Southeastern Community College lost some dear staff and alumni over the past few months. We thank them for their dedication to SCC.
Paul Clampett
Alex Paul Clampitt (1946-2011) passed away in April, of this year. Paul helped countless dislocated workers, youth and offenders through the Job Training Partnership (JTPA), Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Promise Jobs over his 25 year career.
Larry Daggs
Larry Daggs (1937-2011) passed away in February of this year. Larry served as a Charter Member of the 1966 SCC Board of Trustees. He was instrumental in securing the site of what would eventually become SCC's Keokuk campus.
Billie Duttweiler
Billie Duttweiler (1923-2011) and her late husband, Dutch, established a $25,000 endowed scholarship in 1995 for SCC athletes and non-traditional students.
Ray Eilenstine
Raymond (Ray) Eilenstine (1945-2011) was a longtime Psychology teacher on SCC’s West Burlington campus. While at SCC, he earned two outstanding teacher awards from Western Illinois University.
Lee Hodges
Lee Hodges passed away September 11,2011. For most of his career he worked for the University of Georgia’s Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College, mainly in the forestry department and later in the animal science department.
Lee's family established a scholarship in the names of him and his father James Hodges.
Charles Lewis (1950-2011), part-time Professional Math Tutor for SCC’s federally funded Title III Developmental Education and Retention Project.
AlumNotes features those alumni who contact us. Some tell us what they've been up to since graduation, some share their stories of their time here, others just want to say hi.
I am a strong believer in community colleges and what they have to offer. They offer some of the best education because they focus more on the academics and students than some of these major colleges out there. Regards, Joshua D. Cloke (‘05), Two Rivers Insurance Services
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Dr. Edward Stone
Dr. Edward Stone (BJC '56) and 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Edward Stone has elected to add $45,000 to his existing $30,000 endowed STEM scholarship (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Like the first gift, these monies are to be managed by the SCC Foundation. The annual recipient is to be the most promising of SCC’s STEM graduates who is continuing his/her education. Dr. Stone will be in Burlington in August, 2012 at the opening of the school which is to be named for him. We’ll be sure to give him our thanks in person.
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The best part of attending SCC was the fact that I could work full-time and still attend classes. After finishing my degree locally, I was able to pursue my BSN on-line after transferring my credits to a university. Diane M. Aliprandi (‘06), Chair SCC Nursing Alumni Chapter
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This Spring I received my AA Degree from SCC. My son also received his AA degree and my son-in-law received his Business Degree. Most of our degrees were done online which we could have done at any school but we chose SCC. Denise Fraise (‘11), Lee County Deputy Auditor
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Monie Wilson Hayes (‘79-‘80) recently returned to SCC as a writing and reading tutor and as a professor of developmental education courses. After completing her freshman year at SCC, she transferred to the University of Iowa to earn an English degree. After several years teaching and writing, she returned to Iowa where she earned her master’s and doctorate degrees. Favorite memories of her SCC days include student senate meetings, Donly Payne’s literature classes, and visits to dad Wally Wilson’s advising office.
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From left: Dixie Howells, Lorenzo Watkins, Brian Turner, John Anderson.
Don “Dixie” Howells and John Anderson, BHS classmates and members of the 1945-46 BJC Men’s State Basketball Championship team, were in town on September 12, 2011 to visit with other BHS high school classmates. Dixie and John were happy to meet assistant coaches, Lorenzo Watkins and Brian Turner. [see photo] A few days later, Dixie sent a $3,000 donation to the Foundation in memory of his late wife Peggy Eversman Howells (BJC 1947). The undesignated gift was allocated to the President’s Circle fund and will be incorporated onto the new PC donor plaque going up soon in the lobby of Bldg. 400 on the West Burlington campus.
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Gary McPherson (BJC ‘64) stopped by one day after receiving an SCC Alumni Association brochure in the mail. He loves how SCC has grown and remembers playing basketball at SCC during 1962-63 when the team was 4th in the nation and in 1963-64 when they were 2nd in the nation.
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James Engle
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) will honor James Engle (BJC '38) and 2009 SCC Distinguished Alumnus, with its Outstanding Alumni Award at its 2012 Annual Convention in April.The Outstanding Alumni Award is bestowed upon graduates from community colleges across the United States who have excelled in their field and given back to their community.
Mr. Engle joins a small, distinguished group of individuals who have received this honor. SCC is proud to have played a part in Mr. Engle's education.
Want to be featured in the next AlumNotes? Drop us a line!
