart transplant, his daughter Erika faced a loss that could have defined her in silence. Instead, she chose purpose.

Though a transplant never came for her father, Erik was able to give life through donation — his liver, corneas and tissue saved and healed lives. Erika has carried that legacy forward with extraordinary resolve.

At just 18, she began raising awareness about organ and tissue donation among her peers, bringing Gift of Life Michigan’s award-winning All of Us high school education program to her classroom, organizing a fundraising walk and using her platform in a hometown pageant to educate others.

At CMU, she founded a student organization dedicated to growing the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, creating blankets given to donor families to comfort them in their grief.

Erika also took her message to the Capitol in Lansing last year where she shared her family’s story at Gift of Life’s annual Check Your Heart Rally before lawmakers and community leaders. Whether speaking to middle school students, college audiences or elected officials, she connects generations with clarity and compassion.

Fueled by love for her father and belief in the power of one decision, Erika ensures his legacy lives on — not only in those he helped, but in every person she inspires to say yes to donation.

“Asking someone to get the little red heart on their driver’s license means that someone else is getting the chance to live their life,” Erika said.

CMU launches new CENTRAL CAREER GUARANTEE

This is Michigan’s first public university to guarantee a job or grad school after graduation

BY ARI HARRIS

Central Michigan University has launched The Central Career Guarantee, becoming the state’s first public university to offer undergraduate students a promise of employment or graduate school within six months of earning their college degree.

“At CMU, we know that our approach to hands-on learning, leadership development and student success works. It’s why our students already enjoy a 94.3% Career Outcomes Rate, and why our alumni are leaders in their professions and in their communities,” said CMU President Neil MacKinnon.

“We’re confident that we offer students an exceptional education that delivers real-world results, and now we guarantee it.”

A positive return on investment

MacKinnon said CMU’s outstanding faculty provide students with access to the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for career success, and the university offers academic programs in high demand among employers in Michigan and beyond.

“Nationally, there’s a question about the value of a four-year degree that stems from the misconception that college doesn’t prepare students for careers — and that simply isn’t the case here,” MacKinnon said. “Based on First Destination Survey results, we know that most students who graduate from CMU are employed, continuing their education or engaged in service within six months.”

CMU graduates also earn 26% more than the national median within two years of graduation, according to data from Niche.com. The university is one of only four public institutions in Michigan to be named an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Classifications of Higher Education, highlighting CMU’s commitment to providing affordable, accessible higher education with outstanding career outcomes.

Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president for student recruitment and retention, said The Central Career Guarantee is a response to the No. 1 reason students

and their families choose to pursue higher education: better job prospects.

“This is a major differentiator for CMU. It proudly declares that what we do works for our students and graduates,” DeHaemers said.

Roadmap for success: Understanding the program

Beginning in the fall semester, eligible main campus and online undergraduate students can opt into the Central Career Guarantee program, which includes a series of steps — a roadmap — that must be completed by the student during each phase.

Students who opt in will complete steps such as meeting with career coaches and academic advisors, participating in success coaching and career development activities, attending a variety of university events and more — on top of attending class regularly and engaging with their faculty instructors. DeHaemers said most students will need to spend about an hour a week completing program’s requirements.

“The language of The Guarantee is new, but the student success supports and services behind the program are not,” DeHaemers said. “We know that increased engagement in the classroom, regular meetings with faculty instructors,

BY

academic advisors and career coaches, and frequent participation in career development activities help students land great jobs and great offers from graduate schools. With The Guarantee, we are ensuring that more CMU students are aware of and participating in everything the university has to offer.”

Any eligible student who does not receive a job offer or is not accepted into graduate or professional school within six months of graduation is eligible to receive $2,000 of financial support to assist with student loan payments, a continued job search or other needs. Career Development Center services will be available to help them refine their job search or to assist with identifying graduate school programs they may be eligible to enter.

Incoming domestic first-year and new domestic transfer students, as well as current and returning domestic students, who have at least 60 hours remaining to complete their CMU undergraduate degree, will be eligible to participate in The Guarantee when it launches in the fall. DeHaemers noted that students who choose not to opt in or who are ineligible for The Guarantee can still take full advantage of the supports and services offered through the program — they just will not qualify to receive financial

assistance from The Guarantee after graduation.

“Every CMU student has access to the impactful resources CMU has to offer, and we hope that students who are not eligible will still choose to meet with their advisors, work with the Career Development Center, and participate in all the transformational activities available to them,” she said.

A strategic boost for enrollment

The concept for The Central Career Guarantee first emerged within the committees working on CMU’s Strategic Enrollment Management plan, DeHaemers said.

“As we discussed what truly differentiated CMU from other institutions, we saw our career outcomes rate as a major focus,” DeHaemers said.

“We know that CMU prepares students for in-demand careers, and we know that prospective students are very interested in seeing the connection between a college degree and their career trajectory. Student success and support are where CMU really shines.”

Implementing The Central Career Guarantee will not only attract new students, but it will also help current students stay on track to graduation and ready for next-step success, DeHaemers said.

“Students participating in The Central Career Guarantee will have access to numerous academic, co-curricular and extracurricular support services,” DeHaemers said.

“By surrounding students with the tools, resources and encouragement they need, CMU will ensure that more students stay on track to graduate and achieve their personal and professional goals.”

Delivering on the CMU mission

Preparing students for career success has been part of the university’s mission since its founding in 1892, when the Central Normal School and Business Institute first began training future teachers and business leaders.

“Our mission statement says, ‘Central Michigan University is defined by the success of our students and alumni, and by our collective impact with the communities we serve,’” MacKinnon said.

“This Guarantee is an extension of that mission, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring that our students become successful alumni, serving as leaders in their professions and in their communities.” •

ALUMNI NEWS

Central Michigan University Alumni Association Board of Directors

Central Michigan University Board of Trustees

President Erica (Lagos) Romac, ’13, Carmel, Indiana

Vice president

Jonathan Eadie, ’93, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

Past president

Scott Nadeau, ’89, Dexter, Michigan

Directors

Brooke Adams, ’11, Detroit, Michigan

Kevin Bautista-Mancilla, ’22, Ferndale, Michigan

Lester Booker Jr., ’08, M.S.A. ’10, Canton, Michigan

Lisa (Laitinen) Bottomley, ’97, Kentwood, Michigan

Chris Cantrell, ’99, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Catherine (Bomber) Claes, ’90, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Melissa DeJesus, ’01, M.A. ’09, Dexter, Michigan

Elizabeth Dilg, ’22, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Megan Doyle, ’03, Chicago, Illinois

Norma Eppinger, ’91, Lansing, Michigan

Matthew Franklin, ’04, Grand Blanc, Michigan

Griffith Gatewood, ’14, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Dr. Jonathan Glenn, ’06, M.A. ’11, Ed.D. ’23, Alma, Michigan

Monica Hackney, ‘00 Traverse City, Michigan

Spencer Haworth, ’12, M.P.A. ’22 Kalamazoo, Michigan

Sean Hickey, ’88, M.A. ’90, Traverse City, Michigan

Dr. LaMarcus Howard, ’09, M.A. ’12, Flint, Michigan

Bret Hyble, ’82, M.A. ’86, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

DeAndra Larkin, ’08, ’13, Flint, Michigan

J.J. Lewis, ’06, Howell, Michigan

Jennifer Peacock, ’18, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pamela Price, ’12 Flint, Michigan

Karenia Randle, ’08, M.S.A. ’13, Lansing, Michigan

Kandra (Kerridge) Robbins, ’90, Jena, Louisiana

Abby M. (Hagland) Watteny, ’02, Berkley, Michigan

For a full listing including emeritus board members please see go.cmualum.com/ alumni-board

Regine Beauboeuf

Sharon Heath, ’96

Ashok Kondur

Denise Williams Mallett

Edward J. Plawecki Jr., ’75

David R. McGhee, M.S.A. ’07

Todd Regis

Jeff Stoutenburg, ’10, ’13 M.P.A.

