Spring 2013
2300 S. Washington St.
P.O. Box 9003
Kokomo, IN 46904-9003
Visit us at: iuk.edu
Campus continues the momentum!
Old Ben 5K raises
money for scholarships
More than 200 runners and walkers took part in the 28th annual Old Ben 5K on Saturday, March 9, at Kokomo’s Highland
Park. Proceeds of the race benefit the Indiana University
Kokomo Alumni Association (IUKAA) Scholarship Fund. This
year’s event was presented by Community Howard Regional
Health. Sponsors were Kokomo New Car Dealers Association
and the Kokomo Tribune; the Club Kokomo Roadrunners, the
City of Kokomo Parks and Recreation Department and the
IUKAA hosted the race.
Taking home top prizes for this year’s race were overall
female runner: Cami Hansen, 22:10; overall female walker:
Mary Miller, 31:59; overall male runner: Kory Kennedy, 16:23;
and overall male walker: Vince Lorenz, 28:42.
Thank you to those who recently renewed their commitment to Indiana University and
those making a lifetime commitment.
Annual members
Diana Goodnight
Robert Novak
Kokomo
Mexico
Cynthia Hardesty
Carole Ogle
Niceville, Fla.
Bunker Hill
Melissa Helton
Marie Radel
Converse
Peru
Barbara Hilton
Daniel Rott
Kokomo
Noblesville
Constance Hudson
Sandra Stout
Indianapolis
Frankfort
Brian Jordan
Carolyn Townsend
Logansport
Kokomo
Arcadia
April Matthews Dunagin
Carmel
Debra Fawcett
Elizabeth Jordan
Gary Trimble
Kokomo
Tipton
Gregory Landrum
Nancy Troyer
Russiaville
Miami
Elizabeth Miller
Cynthia Tudor
Westfield
Kokomo
Guyla Mullins
Greg Wyant
Galveston
Sheridan
Sue Norris
Sheila Wyant
Logansport
Sheridan
Tipton
Kelly Bonhomme
Spring, Texas
Brian Butt
Peru
Pamela Childers
Peru
Monica Cochran
Kokomo
Deanna Crispen
Kokomo
Gary Flook
Peru
Courtenay French
Westfield Terry Goodman
Indianapolis
Commencement
May 7, 2013
www.iuk.edu/alumni
The IUKAA thanks all the sponsors, partners and participants
for another successful Old Ben 5K.
Thank you IU Alumni Association Members!
Lindsey Ball
Spring semester at Indiana University Kokomo is in full swing, and we are
busier than ever gearing up for May’s Commencement, on May 7, as
well as recruiting new students for the upcoming academic year.
It is my privilege to work with an amazing group of people on our campus who are dedicated to the success of our students.
Some very worthy news of note include a recent addition to our degree
offerings – hospitality and tourism. The Indiana Commission for Higher
Education approved this bachelor’s degree program for our campus,
one that is relevant to the needs of our region.
Campus is buzzing with activity and construction on several projects
expected to come to fruition this spring and summer. We will unveil a
new courtyard area soon, located between the Kelley Student Center
and Hunt Hall, where students can gather outdoors to study and socialize. Also, we will have a place to call “home” for our sports programs
with the renovation of a gymnasium in downtown Kokomo. This collegiate-size facility will open with the women’s volleyball season in August.
We are working fervently on securing the remaining $500,000 of our
$2 million Inspire Power campaign, that will ensure funding for the Milt
and Jean Cole Family Wellness and Fitness Center. This 20,000 squarefoot facility is set to open at the beginning of fall semester, and is a
much-needed asset for this campus.
As alumni, I encourage you to stay connected to our campus
and help us keep the momentum moving forward. I hope you
will join us at the grand opening of our new Wellness and Fitness
Center on September 18, 2013. Thank you for your support of
IU Kokomo!
Join Us for the
IU Kokomo Golf Outing!
