From Your Alumni Office
It’s hard to believe that the first semester has ended, that Christmas is only days away, and that another year begins in a few short weeks. We hope that your holidays are filled with the happiness of being with those you love, peace-filled moments of reflection, and the satisfaction of doing something good for others.  

We are thankful for each of you – for your friendship and loyalty to ODU and look forward to getting to know you better in the year ahead.  If you graduated in a year ending in a “2” or a “7”, please let us know if you’d like to help contact classmates (or cohorts!) to attend your class reunion. 

Please, also, don’t forget Ohio Dominican University as you consider end-of-year contributions for tax purposes.  No gift is too large or too small; every single one adds up to make a difference in the lives of the students we are privileged to educate and serve.

Happy and blessed holidays to you and yours,

Sue  & Tammy

Sue VanWassenhove, Director of Alumni Relations
Direct: 614-253-3537
vanwasss@ohiodominican.edu

Tammy Reichert, Assistant, Alumni/ae Relations
614-251-4608
reichert@ohiodominican.edu

Battelle Gives $2.5 Million
to Help Fund New Science Building
Battelle is donating $2.5 million to support Ohio Dominican University’s construction of a new science building and to boost the school’s teacher preparation programs.

The gift is the lead donation for the project and includes $2 million for the new building and $500,000 to be targeted for teacher preparation. The donation will be administered through the Battelle Fund at the Columbus Foundation. Per the terms of the gift, Battelle will have naming rights for the new facility.

“This is an extraordinary gift for Ohio Dominican University. It is the largest gift in the University’s history. But even more important, it represents recognition by Battelle of Ohio Dominican’s strength in teacher education in general and science education in specific. We are honored to receive this support from Battelle and to partner with this wonderful organization to advance the quality of teacher preparation in America,” said Ohio Dominican University President Jack P. Calareso. “Battelle believes, and I agree, that this presents a great opportunity not only for Ohio Dominican, but for other small colleges to benefit from the facility and program growth made possible through this gift.”

To read the complete story, please visit Ohio Dominican's News page.

ODU: Strong Presence at 2006 Ohio TESOL Conference
On November 17 and 18, Dr. Tim Micek, Director of ODU's 15-month-old Master of Arts TESOL program, and Amy Spencer, Director of the Academic Resource Center at ODU, participated in the Ohio TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) conference. More than 750 people attended the conference this year, among them representatives from most of the school districts in the state and many administrators looking for ways to prepare teachers for the requirements of the "No Child Left Behind" legislation.

Thanks to Dr. Tim Micek, pictured left center, at least 17 current ODU grad students were in attendance. The three students who presented jointly with Dr. Micek are Adri Hendrikson (left), Cori Stevens (right), and Jacquie Hickey. Some of ODU’s exceptional adjunct faculty were also very visible at the conference, including Dr. Brenda Custodio, a principal in Columbus City schools, Professional Development Coordinator for Ohio TESOL, and a program evaluator for TESOL international on the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; and Dr. Dan Fleck, Educational Consultant for the Lau Resource Center of the Ohio Department of Education.

Amy Spencer, this year’s conference chair, was the recipient of the 2006 George Hertrich Award. George Hertrich, who served as Director of Ohio Dominican's International Office for many years, was a founding member of Ohio TESOL and served as the organization's 2nd president (1978-79). He also chaired the Ohio Certification Committee (1979-1981), which ultimately led to ESL certification through universities that applied and became approved for awarding certification under the auspices of the Ohio Department of Education. Much of this discussion took place on the campus of Ohio Dominican, which hosted one of the earliest Ohio TESOL state conferences in April 1980. George Hertrich was the first recipient of the Ohio TESOL Dedicated Service Award (1989), which was renamed the George Hertrich Service award following his untimely death in 1997. George's sister, Sister Mary Hertrich '56, taught science at Ohio Dominican for 35 years before retiring.

For more information about the Master of Arts TESOL program, please contact the School of Graduate Studies.
 

Annual Alumni Basketball Game
All alumni and friends are invited to watch the Varsity Alumni Men’s Basketball team take the court in the annual contest at 1:00 p.m. on December 30 in Alumni Hall. The alumni competitors will enjoy lunch after the game, courtesy of the Alumni Association. Then at 4:00 p.m., the ODU Panthers will play a home game against Myers University. For more information, contact the Alumni Office at 614-251-4608.

Fun had by All at
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
More than 200 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends shared in the Christmas tree lighting festivities on November 28. The children in attendance helped to "ring on" the 350,000 lights on display with bells. As the procession moved around campus, Christmas stories and verses were shared. The evening was completed with lighting of the Christmas tree in front of Erskine Hall, followed by hot chocolate and cookies in Hamilton Hall. Thanks to all who joined us!

New Arrivals
Mae Wheatley, August 29, 2006, to Amanda Chambers and Joel Chambers ’01. Mae joins big sister Madelyn.

Jacob Alan, August 16, 2006, to Angie Benham Uhlenhake ’01 and Jeff Uhlenhake.

In Memoriam
Louise Poor Reynolds ’48, February 12, 2006.

Virginia M. Knecht ’55, November 24, 2006.

Kenneth Morrissey, September 8, 2006, husband of Mary Schneeman Morrissey ’56.

Frank Mayer, October 19, 2006, husband of Patricia Kusan Mayer ’65, brother-in-law of Patricia Fry Kusan ’71.

Kathryn Simpson, October 28, 2006, mother of Susan Simpson Hentschel ’66 and Time Simpson ’75.

Francis L. Jones, February 14, 2006, father of Jennie Jones Lanahan ’83.

Robert Stidham, August 26, 2006, father of Rhonda Stidham-Moore ’01, ’03.

Blake Bumper ’03, November 27, 2006.