For a full listing of Board of Trustees meeting schedules, please see https:// www.cmich.edu/ bot/Pages/default. aspx

CMU alumni commit $1M for medical school scholarships

‘Time to be bold’ in preparing doctors for rural Michigan communities

BY JASON FIELDER

A $1 million gift from CMU alumni Tim and Nan Buerger Maczka will help cover medical school costs for future physicians committed to serving residents and families in central and northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

Their namesake scholarship targets current and future students in the Covenant Healthcare College of Medicine at CMU, especially those who grew up north of M-57, which runs between Kent and Genesee counties.

“We grew up in northern Michigan and have family members in health care,” Nan said. “We know about the physician shortage and people traveling an hour or more to see doctors, especially specialists. We want to support students who come from and are determined to deliver care in communities where doctors are most desperately needed.”

“When we had to start taking minimum required distributions from our IRAs, we decided to set all of it aside for charitable causes,” Tim said. “We began to think it was time to be a little bold.”

Alumna honored for her commitment to community and change

Lottie Ferguson leads with heart and resilience

BY JASON FIELDER

Lottie Ferguson, M.S.A. ’19, is the 2025 recipient of the Claire M. White Award, a business award presented by the Flint & Genesee Group, recognizing a woman who works for the betterment of the area in community, career or in someone else’s life.

For Ferguson, who is vice president of development and donor services at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the award carries great significance.

“Earning the Claire M. White Award is

Tim, a 1974 CMU graduate with a degree in business, worked in banking for 26 years before co-founding Team Financial Group in 2001 in Grand Rapids. Team Financial provides equipment financing for small businesses. Tim is still working, and their son Matt is president and CEO of the company.

Nan graduated from CMU in 1975 with a degree in home economics, part of the first class in which the degree included classes in art and interior design. She became one of 50 designers on staff at J.L. Hudson’s, working at the Flint store until their oldest son was a year old. She went on to work in landscaping design and sales, as well as in art production and retail.

Tim and Nan have three children: Matt; Greg, who is self-employed in the technology and software arena; and Stephanie, who is a pediatrician and partner with Alger Pediatrics in Grand Rapids. The practice is in an old house, in a diverse, community neighborhood. Stephanie has worked there for 11 years, with patients as her mission, Nan said.

In addition to their endowment for future physicians, the couple previously sponsored student entrepreneurs in CMU’s annual New Venture Challenge and contributed to the Student Emergency Fund and Student Food Pantry. They’ve also supported CMU’s Finish Up Chips Scholarship, for undergraduates within 25 credits of graduation who are at risk of dropping out due to financial hardship. •

deeply meaningful because it represents a legacy of service, integrity and community uplift — values I hold close,” she said. “Claire White was a trailblazer, and to be recognized in her name is both humbling and affirming. It’s a reminder that showing up with purpose and compassion can truly make a difference.”

Ferguson credits her time as a graduate student at CMU with helping her grow both personally and professionally.

“CMU gave me more than an M.S.A.,” she said. “It gave me confidence in my voice and credentials that helped the community believe in my leadership potential. I was a working professional and parent while attending CMU, and managing those competing priorities taught me resilience and focus in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

Her message to the next generation — especially Black women stepping into leadership — is one of affirmation and encouragement.

“You belong in every room where decisions are made and change happens,” she said. “True progress isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about listening deeply, building trust and creating space for others to shine.” •

ALUMNI NEWS

Capturing the good in every community he covers

CMU alumnus Steve Jessmore named to Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame

BY JASON FIELDER

For decades, Steve Jessmore, ’81, built a career focused on the moments many people overlook — small acts of kindness, everyday life in local communities and the stories that connect people to one another.

Now, the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame is recognizing that work.

Jessmore, a CMU alumnus and longtime photojournalist who later served at CMU as a photographer, editor and professor, has been selected as part of the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class. The honor celebrates journalists who have made extraordinary contributions to the profession and helped elevate journalism across the state.

A career focused on community Jessmore’s professional journey began during a difficult time for journalism. The early 1980s recession made finding a job challenging, and it took nearly three years after graduation for him to land a full-time position.

In the meantime, he worked at his father’s business, Saginaw Photo, while continuing to photograph on nights and weekends.

“I worked 50 out of 52 weekends,” he said. “I was working most nights after working full time during the day. But it was a great experience. I photographed all the things that happened at odd hours.”

That work ethic helped launch a career that would span nearly four decades in journalism, including long tenures in mid-Michigan communities such as Saginaw, Bay City and Flint. He also spent five years working as the university photographer and editor at CMU.

Jessmore said he was often encouraged to move to larger markets but chose instead to remain close to home.

“I worked 15 years in my hometown,” he said. “It was wonderful being a community photojournalist.”

His approach centered on storytelling — particularly long-term photo essays that highlighted resilience and humanity.

“My priority was to try to tell positive community stories,” he said. “I tried to find things that had inspiring outcomes or inspiring paths.”

A lifelong photographer

Even after stepping away from daily newsroom work, Jessmore’s passion for photography has never faded.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he turned his lens toward wildlife photography, particularly birds. Within a year, his images earned national recognition in the prestigious Audubon Photography Awards.

He also returned to CMU as a professor, helping mentor the next generation of journalists — something he considers one of the most rewarding aspects of his career.

“I was in charge of internships at my newspapers, so mentoring students was always a big part of what I did,” he said.

“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the people you helped go on and do great things.”

Jessmore was formally inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame during a ceremony April 19 in East Lansing. •

CMU alumna honored by Detroit Lions for being a community hero

Stephanie Trexler’s nonprofit uplifts children facing long hospital stays

BY JASON FIELDER

For CMU alumna Stephanie Trexler, ’13, creating joy during life’s hardest moments has always been a calling. Her commitment to her passion was recently recognized by the Detroit Lions, who honored Trexler as a 2025 winner of the team’s “That Deserves a Crown” campaign. The program, conducted in a partnership with Crown Royal, highlights leaders in Michigan who are making a difference in their communities through charitable works or volunteerism.

Trexler is the founder of Once Upon a Room Grand Rapids, a volunteer and

$350K grant launches EmpowHER Leadership program on campus

Funds from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation expand opportunities for female student-athletes

BY JASON FIELDER

Female student-athletes at CMU will now have more opportunities to grow personally and professionally thanks to a generous grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, founded by alumna Renee LaBelle Parsons, ’91, and her husband, Bob Parsons.

The $350,000 grant enables CMU Athletics to launch EmpowHER Leadership, a women’s student-athlete program designed to cultivate confidence, resilience and career readiness through mentorship, experiential learning and community impact.

donor-driven nonprofit that transforms hospital rooms into personalized, themed spaces for children facing long-term hospital stays. For her efforts as a “That Deserves a Crown” winner, Trexler was given tickets to a Lions game at Ford Field, sideline passes and a pre-game on-field salute.

Trexler credits Central with helping shape the leader she is today.

“Being recognized during a Detroit Lions game was truly surreal and incredibly humbling,” Trexler said. “I am a lifelong Lions fan, so to be on the field and honored by the organization with my family beside me felt very full circle.”

“CMU instilled confidence in me to lead, to ask questions, and to build something from the ground up,” she said. “My experience on campus taught me how to collaborate, manage responsibility, and give back to the community around me.” •

“As a CMU alumna, this is especially meaningful to me,” said Renee, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

“I believe deeply in helping young women see their own strength, find their voice and build futures they’re proud of — both on and off the field.”

Travis Downing, CMU’s associate athletic director for student-athlete development and administration, proposed the EmpowHER initiative and modeled it after similar programs at other institutions.

Downing said the program will launch this fall with 10 student-athletes and grow to serve 30 by the fifth year.

EmpowHER participants will engage in workshops on topics such as communication, emotional intelligence, public speaking and decision-making.

They will also be paired with female leaders in business, education, government and nonprofit sectors, who will serve as mentors.

Participants will take part in an annual retreat and attend special events such as public forums, women’s leadership summits and networking events. •

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumnus gains worldwide fame for his compassion

Viral video shows him consoling a grieving widow while delivering flowers

BY JASON FIELDER

In a profoundly emotional moment caught on a doorbell camera, CMU alumnus Greg Sherman, ’72, went from being a routine floral delivery driver to a global example of compassion at its finest.