Sincerely,
Interim Chancellor Susan Sciame -Giesecke
Robert Young
Kokomo
Chris Hallock
Birmingham, Mich.
Life members
Melodie Horton
Michigan City
Chasity Mota
Wabash
Joshua Mota
Wabash
Rebecca Owens
Bloomington
Barbara Valencia
Oswego, Ill.
To join the IU Alumni Association as an annual
or lifetime member, visit the IUAA website at
www.alumni.iu.edu.
Wednesday, July 17th
1 p.m. Shotgun Start
www.iuk.edu/golfouting
Locker rooms
Jogging track and cardio equipment
Prior to construction
The two locker rooms in the wellness and
fitness center will contain approximately
80 lockers each.
This area will include a jogging track, with stateof-the-art cardio equipment in the center. Also,
it will have rooms designated for classrooms
and aerobics.
Before the groundbreaking of the Milt and
Jean Cole Family Wellness and Fitness Center, this space was used for library storage
and had a gravel floor.
Alex Huskey, B.G.S. ’06, M.P.M. ’10
To say Alex Huskey has a busy life would be an understatement. In addition to serving
as senior pastor of a church in Marion, he also is chairman of the Indiana Alcohol and
Tobacco Commission, which oversees enforcement of state laws regarding alcohol and
tobacco.
He’s come a long way in both his ministry and law enforcement career, and says his education at IU Kokomo was a crucial element in his success.
Alumni Association gets basketball fever
“I worked in behavioral science in the Air Force,” he said. “Then I was a police officer,
and grew from that and gained experience when I became the deputy chief in Marion.
That led me to be superintendent of state excise, and that led to being chairman. In that
process, I recognize a key component in that success was education.”
February was an active month for hosting basketball events for the alumni
association. On February 13, IUKAA co-hosted the annual IU watch party with the
Howard Tipton Chapter of the IU Alumni Association. More than 50 fans cheered
and enjoyed free food at Grindstone Charley’s in Kokomo, as then No. 1 IU
defeated Nebraska, 76-47.
After he left the active duty Air Force and moved to Marion, he enrolled at IU Kokomo,
earning a bachelor’s degree in general studies in 2006. Later, he returned to the campus
to earn a Master of Public Management degree in 2010. While he was studying, he also
held two jobs, in law enforcement and ministry, and raised two children with his wife, Eileen.
Those years taught him important skills in balancing his work, school, and family life, he said. “Education was always important
for me, but I realized that my responsibilities as a father and husband were important as well,” he said. “Before I was able to
work towards degree completion on a regular basis, I periodically attended college courses, with the idea I would eventually complete a degree. Once our children were well established in school, I was able to attend on a more permanent basis,
and completed my undergraduate studies. Then, I took a break to focus on other responsibilities before starting my master’s
degree.”
M
any teenagers use their college years to distance themselves from their mothers, asserting
their independence.
But for Indiana University Kokomo freshman Ashley
Miller and her mother, Jennifer, college has been a
bonding experience, drawing
them closer.
“We’re still mother and
daughter, but we have more
of a friendship now,” said
Jennifer, a junior.
“I get to know her on a more
personal level now,” Ashley
added. “She’s a cool mom.”
the near future. She encouraged her daughter to join
to make a connection to the campus.
“The student alumni association works hard to bring
events to campus for campus unity,” she said. “As I’m
getting closer to graduation, I’m enjoying the opportunity to get to know alumni,
making connections that
could help me in my career.”
She encourages me
to find ways to be
involved with the group
and on campus.
Ashley has enjoyed being
involved in the group with
her mother, and is glad she
pushed her to join.
The two have a lot in common — both are studying
health management, they are
in the same folklore class, and
both serve on the IU Kokomo Student Alumni Association board.
Jennifer said in the past, she
tried to be just like all the other college students, so having
her daughter on campus
– Ashley Miller
has been an adjustment.