AlumNotes c/o Becky Rump 1500 West Agency Road West Burlington, IA 52655 or alumnotes@scciowa.edu
Thirty six teams and several hundred generous donors helped net over $11,000 for alumni scholarships, college mini-grants and Distinguished Alumni Awards at the 16th Annual SCC Alumni Association Golf Outing on Friday, July 15.
Always the 3rd Friday in July at Sheaffer Golf Course near Fort Madison, Iowa, the event included prizes for all players and food from the new Aggies on the Greens restaurant. We can happily report more flag and team sponsors than ever before and a team waiting list for the third year in a row!
Golfers having fun at the SCCAA.
Don't get left out in the rough! Call 319-208-5062 NOW to reserve a team spot for the 17th annual event scheduled for July 20, 2012!
Birdies for Charity Pledges Support SCCAA
A Birdies for Charity pledge provides a painless way to support the SCCAA. All it takes is a pledge of 1¢ or more per birdie to be made at the 2012 John Deere Classic. If you guess the number of birdies to be made in 2012 - you might win a car or other great prizes! If you choose to complete the form and return it to SCCAA (1500 W. Agency Road, West Burlington, IA 52655), JDC’s Birdies for Charity staff will invoice you next July 2012! 100% of the paid pledges come back to the SCCAA!
Cumulative Giving Societies as of June 30, 2011 - Southeastern Community College Foundation Dates indicate the year donors qualified for membership in a giving society
Iowa State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Waterman paid a visit to SCC’s West Burlington campus in September to deliver a lecture about the history and current events of the Iowa State Supreme Court to students and area residents.
SCC has over 100 works of art on display across its West Burlington campus. Walking art tour maps are available at the Welcome Center.
Many SCC scholarships have been updated, renewed or increased recently.
Over 50 riders came out for the 4th Annual Dan Ring Memorial Bike Ride held on September 24. The event raised over $2,500 for the Dan Ring Nursing Scholarship.
The Hamilton-Walters Marine Corps Detachment Scholarship was revised and reactivated to give two annual awards of $250 each to family members of US military soldiers or veterans (preference to family members of Marines).
The family of recently deceased Lee J. Hodges contributed $10,000 to the current James Hodges Scholarship, expanded eligibility to include Arts & Sciences students, and updated the name to the James and Lee Hodges Endowed Scholarship.
The Keokuk Campus Nursing Scholarship was renamed the James Bowles and Larry Daggs Endowed Nursing Scholarship. Retired SCC Keokuk Campus Dean Jim Bowles worked to secure additional funding for this endowment when it appeared the scholarship would be discontinued. The late Larry Daggs, while serving on the charter 1966 SCC Board of Trustees, was instrumental in securing the site for the current Keokuk Campus.
When long-time SCC Psychology instructor Ray Eilenstine passed away in October 2011, his family established a memorial scholarship for disadvantaged Burlington High School graduates enrolling at SCC.
Inmates involved in the Toastmasters Club at Iowa State Penitentiary established a $500 annual scholarship for persons enrolling at SCC who have been previously incarcerated through the Iowa Department of Corrections system or for their immediate family members. This is the second scholarship developed and funded by ISP inmates, under the leadership of Steven Frasier-Bey.
Clarification
The article, “Dreamers Wanted” in the Spring/Summer 2011 edition of the Vision, incorrectly implied that graduates who earn SCC’s current Animation for Television, Film and New Media AAS degree would be able to transfer all of their credits to a four-year college. While some of the credits will indeed transfer, students may not be able to count every class toward a bachelor’s degree. Students should consult the transfer institution to learn which classes will transfer.
If you ever caught a Blackhawk game in Clark Field House, you know these hep-cats could really make some noise and bring the crowd to their feet.
Recognize anybody? Better yet, can you name this “far out” band.
Contact Becky Rump at 319-208-5065 or alumnotes@scciowa.edu.
Spring/Summer From the Archive winners
We received many responses to last edition’s From the Archives photo. Two alert alumni were not only there the day of the photo, one was in it!
Getting a jump on the semester.
“My husband and I had just started dating that summer, and I was there when he and several of his classmates posed for this picture.
All of the people pictured were 1965 graduates of Keokuk Senior High School. From left to right, they are: Lee Ralya, Susie Calhoun, Jim McKinstry, Steve Renard, and Kay Keating.
Thanks for bringing back some fun memories for us!"
The Southeastern Community College Alumni Association recognized Mary Sue Megchelsen Chatfield, retired Central Lee Elementary School teacher, and retired Sheaffer Pen Company Vice President and Chairman of Fort Madison Community Hospital Board Richard P. Canella as distinguished alumni at graduation events in May.