The now-viral video was recorded on Dec. 4 at the home of Arizona resident Michelle McDonald, who later posted it on TikTok. Just days earlier, McDonald had lost her husband in a tragic accident. When her friends sent flowers, Sherman — wearing a CMU alumni

Gov. Whitmer announces appointments to CMU board

Two alumni join eight-member roster

BY AARON MILLS

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced the appointment of David R. McGhee and Ryan Fewins-Bliss to the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees.

For McGhee, it’s a reappointment, having been named to the CMU board in May 2025 to complete the term previously held by Todd J. Anson.

McGhee, of Grand Blanc, is the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. Previously, McGhee served as the CEO of The Steve Fund, chief strategy and

sweatshirt and CMU hat — arrived at her door and immediately sensed this delivery would be different.

“I’ve done this for 36 years,” Sherman said. “Normally, you don’t touch anybody at the door because that’s just not appropriate, but with Michelle, I could see right away she was at rock bottom, and I just tried to help.”

The footage shows Sherman comforting a distraught McDonald with soft words and genuine empathy.

“Hi there,” he gently said. “For Michelle. Aww, I’m sorry for your loss, baby. Was it your hubby? Aw, baby, I’m so sorry. You’re such a sweetheart. I can tell just by looking at you. You’re so precious. You are so precious. You are so good. So pure. I’m sorry, baby.”

“Thank you for bringing these,” McDonald replies.

“Just remember,” Sherman tells her. “You and him. We’re all gonna be up there sometime, aren’t we?”

For Sherman, the instinct to comfort came naturally. He, too, is a widower. His wife, Kathleen — also a CMU alum — died

program officer of the Schultz Family Foundation, and vice president of organizational excellence and impact at The Skillman Foundation. He serves on the faculty of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, where he is the senior fellow for the city of Detroit. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and public policy from Oakland University and master’s in administration leadership from CMU.

in 2015 after a long battle with cancer. “It’s one of those things you never get over,” Sherman said.

McDonald was so moved by his kindness that she shared the video online, with a caption that reads: “My friends sent flowers today, and an angel arrived at my doorstep to place them in my hands. The message wasn’t in the bouquet. It was in the gentleness of the sweet, kind man who delivered it. Protect him. He is the proof that grace still walks on this earth.”

The post quickly spread across the internet. Calls, online comments and reviews soon flooded the Arizona flower shop where Sherman works.

“I walked back into the flower shop and the owner told me, ‘You’ve gone viral,’ ” Sherman said. “And she showed me the video. She said, ‘You’re kind of a celebrity now, whether you know it or not.’ ”

Within days, the video neared four million views. Sherman remains stunned by the attention. “It’s unbelievable,” he said.

Watch the video here: https://go. cmualum.com/shermankindness •

Fewins-Bliss, of Bath, is the executive director of the Michigan College Access Network. In addition to this role, he is the Bath Township supervisor and is a member of the Michigan Education Corps Advisory Board. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in integrative public relations and a master’s in educational administration from CMU. Fewins-Bliss will succeed Edward J. Plawecki Jr., whose term expires Dec. 31.

The two trustees will each serve an eight-year term, subject to the advice and consent of Michigan’s State Senate. Their terms are effective Jan. 1, 2027, and extend through Dec. 31, 2034. CMU’s Board of Trustees consists of eight members appointed by Michigan’s governor under authority granted by the state constitution. •

Affordable rates available to CMU Alumni for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless products and services.

In Memory

Dorothy M. Lundquist (Sweeney), ’46, Venice, Fla. , died Dec. 18, 2025, age 101

R. Audrey (Meadors) Strouf, ’48, Manistee, Mich. , died Dec. 1, 2025, age 98

Yuill J. (Trout) ByersKampschoer, ’50, Trenton, Mich. , died Jun. 1, 2025, age 97

Elinor D. (Schroeder) Jereau, ’50, Rochester, Mich. , died Mar. 22, 2026, age 98

Mark K. Kipfmuller, ’51, Waukesha, Wis. , died Feb. 16, 2026, age 97

Robert D. Marble, ’51 , Alma, Mich. , died Sep. 6, 2025, age 96

Virginia G. (Krause) Siewert, ’51, Rochester, Va. , died Mar. 15, 2026, age 96

Henrietta C. (Recor) Ryan, ’52, St. Clair, Mich., died Mar. 29, 2026, age 95

Carol L. (Chambers) Church, ’53, ’59 MA, Ravenna, Mich. , died Dec. 24, 2025, age 94

Charles O. Conrad, ’53, Hanover, Pa. , died Jan. 7, 2026, age 95

Harold R. Henderson, ’53, Sylvan Lake, Mich. , died Sep. 18, 2025, age 94

Milan M. Jurich, ’53, Sylvania, Ohio, died Oct. 17, 2025, age 95

Richard L. Broke, ’54, Rochester, Mich. , died Jan. 3, 2026, age 93

Joyce A. (McNamara) Butler, ’54, ’66 MA, Shepherd, Mich. , died Feb. 27, 2026, age 93

Jane C. (Crosby) Meyer, ’54, ’72 MA, Oscoda, Mich. , died Feb. 22, 2026, age 91

Josephine (Nickora) Vaara, ’54, Royal Oak, Mich. , died Feb. 3, 2026, age 93

Wayne E. Bucholz, ’55, Gladstone, Mich. , died Mar. 5, 2026, age 93

Bernard C. Jones, ’55, Saginaw, Mich. , died Nov. 19, 2025, age 95

Kay E. (Heinrich) Peasley, ’55, Vestaburg, Mich. , died Jan. 3, 2026, age 91

Marjorie (Morse) Quick, ’55, Frankenmuth, Mich. , died Feb. 24, 2026, age 93

Robert D. Simpson, ’55, ’68 MA, Beaver Island, Mich. , died Jan. 12, 2026, age 93

Arnold J. Sanderson, ’56, Fort Wayne, Ind. , died Nov. 21, 2025, age 98

Joan L. Hoggatt, ’57, Wyandotte, Mich. , died Feb. 22, 2026, age 91

Lester H. McLachlan, ’57, Seminole, Fla. , died Mar. 10, 2026, age 90

George W. Quine, ’57, Waterford, Mich. , died Mar. 3, 2026, age 91

Kathryn J. (McGee) Reed, ’57, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Mar. 19, 2026, age 90

Harry J. Zientek, ’57, Pleasant Ridge, Mich. , died Nov. 18, 2025, age 90

Joseph C. Bradley, ’58, Midland, Mich. , died Oct. 24, 2025, age 90

Robert J. Bray, ’58 , Leominster, Mass. , died Dec. 25, 2025, age 89

Dean E. Hines, ’58, Menominee, Mich. , died Feb. 23, 2026, age 93

Julius R. Schaberg, ’58, Lake Wales, Fla. , died Oct. 8, 2025, age 92

Jeanne M. (Eyman) Black, ’59, Comstock Park, Mich. , died Dec. 16, 2025, age 88

Edward P. Foley, ’59, Traverse City, Mich. , died Jul. 30, 2025, age 88

Janet K. (Bellenbaum) Gregory, ’59, Chesaning, Mich. , died Nov. 12, 2025, age 88

Marion J. (Elsworth) Hoegenboom, ’59, Naperville, Fla. , died Feb. 8, 2026, age 88

Diana (Maroulis) Jones, ’59, Kalamazoo, Mich. , died Jan. 19, 2026, age 88

James J. Kane, ’59, Brighton, Mich. , died Nov. 21, 2025, age 91

Nancy B. (Banninger) Schumacher, ’59, White Lake, Mich. , died Nov. 17, 2025, age 88

James J. Alexander, ’60, Traverse City, Mich. , died Nov. 14, 2025, age 87

Kaye M. (Newlin) Bruestle, ’60, Hampstead, N.C. , died Dec. 17, 2025, age 88

Brace K. Case, ’60, Clarkston, Mich. , died Mar. 9, 2026, age 88

Kenneth O. Jilbert, ’60, ’67 MA, Manistee, Mich. , died Jan. 29, 2026, age 93

James R. Ludwick, ’60, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died on Oct. 17, 2025, age 86

Betty J. (Bareis) Mittlesteadt, ’60, Reedsburg, Wis. , died Mar. 7, 2026, age 87

Raymond L. Natzke, ’60, New Baltimore, Mich. , died Dec. 5, 2025, age 88

Sue (Smith) Trimble, ’60, ’84 MA, Harrison, Mich. , died Feb. 5, 2026, age 87

Lee M. Ward, ’60, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Mar. 15, 2026, age 88