She laughs recalling their first
week on campus together, when Ashley called to her
from across the quad.
Jennifer began attending IU Kokomo four years ago as
a part-time student, and enrolled full time in fall 2012.
She plans to graduate in 2014, and will pursue a Master
of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree before seeking a job. Ashley is a recent high school graduate.
“She yelled, ‘Hey, Mom!’ at me, and I was kind of
embarrassed at first,” she said. “I’ve always tried to feel
like I’m just one of the students. Then I realized she was
excited to see me, at an age most girls don’t want to
hang out with their moms.”
Jennifer was first to join the student alumni association,
as a way to make the transition to being an alumna in
The following Friday, the alumni association headed to Banker’s Life Fieldhouse
in Indianapolis to watch the Pacers defeat the Detroit Pistons, 114-82. Prior to the
game, the alumni association hosted a free social hour. The alumni association
and the School of Nursing sold nearly 100 tickets, raising about $500 for international programs at IU Kokomo. Campus representatives were recognized at
center court during half time.
Major:
Nursing and Psychology
Graduation Date:
Possibly Dec 2014, if I don’t deploy.
May 2016, if I do.
He said going to college as an older student meant he and his family made some sacrifices, but it has been worth the trade
off, not just for the career opportunities it gave him, but the sense of personal accomplishment.
“I had already experienced successful careers, but I wanted to enhance my ability to navigate in emerging business trends
and organizations,” he said. “That sense of accomplishment was worth the risk and effort.”
From left: Judy Golitko,
President IUKAA, presenting
Cathy Valcke the
Distinguished Service Award.
Ryan Bowman
at rsbowman@iuk.edu
or (765) 455-9413
IUKAA Is Seeking Volunteer Alumni Leaders
Criteria: The IUKAA Board of Directors
is seeking alumni to serve in a volunteer capacity to support the mission
of Indiana University Kokomo and the
IU Alumni Association.
Interested candidates should email
Ryan Bowman, director of alumni
relations and campus ceremonies,
with a résumé and a statement of
interest.
To learn more about who serves on
the Board of Directors and the mission of the IUKAA visit www.iuk.edu/
alumni.
Resides:
Peru, Indiana, with my wonderful wife
Meredith and daughter, Molly.
High School:
Peru High School
Huskey had a distinguished career with the Marion Police Department, serving as deputy chief. In 2004, he was the first African
American appointed superintendent of the Indiana Excise Police, a position he held until former Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed him to his current position, as chairman of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.
Questions?
Brian Arwood
Past Presidents Award
Cathy Valcke lives cream and crimson, as a passionate Indiana University supporter.
The IU Kokomo Alumni Association recently rewarded her many years of dedication
with its Distinguished Service Award. She began her career at IU Kokomo in April
1998, as director of alumni relations and public affairs. In June 2010, she became
director of human resources.
Amanda Shoultz, immediate past president, could not think of a more deserving
recipient. “Cathy Valcke is a shining example of dedication and service to her campus, her university, and her community,” she said. “Her passion for all things IU runs
deep, and is part of the fabric that is IU Kokomo. There are few names that top the
list when thinking of those who have molded IU Kokomo into what it is today, and
her name is atop that list.”
“It’s a good feeling to know I’ve been of service,” Valcke said “There’s no way I will
ever be able to repay what IU Kokomo has given me.”
Campus Activities:
Student Government, Student Nurse
Association, Psychology Club, Student
Athletics and Wellness Board, Cougar
Kicks Soccer, IU-SEEK, OSSA, Career
Services, Orientation Leader, Student
Veterans Organization, Student Nurse
Leader.
Q: Why did you choose IUK?
A: Affordability, close to home, quality
of education, and low student to
teacher ratio. Also, the small campus prides a lot more opportunity to
get involved, make an impact, and
succeed.
Post-Graduation Plans:
Get working! After college, just one full
time job will be like a vacation!