Mary Sue Megchelson Chatfield Distinguished Alumnus, Keokuk.
The awards are given annually to alumni of SCC or one of its predecessor institutions, who have achieved substantial public recognition for their accomplishments or success.
Mary Sue graduated from Keokuk Community College in 1960. She spent 42 years as an elementary school teacher in Lee County.
Mary Sue coordinated numerous community beautification and development projects in her hometown of Montrose, IA. She is coeditor of the monthly New Montrose Journal and is a correspondent for the Keokuk Daily Gate City and the Fort Madison Daily Democrat, writing weekly local news and historical articles. Mary Sue also helps write grant proposals and researches local history.
Mary Sue and her husband, Roger, reside in rural Montrose, IA. They are the parents of Joan Ealy and Alan Chatfield.
Richard Canella, Distinguished Alumnus, West Burlington.
Richard P. (Dick) Canella was born in Burlington, Iowa. He graduated from Burlington Junior College in 1940. For 39 years he was employed by the Sheaffer Pen Company, a world-wide manufacturer of writing instruments, based in Fort Madison, IA. He became Vice President of Operations and saw the company grow to become the city’s largest employer with over 1200 employees, and another 1200 overseas. His employees named him “Boss of the Year.”
Dick served as Chairman of the Board for Fort Madison Community Hospital, and was instrumental in building the current facility in 1986.
As member of the Iowa Gaming Commission, Mr. Canella participated in the development of State gaming regulations and oversight of gaming, as well as issuing gaming licenses.
On March 25, SCC hosted a luncheon honoring SCC’s first black graduate, Rev. Dr. William Amos “Booker” Smith Sr. (BJC ’31). Guest speaker, Rev. Smith’s son, Rev. William (Bill) Smith II, shared stories of his father’s accomplishments and challenges.
Bill says that after his father’s family moved to Iowa from Kentucky, they lived in a boxcar near the train yards in West Burlington. “That’s what you call luxury accommodations,” he jokes.
Rev. Smith was an eager learner and excelled scholastically. He became the first black student to graduate from Burlington High School in 1929.
Bill says that in those days, opportunities for blacks were few and far between. “He was black, he was poor, he had asthma and a stuttering impediment. That’s enough right there to say that you’ve got a formula for failure.”
Bill says in spite of his father’s situation, it wasn’t enough to stop him. “About the size of a pinhole – he had that much hope.”
He was offered a scholarship to attend then-Burlington Junior College (BJC). That one scholarship would open up an entire new world to him. Two years later, in 1931, he became the first black to graduate from BJC. He graduated at the top of his class.
Bill adds that Rev. Smith wasn’t driven by success or ego. “He wasn’t trying to be the first at anything or to be the best of anyone. He was simply trying to escape the bonds of poverty.”
Rev. Smith served as pastor for churches in six states.
In part due to his impressive academic achievements at BJC, he was offered a scholarship to attend Drake University in Des Moines where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. His sports were football, track and shot put, and he served on the college debate team. He maintained an A- average. After graduating from Drake, he returned to Burlington and became the first black ordained minister in 1934. He served as pastor of Union Baptist Church.
“He knew that’s where the source of his blessings were, so he answered the call to preach,” says Bill.
Over the course of his life, he would serve as pastor at six churches in five states.
He entered the Army during WWII, where he spent 15 years as an Army chaplain before retiring as a Major. In 1944, he was directed by General Eisenhower to study and make recommendations on negro troop morale.
“No matter where he was – all over Europe during the war, wherever he lived across the country, he never forgot Burlington. He kept this place in his mind and in his heart.”
As sponsor of the Ft. Valley State College debate team, 1957.
After retiring from the Army, he earned Divinity and Theology degrees from Crozer Seminary in Pennsylvania, and completed coursework for a Ph. D. at Temple University in Philadelphia.
He held a number of teaching and administrative positions at colleges and universities in South Dakota, Arkansas, Georgia and Florida.
Later he spent time as a minister at a church in Fort Valley, GA where he worked with college classmate Dr. Martin Luther King.
He moved to St. Petersburg, FL to become the pastor of First Baptist Institutional Church and serve as Professor of Social Studies at St. Petersburg Junior College. While there, he taught a new generation of students, giving them the same opportunities he had received so long ago.
Vivian (Dawson) Smith, Rev. Bill Smith, II, Charlotte Weldon hold Rev. Smith's Memorial Portrait.
His life had come full circle.
Rev. Smith passed away on October 2, 1973.
Bill adds, “you honor yourselves while you’re honoring him, because without that very first scholarship, who knows where he would have ended up.”