Nancy E. (Bowen) Wender, ’60, Holton, Ind. , died Mar. 2, 2026, age 86

Thomas H. Conzelmann, ’61, Frankenmuth, Mich. , died Feb. 14, 2026, age 87

Susan E. (Morse) Paul, ’61, Powder Springs, Ga. , died Dec. 31, 2025, age 86

David L. Posey, ’61, Big Rapids, Mich. , died Dec. 31, 2025, age 87

Scott J. Russell, ’61, ’69 MA, Custer, Mich. , died Feb. 7, 2026, age 86

Carol (Godsave) Saunders, ’61, ’62 MA, Canton, Mich. , died Oct. 2, 2025, age 86

James A. Wood, ’61 MA, Lakeview, Mich. , died Dec. 5, 2025, age 90

Virginia G. (Schmidt) Graham, ’62, Auburn, Mich. , died Oct. 2, 2025, age 97

Nancy C. (Wender) Groff, ’62, St. Clair , Mich., died Mar. 20, 2026, age 85

Patricia A. (Moeckel) Krauss, ’62, ’69 MA, Naples, Fla. , died Mar. 9, 2026, age 84

Phyllis A. (Ver Hulst) Moody, ’62, Grand Haven, Mich. , died Mar. 20, 2026, age 86

Steward H. Schenck, ’62, Branford, Conn. , died Mar. 24, 2026, age 86

Alice J. (Fowler) Selfridge, ’62, Ionia, Mich. , died Nov. 12, 2025, age 84

Thomas R. Smith, ’62, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Mar. 17, 2026, age 85

William C. Baldwin, ’63, ’70 MA, Big Rock, Tenn. , died Dec. 15, 2025, age 84

Louis J. Fox, ’63, Eaton Rapids, Mich. , died Feb. 16, 2026, age 96

Dexter L. Keller, ’63, Beaver Island, Mich. , died Oct. 8, 2025, age 86

Terry M. Lynes, ’63, Saginaw, Mich. , died Dec. 26, 2025, age 86

Thomas M. Muto, ’63, ’73 MA, Midland, Mich. , died Nov. 17, 2025, age 84

Janet R. (Roth) Schmidt, ’63, Harrison Twp. , Mich., died Mar. 21, 2026, age 84

Gary A. Siderman, ’63, Beulah, Mich. , died Dec. 17, 2025, age 83

Richard E. Bunce, ’64, Colon, Mich. , died Apr. 9, 2026, age 87

Joseph D. Holcomb, ’64 MA, St. Louis, Mich., died Mar. 13, 2026, age 90

Normajean W. (Wismer) Leavitt, ’64, Wellington, Fla. , died Jan. 29, 2026, age 84

John F. Mayers, ’64, Mt. Joy, Pa., died Oct. 24, 2025, age 83

Robert P. Aldrich, ’65, ’67 MA, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., died Jan. 4, 2026, age 82

David F. Clark, ’65 MA, Alto, Mich. , died Feb. 13, 2026, age 88

Robert B. Fox, ’65, ’68 MA, Sanford, Mich. , died Feb. 10, 2026, age 83

Larry O. Glidewell, ’65 MA, St. Joseph, Mo., died Nov. 15, 2025, age 86

Lynne R. Gregory, ’65, Rochester, Mich. , died Feb. 11, 2026, age 83

Nancy E. (Hoffman) Johnston, ’65, East Lansing, Mich. , died Dec. 3, 2025, age 82

June C. Mabarak, ’65, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. , died Sep. 4, 2025, age 83

Karen E. (Buschlen) McKnight, ’65, Bothell, Wash. , died Jul. 20, 2025, age 81

Delbert L. Nolan, ’65 MA, Holland, Mich. , died Dec. 18, 2025, age 83

Dean G. Plummer, ’65, Midland, Mich. , died Oct. 17, 2025, age 93

John M. Stickney, ’65, Sun Prairie, Wis. , died Feb. 9, 2026, age 83

Jean M. (Buschell) Tabor, ’65, Canton, Mich. , died Dec. 1, 2025, age 82

Judy A. (Abrams) Ewald, ’66, ’71 MA, South Plainfield, N.C. , died Feb. 19, 2026, age 82

Jean E. (Williamson) Goward, ’66, ’74 MA, St. Charles, Mich. , died Oct. 13, 2025, age 84

James M. Helgemo, ’66, ’72 MSA, Fremont, Mich. , died Dec. 24, 2025, age 83

Kenneth “Chuck” C. Hostutler, ’66, Weidman, Mich. , died Jan. 21, 2026, age 82

Carol A. (Jensen) Inman, ’66, ’73 MA, Kingsley, Mich. , died Mar. 1, 2026, age 84

William G. Kelly, ’66, Saline, Mich. , died Nov. 11, 2025, age 82

LeRoy Mabery, ’66, Lapeer, Mich. , died Nov. 16, 2025, age 83

William R. Nicholas, ’66, ’69 MA, Okemos, Mich. , died Dec. 10, 2025, age 82

Edward A. Rice, ’66, Spring Lake, Mich. , died Nov. 24, 2025, age 88

Larry P. Sellers, ’66, ’68 MA, Traverse City, Mich. , died Aug. 8, 2025, age 84

Joseph A. Yarwood, ’66, Saginaw, Mich. , died Sep. 25, 2025, age 84

Ralph E. Young, ’66, ’76, Cedar Springs, Mich. , died Mar. 25, 2026, age 82

Mark R. Ankarberg, ’67, Exeter, N. H. , died Oct. 28, 2025, age 81

Esther (Ballantine) Berkan, ’67, ’69 MA, Midland , Mich. , died Mar. 4, 2026, age 95

Benjamin V. Clark, ’67, ’72 MA, Marion, Mich. , died Mar. 7, 2026, age 82

Edmund Cunningham Jr., ’67, ’71 MA, Saginaw, Mich. , died Mar. 17, 2026, age 94

David L. Galbreath, ’67, West Branch, Mich. , died Mar. 22, 2026, age 82

Sallie M. (Compson) Horner, ’67, 72 MA, Edmore, Mich. , died Oct. 20, 2025, age 85

David J. Johnson, ’67, ’74 MA, Kawkawlin, Mich. , died Jun. 4, 2025, age 80

Robert E. Jones, ’67 MA, Mechanicsburg, Pa. , died Mar. 26, 2026, age 91

Rose M. (Neyer) McFarlane, ’67, ’74 MA, Auburn Hills, Mich. , died Feb. 12, 2026, age 87

Mary J. (Martin) Mount, ’67, Greenville, Mich. , died Dec. 1, 2025, age 80

Philip E. Nash, ’67, ’69 MBA, Grand Blanc, Mich. , died Oct. 17, 2025, age 80

Linda L. (Smith) Patterson, ’67, Attica, Mich. , died Mar. 15, 2026, age 80

Leonard F. Perkins, ’67 MA, Fair Haven, Mich. , died Dec. 18, 2025, age 86

Joel V. Smith, ’67, Tawas City, Mich. , died Aug. 18, 2025, age 80

Anthony L. Ashman, ’68, Benton Harbor, Mich. , died Jan. 23, 2026, age 79

Ruth A. Groll, ’68, Caledonia, Mich. , died Feb. 25, 2026, age 95

Robert J. McKay, ’68, Detroit, Mich. , died Feb. 13, 2026, age 79

Edward L. Plumb, ’68, Jackson, Mich. , died Mar. 13, 2026, age 80

Ronald L. Ruhland, ’68, Bay City, Mich. , died Dec. 10, 2025, age 86

Reginald D. Rye, ’68 MA, ’79 Ed. S., Hemlock, Mich., died Jan. 6, 2026, age 86

Niki J. Tilwick, ’68, Westland, Mich. , died Dec. 31, 2025, age 79

Linda L. (Downing) Bower, ’69, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. , died Oct. 25, 2025, age 80

Joseph E. Campbell, ’69, Alexandria, Va. , died Nov. 9, 2025, age 78

Susan M. (Krum) Chaffin, ’69 MA, Ithaca, Mich. , died Oct. 19, 2025, age 94

Bennie L. Cleveland, ’69, Mequon, Wis. , died Nov. 27, 2025, age 87

Joseph C. Demijohn, ’69, Rio Ranchero, N. M., died Mar. 12, 2026, age 82

Arthur Forth II, ’69, Boyne City, Mich. , died Feb. 23, 2026, age 78

Gary J. Goetzman, ’69, Charlevoix, Mich. , died Feb. 6, 2026, age 82

Jeffrey S. Heth, ’69, Belmont, Mich. , died Jan. 7, 2026, age 78

Charles E. Kiel II, ’69, ’90 MA, Lake Isabella, Mich. , died Oct. 19, 2025, age 79

Pamela A. (Toles) Leubke, ’69, Thompsonville, Mich. , died Dec. 15, 2025, age 78

Beverly A. (Sayles) Matulis, ’69, ’77 MA, Midland, Mich. , died Jan. 10, 2026, age 78

William P. Murray, ’69, Roscommon, Mich. , died Apr. 5, 2026, age 77

Dennis D. Shepherd, ’69, Roswell, Ga. , died Feb. 27, 2026, age 79

John A. Black, ’70, ’71 MA, Sarasota, Fla. , died Jan. 21, 2026, age 84

Victoria Y. (Mandigo) Braquet, ’70, Katy, Texas, died Nov. 8, 2025, age 77

Karen L. (Sowle) Cook, ’70, ’79 MA, Williamsburg, Mich. , died Apr. 9, 2026, age 81

Lawrence A. Crandall, ’70, Dowagiac, Mich. , died Nov. 22, 2025, age 77

In Memory

Mercia J. (Bailey) Foster, ’70, ’02 MA, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Nov. 21, 2025, age 76

Becki L. (Carrington) Haist, ’70, Holland, Mich. , died Nov. 27, 2025, age 77

John E. Harrington, ’70, ’72 MA, Auburn Hills, Mich. , died Dec. 7, 2025, age 81

William W. Howes, ’70, ’76 MA, Brighton, Mich. , died Mar. 23, 2026, age 98

Ronald L. Liming, ’70, ’71 MA, ’72 Ed. S, Lapeer, Mich., died Feb. 15, 2026, age 80

Robert L. Price, ’70, Kalamazoo, Mich. , died Jan. 18, 2026, age 86

John P. Ryan, ’70 Ed. S., Muskegon, Mich., died Mar. 23, 2026, age 88

Loraine L. (Treichel) Stindt, ’70, ’72 MA, Ann Arbor, Mich. , died Dec. 27, 2025, age 94

William J. Woodrow, ’70, Venice, Fla. , died Feb. 17, 2026, age 77

James D. Ziemke, ’70, ’72 MA, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 21, 2026, age 77

Gerald W. Baker, ’71, ’73 MA, Flagstaff, Ariz. , died Jan. 28, 2026, age 76

Mary L. (Deur) Blakely, ’71, Schaumberg, Ill. , died Oct. 19, 2025, age 75

Mary E. Cooper, ’71, Traverse City, Mich. , died Oct. 10, 2025, age 76

Stephen D. Howell, ’71, ’94 Ed. S., Midland, Mich., died Dec. 15, 2025, age 80

Laurel K. (Dryer) Kibiloski, ’71, Lake City, Mich. , died Dec. 11, 2025, age 76

James C. King, ’71, Traverse City, Mich. , died Feb. 6, 2026, age 79

Dianne E. Kirby, ’71, Bancroft, Mich. , died Mar. 3, 2026, age 76

Donald W. Koivisto, ’71, Ellsworth, Mich. , died Oct. 7, 2025, age 76

Susan K. (Bartel) Kowalski, ’71, Bay City, Mich. , died Feb. 26, 2026, age 76

Gale S. Rodgers, ’71, Houghton Lake, Mich. , died Nov. 24, 2025, age 81

Valerie Stamper, ’71, Independence, Mich. , died Dec. 24, 2025, age 76

Patricia M. (Kurant) Steinport, ’71, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Mar. 7, 2026, age 78

Donald L. Swayze, ’71 MA, Oxford, Mich. , died Nov. 14, 2025, age 88

Yvonne J. (Willett) Tomlinson, ’71, Midland , Mich. , died Mar. 27 , 2026, age 93

Bartholomew J. Walsh, ’71 MA, Delavan, Wis. , died Feb. 18, 2026, age 94

Gaylia A. (Geeseman) Anger, ’72, Breckenridge, Mich. , died Jan. 10, 2026, age 87

James A. Benedict, ’72 MBA, Muskegon, Mich. , died Jan. 28, 2026, age 79

Majel L. (Davis) Bowerman, ’72, Lake Placid, Fla. , died Feb. 12, 2026, age 77

Earl W. Hunkins, ’72, Shepherd, Mich. , died Oct. 17, 2025, age 75

Richard F. Kilburn, ’72 MA, Fairfax, Va. , died Oct. 24, 2025, age 84

Owen C. Lamb, ’72 MA, Rogers City, Mich. , died Jun. 18, 2025, age 93

Nancy J. (Ross) Macklem, ’72 MA, Beaverton, Mich. , died Feb. 10, 2026, age 91

William S. Merriman, ’72, Bear Lake, Mich. , died Nov. 23, 2025, age 75

Craig M. Moorehead, ’72 MA, Rochester, Mich. , died Oct. 13, 2025, age 77

Judith A. O’Neil, ’72 MA, Clare, Mich. , died Nov. 17, 2025, age 82

William A. Phillips, ’72, ’80 MA, Bloomington, Ind. , died Mar. 14, 2026, age 93

John R. Pritzlaff, ’72, Holt, Mich. , died Oct. 10, 2025, age 76

Patrick J. Rekucki, ’72, Waterford, Mich. , died Feb. 12, 2026, age 76

Loran “Fred” Sanford, ’72 MA, Alma, Mich. , died Mar. 16, 2026, age 89

Steve W. Wilson, ’72, ’83 MAT, Hale, Mich. , died Dec. 2, 2025, age 75

Joseph J. Blind, ’73, Clinton Twp. , Mich., died Jan. 23, 2026, age 74

Frederick J. Florka, ’73, ’80 MA, Ft. Myers, Fla., died Feb. 19, 2026, age 75

Terry M. Garrabrant, ’73, Columbus, Ohio, died Sep. 29, 2025, age 85

Candace A. (Wooster) Keinath, ’73, Metamora, Mich. , died Dec. 29, 2025, age 74

John M. Kernstock, ’73, Bay City, Mich. , died Sep. 24, 2025, age 79

Karen D. Krenz, ’73, Salt Lake City, Utah, died Nov. 26, 2025, age 74

Kerry M. Kwiecinski, ’73, Sun City, Fla. , died Aug. 18, 2025, age 73

Barry M. Masten , ’73, Mesick, Mich. , died Nov. 25, 2025, age 78

John W. Peterson, ’73 MA, Burke, Va. , died Mar. 3, 2026, age 89

Sharon K. (Goshman) Stadler, ’73, Merrill, Mich. , died Jan. 3, 2026, age 74

John A. Swanson, ’73 MA, Belding, Mich. , died Nov. 27, 2025, age 85

Henry A. Vanderbeek, ’73 MA, Spark, Nev. , died Sep. 12, 2025, age 78

Connie L. (Betgen) VanDoeselaar, ’73, Traverse City, Mich. , died Mar. 2, 2026, age 74

Carole J. (Nelson) Baker, ’74, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Jan. 28, 2026, age 83

Steven H. Domke, ’74, ’96 MAH, Almont, Mich. , died Jan. 19, 2026, age 73

Dennis P. Henley, ’74, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Mar. 16, 2026, age 81

Gordon A. Nienhuis, ’74, South Haven, Mich. , died Mar. 4, 2026, age 74

Frank H. Slocum Jr., ’74 MA, St. Petersburg, Fla., died Jan. 9, 2026, age 82

Steve Tuller, ’74 MA, Melbourne, Fla. , died Oct. 14, 2025, age 86

James R. Walls, ’74 MA, Big Rapids, Mich. , died Feb. 18, 2026, age 82

Randall R. Wheatley, ’74, Beaverton, Mich. , died Jan. 11, 2026, age 76

David W. Dellefield, ’75 MA, Falls Church, Va. , died Jul. 31, 2025, age 88

Grace E. (Walsh) Engle, ’75, ’91 MA, Reed City, Mich. , died Nov. 15, 2025, age 72