Rev. Smith’s plaque hangs in Building 400 near Loren Walker Arena.
Listen to Bill share a few stories of his father Rev. William Smith below.
AlumNotes features those alumni who contact us. Some tell us what they've been up to since graduation, some share their stories of their time here, others just want to say hi.
John Peterson (SCC ‘86), son of former SCC West Burlington campus Anatomy & Physiology Instructor, Dr. Ellen Peterson and husband, Walter. Transferred to UNI in 1986. John serves as Comptroller for Wisconsin Energy and resides in Richfield, WI with his wife, Jill (daughter of former SCC Registrar, Phil Mackey) and four children.
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We received your Fall 2010/Winter 2011 VISION and love it! I’ll stop by the next time we come “home.” - Dr. Richard Diamond (KCC ‘61) (In 1991, the Diamonds started an endowed Nursing scholarship for Keokuk students in memory of Dr. Dimond’s father, Andrew, and an Education scholarship in memory of his mother, Vera. Dr. Dimond grew up in Keokuk and is a retired physician. He and his wife, Brenda, now live in Seattle, WA.)
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John Erbland (BJC ‘69) continued his education at the University of Iowa and graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry in January 1972. He worked at Midwest Manufacturing in Burlington and at GE. He is now retired.
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I have only the fondest memories of my time at SCC. The students today may not realize how little it was on Gear Avenue in 1973! The faculty and staff (then and now) at SCC are outstanding, and I continue to be amazed at how much the college has grown. SCC gave me an excellent and cost effective foundation on which I was able to build. The science and math courses were fantastic and the smaller class size made learning easier than had I taken the same courses in Iowa City. SCC helped make getting my Dental Degree possible. My only regret was not having taken some Auto Tech courses! I was delighted when not one, but three of my family members have continued to help the institution grow as either faculty or staff (Mick Ritter, and Becky & Charlie Rump). While serving in the Air Force I encouraged many young service men and women to take advantage of the opportunities at the community college level. Allow me to say that I am proud to have the “A.S.” after my name. Thank you, SCC! - Andrew (Drew) R. Kious, A.S., B.S., D.D.S., M.A.G.D (SCC ‘75) Air Force Colonel, Retired Assistant Professor, College of Dental Medicine Georgia Health Sciences University
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Bob Jennings (SCC ’84) earned a B.A. in Mass Communications at WIU, then had an internship at WQAD. He became assistant news director/reporter at KAYL and KLGA in Storm Lake from 1993-2002 and is now Information Director at Algona Municipal Utilities. Bob has won Best Newscast - Small Market State of Iowa award from Iowa Broadcasting News Association for 6 years in a row. For the past year he’s been a Trustee with Iowa Lakes Community College. He remembers SCC’s West Burlington campus when the courtyard was full of portable buildings and only Building 100 & the Gym were here.
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Gary Graham (BJC ‘75) is SCC’s 2001 Distinguished Alumnus. He has been Mayor of O’Fallon, IL since 1997. He was named President of the Illinois Municipal League Officers in 2008-2009. His wife, Lucia (Scheu) is also an SCC alum.
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Going to SCC, Iowa Wesleyan and then on to Missouri State were important to me. My Dad, Paul Tonkinson (of Yarmouth Christmas lights fame), showed me how to work hard. My company, CMPI, and I have been fortunate to land stainless steel contracts at the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium, the University of Iowa’s new recreation/swimming center and the new Missouri State rec center. It’s our attention to quality that gets us the business. It’s great to hear that you are continuing to expand at SCC. Keep up the good work! - Joe Tonkinson (BJC ‘65), Project Manager, Custom Manufacturing & Polishing, Inc., Springfield, MO. Joe is a member of the SCCF Legacy Society. Joe played on the Blackhawks basketball team that went to the National Tournament in 1965.
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My wife, Sarah, and I had been teaching in Sioux Falls, SD for the past two years. We recently moved to Tallahassee, FL to further our educations at Florida State University. I’m working on my Master’s degree in Choral Conducting and serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant where I get to be assistant conductor for the Men’s Chorus. It’s a great time, but we do have times where we’re missing the Midwest. Hope all is well at SCC! - David Haas (SCC ‘04). David is also the son of SCC Business Professor/Former Financial Aid Officer/ SCC Alumni Association President/SCC Alumnus & All-Around Good Guy, Tom Haas.
Want to be featured in the next AlumNotes? Drop us a line!
AlumNotes c/o Becky Rump 1500 West Agency Road West Burlington, IA 52655 or alumnotes@scciowa.edu