Evelyn G. (Mikat) HamblinSmerklo, ’75, ’81 MA, Lexington, Mich. , died Apr. 5, 2026, age 88

T. Barton Kjolhede, ’75, ’85 MA, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Feb. 18, 2026, age 74

Mark S. Metry, ’75, St. Clair Shores, Mich., died Mar. 13, 2026, age 72

Carl A. Nandrasy, ’75 MA, Charleston, S.C., died Dec. 25, 2025, age 92

Lowell T. Smith, ’75 MA, Midland, Mich. , died Dec. 5, 2025, age 86

Judy G. (Mathews) Wilkerson, ’75, Sugarland, Texas, died Feb. 11, 2026, age 82

Linda K. (Dygert) Anderson, ’76, Hudsonville, Mich. , died Jan. 12, 2026, age 72

Kirk A. Babcock, ’76, Jonesborough, Tenn. , died Feb. 7, 2026, age 72

Wesley K. Blanchard, ’76 MA, Lubbock, Texas, died Mar. 18, 2026, age 92

Robert B. Bourne, ’76 MA, Lake Lure , N.C., died Dec. 31, 2025, age 83

Jhoram A. Dilk, ’76 MA, Syracuse, N.Y. , died Jun. 27, 2025, age 78

Robert J. Ebner, ’76, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 9, 2026, age 74

Steven R. Gray, ’76, White Cloud, Mich. , died Mar. 15, 2026, age 73

Ronald L. Koontz, ’76 MA, Medford, N. J., died Jan. 29, 2026, age 87

Bruce J. Kraus, ’76, Fernandina Beach, Fla. , died Jan. 21, 2026, age 74

Don. W. Rakestraw, ’76 MA, ’76 MA, Vienna, Va. , died Nov. 30, 2025, age 79

Sharon A. (Bareham) Robertson, ’76, Troy, Mich. , died Feb. 13, 2026, age 71

Burton G. Bickel, ’77 MA, Flat Rock, Mich. , died Jan. 13, 2026, age 87

James M. Brady, ’77 MA, Okemos, Mich. , died Jan. 2, 2026, age 72

Nancy J. (Sharp) Dailey, ’77, Ladysmith, Wis. , died Dec. 19, 2025, age 71

Steven C. Garrett, ’77, Middleville, Mich. , died Oct. 30, 2025, age 88

Cheryl L. (Koroly) Grinn, ’73, ’73 MA, Gladwin, Mich. , died Jan. 2, 2026, age 77

Gregory A. Longacre, ’77 MA, ’79 MA, ’80 Ed. S., Troy, Ohio, died Dec. 5, 2025, age 77

David L. Norris, ’77 MA, Rocky River, Ohio, died Mar. 20, 2026, age 83

James E. Rusk, ’77 MA, Midlothian, Va. , died Dec. 28, 2025, age 76

Marsha L. Stevens, ’77, St. Johns, Mich., died Apr. 1, 2026, age 71

Larry E. Warner, ’77, ’79 MA, Petoskey, Mich. , died Nov. 24, 2025, age 82

Jeanine B. (Taft) Wells, ’77 MA, Essexville, Mich. , died Jan. 12, 2026, age 89

Paul R. Bray, ’78 MA, Alpena, Mich. , died Jul. 29, 2025, age 82

Donald D. Cork, ’79, Peck, Mich. , died Jan. 19, 2026, age 68

William W. Doolittle, ’78 MA, Ann Arbor, Mich. , died Nov. 6, 2025, age 82

Alexander J. Fekete, ’78 MA, Hainesport, N. J., died Oct. 9, 2025, age 91

Daniel G. Garcia, ’78, Houston, Texas, died Dec. 1, 2025, age 72

Alfred C. MacArthur, ’78 MA, Hanover, Pa. , died Nov. 27, 2025, age 86

John P. Marshall, ’78, Beulah, Mich. , died Oct. 26, 2025, age 69

Robert H. Pinson, ’78 MA, Lacey, Wash. , died Feb. 1, 2026, age 90

Peter N. Puerling, ’78 MA, Herndon, Va. , died Feb. 26, 2026, age 90

James L. Russell, ’78, Rockford, Mich. , died Nov. 9, 2025, age 77

Patricia A. (Robertson) Baskins, ’79, Freeland, Mich. , died Feb. 14, 2026, age 68

Ralph L. Carnaghi, ’79, Gladwin, Mich. , died Dec. 5, 2025, age 91

Mary F. (Calabrese) Cascarelli, ’79, Waterford, Mich. , died Oct. 14, 2025, age 70

Jeffrey Gorke, ’79, St. Clair Shores, Mich., died Jan. 31, 2026, age 70

Wendy J. (Rankin) Magargal, ’79, Pottstown, Pa. , died Dec. 10, 2025, age 69

Charles S. McCrory, ’79, West Bloomfield, Mich. , died Feb. 11, 2026, age 75

Jim V. Slagle, ’79 MA, Lutz, Fla. , died Feb. 20, 2026, age 89

Raymond C. Smith, ’79 MA, Cheyenne, Wyo. , died Mar. 24, 2026, age 85

Don B. Waterhouse, ’79 MBA, St. Petersberg, Fla. , died Mar. 24, 2026, age 79

Tonnie S. (Wood) Zemanek, ’79, Sanford, Mich. , died Mar. 8, 2026, age 70

Rodger K. Beaton, ’80 MA, Saratoga, Ark. , died May 28, 2022, age 79

Douglas A. Beish, ’80 MA, Dover, Del. , died Mar. 2, 2026, age 76

Walter O. Butler, ’80 MA, Dover, Del. , died Feb. 8, 2026, age 90

John H. Foster, ’80, Portland, Maine, died Dec. 12, 2025, age 68

Leon J. Goode, ’80 MA, Clinton, Md. , died Apr. 3, 2026, age 91

Kenneth T. Johnson, ’80 MA, Auburn Hills, Mich. , died Apr. 24, 2025, age 88

James M. LaFollette, ’80 MA, Sandston, Va. , died Mar. 28, 2026, age 89

James G. Randas, ’80 MA, Westerville, Ohio, died Dec. 23, 2025, age 74

Randolph Seiss, ’80 MBA, Harbor Springs, Mich. , died Jan. 28, 2026, age 78

Morris W. Asbill, ’81 MA, LaGrange, Texas, died Mar. 3, 2026, age 87

Randolph M. Banks, ’81 MA, Suffolk, Va. , died Nov. 19, 2025, age 80

Gwendolyn Bean, ’81, Okemos, Mich. , died Nov. 12, 2025, age 67

Susan K. Bland, ’81, Myrtle Beach, S.C., died Oct. 16, 2025, age 67

Lucetry Bonds, ’81, ’94 MSA, Pontiac, Mich. , died Mar. 3, 2026, age 67

In Memory

Frederick U. Bowers III, ’81 MA, Milton, Fla. , died Feb. 13, 2026, age 77

Edward P. Cole, ’81 MA, Bainbridge, Ga. , died Dec. 31, 2025, age 73

Robert W. Davis, ’81, Novi, Mich. , died Mar. 16, 2026, age 72

Mary J. Detwiler, ’81, Holt, Mich. , died Mar. 20, 2026, age 67

Bobbie Elam, ’81 MA, Dayton, Ohio, died Nov. 25, 2025, age 77

Wilma B. Irby, ’81 MA, Vineland, N. J., died Oct. 22, 2025, age 89

Emilie D. (DeWeese) Kanitz, ’81 MA, Utica, Mich. , died Feb. 10, 2026, age 89

Reed W. Leaman, ’81, Elk Rapids, Mich. , died Oct. 29, 2025, age 74

Stephanie L. Mayo, ’81, Clayton, N.C., died Mar. 4, 2026, age 70

Susan J. Miller, ’81, Midland, Mich. , died Feb. 24, 2026, age 67

Marjorie A. (Kolaja) Mills, ’81, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Jan. 29, 2026, age 86

Troy Moore, ’81 MA, Abilene, Texas, died Jan. 18, 2026, age 87

Howard L. Moore, ’81 MA, Dayton, Ohio, died Dec. 5, 2025, age 86

Michael O. Patterson, ’81, St. Louis, Mich., died Dec. 26, 2025, age 92

Larry J. Pickett, ’81 MA, Neptune Beach, Fla. , died Feb. 23, 2026, age 86

Vincent M. Yaniga, ’81 MA, Circleville, Ohio, died Apr. 3, 2026, age 74

Daniel J. Abid, ’82, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Jan. 16, 2026, age 65

Donna S. (Green) Bolthouse, ’82 MSA, Holland, Mich. , died Dec. 20, 2025, age 83

Edward G. Bourdeau, ’82, ’88 MA, Grand Blanc, Mich. , died Jan. 15, 2026, age 81

Gordon J. Dyker, ’82, Atlanta, Ga. , died Dec. 24, 2025, age 65

Timothy M. Granger, ’82, Manistee, Mich. , died Nov. 29, 2025, age 66

Cindy R. (Gibbs) Grobelski, ’82, East China, Mich. , died Oct. 23, 2025, age 65

Janet S. (Knoerr) Hoerauf, ’82, ’88 MA, Bay City, Mich. , died Nov. 30, 2025, age 91

Margaret M. (Lozen) Janes, ’82, Alpena, Mich. , died Oct. 21, 2025, age 64

Henry P. L’Esperance, ’82 MA, Howell, Mich. , died Oct. 20, 2025, age 87

Kim L. (Lintjer) Meyers, ’80, Grand Haven, Mich. , died Mar. 18, 2026, age 66

Phillip J. Stoddard, ’82, Pewamo, Mich. , died Feb. 25, 2026, age 65

Craig A. Borr, ’83, Cadillac, Mich. , died Mar. 17, 2026, age 64

Jody F. (Penrod) Defever, ’83, Allen Park, Mich. , died Feb. 8, 2026, age 65

Michael L. Malcomnson, ’83 MA, Big Rapids, Mich. , died Dec. 30, 2025, age 73

William L. Strome III, ’83, Kalamazoo, Mich. , died Mar. 21, 2026, age 64

David L. Vigansky, ’83, Marshall, Mich. , died Jan. 4, 2026, age 64

Scott R. Winn, ’83, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Jan. 8, 2026, age 65

Kevin J. Barkume, ’84, Canton, Mich. , died Jan. 28, 2026, age 63

Floyd G. Estridge, ’84, Beverly, W.V., died Oct. 20, 2025, age 88

Richard W. Faher, ’84, Placentia, Calif. , died Mar. 7, 2026, age 68

Theodore C. Fields, ’84 MA, Pflugerville, Texas, died Jan. 28, 2026, age 82

William L. Griffin, ’84 MA, Manchester, Mich. , died Nov. 25, 2025, age 80

Rollin A. Jones, ’84, Fife Lake, Mich. , died Jan. 6, 2026, age 63

Debbie S. (Myers) Lockwood, ’84, Hillsdale, Mich. , died Feb. 20, 2026, age 63

Randy J. Riley, ’84, East Lansing, Mich. , died Jan. 3, 2026, age 63

Jose Sanchez, ’84 MA, Olympia, Wash. , died Feb. 12, 2026, age 86

Shirley Y. (Haylett) Van Rhee, ’84, Battle Creek, Mich. , died Jan. 15, 2026, age 94

Leta R. (Milholin) Amon, ’85 MA, Traverse City, Mich. , died Aug. 22, 2025, age 86

Katherine M. (McNerney) Andres, ’85, Overland Park, Kans. , died Jan. 27, 2026, age 62

Wilma G. (Sterling) Baldwin, ’85, Stanton, Mich. , died Jan. 5, 2026, age 95

Rachelle S. (Stachel) Burk, ’85, St. Johns, Mich., died Apr. 6, 2026, age 72

Mitchell G. Cain, ’85, Southwick, Mass. , died Dec. 16, 2025, age 63

Kevin P. Gareau, ’85 MA, North Royalton, Ohio, died Nov. 11, 2025, age 68

Greg Hemling, ’85, ’00 MBA, Bay City, Mich. , died Feb. 3, 2026, age 62

Lonna I. (Briggs) Ramsby, ’85, Traverse City, Mich. , died Apr. 13, 2025, age 62

Sandra L. (Somsel) Shyposki, ’85, Goshen, Ind. , died Jan. 9, 2026, age 64

John D. Veeser, ’85, Spring, Texas, died Dec. 9, 2025, age 64

Joseph T. Wolf, ’85 MSA, Albuquerque, N. M., died Jul. 10, 2025, age 69

Daniel E. Gasperis, ’86, Auburn Hills, Mich. , died Mar. 4, 2026, age 71

David E. Pratt, ’86, Grand Blanc, Mich. , died Mar. 11 , 2026, age 62

Judiann (West) DeMartino, ’87, Montague, Mich. , died Oct. 30, 2025, age 80

Richard T. Fields Jr., ’87 MSA, Glenn Dale, Md. , died Feb. 9, 2026, age 75

Patrick L. Fitzgerald, ’87, Kingsley, Mich. , died Sep. 10, 2025, age 79

Eugene J. Marcinak, ’87, Auburn Hills, Mich. , died Oct. 21, 2025, age 87

Judith D. (Alonzo) McNeill, ’87 MSA, Warren, Mich. , died Mar. 13, 2026, age 85

Robert B. Mooney, ’87 MA, Clarkston, Mich. , died Feb. 11, 2026, age 72

Dorothy L. (Williams) Sparks, ’87 MSA, Baltimore, Md. , died Nov. 25, 2025, age 73

Robert L. Dye, ’88, Freeland, Mich. , died Jan. 22, 2026, age 66

Karen A. (Netzloff) Earle, ’88, Harrisonburg, Va. , died Jan. 14, 2026, age 60

Brett W. French, ’88, ’90 MS, Ishpeming, Mich. , died Feb. 20, 2025, age 63

Gary S. McClain, ’88 MA, Midland, Mich. , died Dec. 19, 2025, age 78

Timothy J. Quinn, ’88 MA, Howell, Mich. , died Mar. 20, 2026, age 76

Carl T. Simo, ’88 MSA, South Lyon, Mich. , died Mar. 11, 2026, age 78

Kenneth R. Barker, ’89, Hartland, Mich. , died Feb. 10, 2026, age 74

Michael A. Delventhal, ’98 MSA, Lexington, Ky. , died Mar. 16, 2026, age 71

Gail S. (Pendell) Hale, ’89, ’16 MSA, Huntsville, Ala. , died Jan. 23, 2026, age 72

Douglas R. July, ’89 MA, Grand Blanc, Mich. , died Mar. 22, 2026, age 69

Kathryn A. Koskuc, ’89, Harbor Springs, Mich. , died Oct. 28, 2025, age 59

Timothy J. Murphy, ’89, Rochester Hills, Mich. , died Jan. 29, 2026, age 61

Nancy D. Nagler, ’89 MA, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Oct. 15, 2025, age 93

Timothy C. Ohmer, ’89, Kalamazoo, Mich. , died Dec. 24, 2025, age 61

Julie A. (Monroe) Deppner, ’90, Kalamazoo, Mich. , died Dec. 13, 2025, age 57

Carol V. (Velz) Gilrane, ’90 MSA, Pompton Plains, N. J., died Feb. 10, 2026, age 85

Theodore H. Mueller, ’90 MSA, Gurley, Ala. , died Dec. 17, 2025, age 80

Patrick Q. Nestor, ’90 MSA, Traverse City, Mich. , died Jan. 28, 2025, age 71

Robin H. (Alsobrook) O’Neal, ’90 MSA, Augusta, Ga. , died Dec. 6, 2025, age 69

Robert C. Schaefer, ’90, Portage, Mich. , died Oct. 23, 2025, age 78

Susan L. (Cady) Wilson, ’90 MA, Traverse City, Mich. , died Dec. 16, 2026, age 78

William Atkins, ’91 MSA, Cherry Hill, N. J., died Mar. 3, 2026, age 89

Kevin A. Edelmann, ’91, Linden, Mich. , died Jan. 9, 2026, age 57

Stephen C. Freeman, ’91 MSA, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. , died Feb. 13, 2026, age 78

Antonio M. Garcia, ’91 MSA, Sterling Heights, Mich. , died Nov. 25, 2025, age 74

Bruce E. Nicholson, ’91 MA, Kalamazoo, Mich. , died Dec. 1, 2025, age 77

Heather M. (Dean) Smith, ’91, Lakeland, Fla. , died Dec. 13, 2025, age 57

Thomas M. Webber, ’91, Flint, Mich. , died Jan. 31, 2026, age 60

Timothy S. Marciniak, ’92, Essexville, Mich. , died Oct. 10, 2025, age 57

Richard B. Robinson, ’92 MSA, Butler, Fla. , died Dec. 31, 2025, age 84

Kimberly A. Voelker, ’92, Orlando, Fla. , died Jan. 17, 2026, age 56

Keith S. Watson, ’92 MSA, Lansing, Mich. , died Dec. 23, 2025, age 61

Robinann White, ’92 MA, L’Anse, Mich. , died Mar. 21, 2026, age 86

James “Mike” Williams, ’92 MSA, Mc Cordsville, Ind. , died Dec. 8, 2025, age 82

Marda A. Gunning, ’93, Hilton Head Island, N.C., died Dec. 15, 2025, age 57

Terry L. Kolhoff, ’93, ’01 MA, St. Johns, Mich., died Mar. 1, 2026, age 57

William P. Matthews, ’93, ’01 MA, Harrison, Mich. , died Oct. 30, 2025, age 58

Heather D. Liske, ’94, Hubbard Lake, Mich. , died Jan. 10, 2026, age 65

Jean R. Snyder, ’94, Rochester, Mich. , died Aug. 21, 2025, age 88

Susan C. Vich, ’94, Phillips, Wis. , died Mar. 14, 2026, age 73

John H. Childs, ’96 MSA, Sterling Heights, Mich. , died Dec. 30, 2025, age 78

Thomas M. Russell, ’96, Canton, Mich. , died Feb 18, 2026, age 68

Jill M. (Trost) Tooley, ’96, Benzonia, Mich. , died Mar. 3, 2026, age 76

David R. Wind, ’96, Gaylord, Mich. , died Feb. 23, 2026, age 59

Jaimi L. (Smaka) Hegenauer, ’97, ’03, Linden, Mich. , died Oct. 18, 2025, age 52

Loren M. Preuss, ’98 MAH, Lowell, Mich. , died Feb. 20, 2026, age 65

Richard L. Witte, ’98 MSA, Berlin, Md. , died Mar. 22, 2026, age 78

Janet C. Danosky, ’99 MA, Dearborn, Mich. , died Oct. 27, 2025, age 77

James R. Freshwater, ’99 MSA, Peyton, Colo. , died Mar. 24, 2026, age 66

John Macik, ’99 MSA, Utica, Mich. , died Dec. 12, 2025, age 73

Judy A. (Gratsch) Tanner, ’99 MSA, Goodrich, Mich. , died Oct. 14, 2025, age 77

Darcy G. Cox, ’00, ’02 MS, Weidman, Mich. , died Dec. 2, 2025, age 54

Eugenia (Grabowski) Czopeck, ’00 MA, Lewiston, Mich. , died Feb. 9, 2026, age 83

Diane S. (Evans) Hagood, ’00 MA, Marietta, Ga. , died Oct. 17, 2025, age 75

Arthur L. McCune, ’00 MSA, Temple Hills, Md. , died Jan. 1, 2026, age 78

Richard L. Kelley II, ’02, Carson City, Mich. , died Mar. 20, 2026, age 48

Dominic J. Rovano, ’02, Hudson, N.Y., died Nov. 11, 2025, age 45

Dennis R. Geppert, ’03, Cadillac, Mich. , died Nov. 17, 2025, age 47

Thomas “Tim” Adams, ’04 MSA, Pitman, N. J., died Mar. 22, 2026, age 62

Misty M. Crayton, ’04 MA, Locust Grove, Ga. , died Nov. 25, 2025, age 45

Douglas G. Chmiel, ’05, Farmington Hills, Mich. , died Mar. 13, 2026, age 43

Crystal D. Sanford-Brown, ’05, ’07 MPA, ’18 Ed. S., Bloomfield Hills, Mich., died Jan. 30, 2026, age 62

Caleb D. Sinke, ’05, Lake Odessa, Mich. , died Jan. 1, 2025, age 44

Robert W. Smith, ’06, Romeo, Mich. , died Apr. 3, 2026, age 63

Marvin S. Solomon, ’06 MSA, Woodbridge, Va. , died Dec. 8, 2025, age 66

Joseph M. Marinak, ’08 Au. D., Harrisburg, Penn., died Dec. 8, 2025, age 74

Kathy A. (Kazmirowski) Campbell, ’09, ’11 MSA, ’19 DHA, Madison Heights, Mich. , died Feb. 9, 2026, age 67

FACULTY/STAFF

Anthony M. Miele, ’62 MA, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Feb. 16, 2026, age 97

Ronald L. Williams, ’70, ’87 MA, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Jan. 22, 2026, age 86

Robert J. Ebner, ’76, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 9, 2026, age 74

Sarah A. (Vallely) Campbell, ’80, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Nov. 6, 2025, age 82

Gary Fuller, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 3, 2026, age 83

Nora J. Horning, Benicio, Calif. , died Jan. 6, 2026, age 80

Rodney C. Kirk, Alma, Mich. , died Apr. 6, 2026, age 85

Roy Kramer, Vonroe, Tenn. , died Dec. 4, 2025, age 96

Herbert Lenon, Manistee, Mich. , died Jan. 14, 2026, age 86

Dorothy McConnell, Farwell, Mich. , died Jan. 11, 2026, age 89

Delores A. Miller, Mt. Pleasant , Mich., died Apr. 8, 2026, age 86

Thompson C. Moffit, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Jan. 15, 2026, age 98

Francis J. Molson, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. , died Dec. 2, 2025, age 93

Gordon W. Moss, Harrison, Mich. , died Mar. 14, 2026, age 89

James Wojciechowski, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., died Feb. 24, 2026, age 78

DO YOU REMEMBER

All-American CELEBRATIONS

CMU marked the country’s bicentennial with a week of events in 1976

While most United States bicentennial celebrations took place on or around July 4, 1976, CMU joined in the commemoration Sept. 13-17 that year — likely because it was the first full week of fall classes with students back on campus.

The theme of the week was “Understanding America,” and the main event was a lecture by U.S. Sen. Sam Ervin from North Carolina — the chair of the committee investigating Watergate. His lecture, unsurprisingly, focused on the U.S. Constitution and democracy.

Other events included a performance by folk singer Jean Ritchie, a performance by the Buffalo Philharmonic, a one-man show by Fredd Wayne as Benjamin Franklin, and a dance performance by CMU’s Country Dancers, led by Carole Howard.

The Clarke Historical Library featured a photo exhibition about U.S. history titled “The Way We Were.”

This year, look for events on campus marking our country’s semiquincentennial — the 250th birthday. The Clarke plans an exhibit titled “From the Consent of the Governed: Michigan and the Declaration of Independence.”

It explores the people and events in the 20th century in Michigan that embody the values in that 250-year-old document.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

FUND

Life is full of twists and turns — events that can threaten a student’s college education. At CMU, our Student Emergency Fund is there when our CMU Chippewas need a boost, often allowing them to stay in school through difficult circumstances. ignite.cmich.edu/sef

$1,463,079 dollars have been awarded 1,152 Students awarded dollars $119,300 Dollars raised for the 25-26 fiscal year 1,167 Donors for the 25-26 fiscal year

“During my undergrad, I ran into a life event that sent me and my finances whirling. I thought I was going to have to give up on my dreams and walk away from the university. My family could not make up the difference, so I reached out to my advisor to see if there was any hope. She connected me to the Student Emergency Fund and I was able to surpass this hardship. Today I am beyond proud to say I have recently elevated my career by accepting a new role as a Global Inventory Analyst at the Dollar General corporate headquarters in Goodlettsville, TN.”

Jeremiah Carter ’22 Bachelor of Business Administration: Marketing and Management