summer 2013 quest magazine

summer 2013

NATURE

Force of Nature 4

Outdoor Education 8

Idaho in Photos 12

quest • page 2

from the president’s desk

marvin henberg

Nature Laurie and I have been privileged to live in Idaho for more than 20 years. During that time we have hiked, backpacked, skied, fished, rafted and driven for tens of thousands of miles throughout the state. We have seen its most remote corners in all seasons, returning with a fresh perspective and a renewed enthusiasm for the physical splendors of our adopted home.

So it is with a special relish that I introduce the theme of nature in this issue of Quest. Outdoor education lies at the intersection of adventure education and field studies. Let me briefly elaborate.

Adventure education derives from the spirit of play as evidenced in human culture and development. Homo sapiens and a small handful of higher mammals are the sole species

among millions to engage in play. Risk abounds in life, and the skills taught in play prove useful in facing and controlling risk. In its turn, risk has an appealing face, injecting interest and zest into life. The play spirit in adventure education puts a premium on acquiring skills so that risk is simultaneously courted and controlled. Think skiing, with the College’s proud record of 48 team and individual national championships. Those titles would not have been possible without the support of Bogus Basin Ski Resort, whose general manager, Alan Moore ’74, is featured in this issue.

Field study intertwined with the College’s DNA at its very conception in 1891. Our distinguished herbarium features some 45,000 specimens collected by students under the guiding hands of four botanists over our first 120 years: President William Judson Boone, Professor Harold Tucker, Professor Pat Packard and Professor Don Mansfield. This issue introduces you to the nature-related studies of three other faculty members:

Professors Mark Gunderson, Eric Yensen and Chris Walser. Seasons come and go, but nature stands the test of time. The same can be said of

incredible alumna Dorothy Custer ’33, whose youthful exuberance and love of the Idaho outdoors have walked hand-in-hand for 102 years in the Gem State. Dorothy’s fearless spirit and passion for life truly are qualities we all can aspire to.

The physical side of outdoor education (field biologists are as hearty as whitewater kayakers) makes it a natural ally with sports. That is why, with the re-establishment of football, plans for our new building to bolster athletics and fitness at the College are conjoined with the expansion of opportunities for outdoor education. Our emerging new Athletics and Outdoor Education Center will assist not only in continuing the rich tradition of co-curricular outdoor sports and forays into the Idaho wilds, but also in injecting the outdoors more formally into the curriculum. As we plan the building, we likewise shall hire across the disciplines more faculty members with diverse interests in outdoor education.

Finally, Earth’s biome—the natural home for outdoor education—is shared among all nations of the world. The College is engaged across the globe, from professors Luke Daniels’ and Ann Koga’s innovative teaching of first-year biology students to isolate and identify viruses in local soils to the efforts of our international students to improve environmental and living conditions in Haiti, India and Swaziland.

In sum, outdoor education is alive, vibrant, and expanding at The College of Idaho.

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summer 2013 • page 3

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Editor: Jordan Rodriguez Assistant Editor: Dustin Wunderlich Editorial Board: Louie Attebery ’50, Jan Boles ’65, Jake McClean ’06, Alan Minskoff,

Rachel Moore ’96, Randall Post, Sally Skinner ’78, Michael Vandervelden Contributing writers: Chelsea Larsen, Randall Post, Jordan Rodriguez,

Mike Safford, Dustin Wunderlich Contributing artists/photographers: Tim Bath, Jan Boles, Michael Capell,

Sean Chuma, Reinaldo Gil ‘13, Chelsea Larsen, Randall Post, Eric Raptosh, Jordan Rodriguez, Rahul Sharma, Dustin Wunderlich

Cover image: Path through the Woods, by Jordan Rodriguez with Michael Capell Design: Michael Capell with Alyssa Valdez ’13 & Alyson McElwain

Departments 14

College News New initiative supports environmental student internship; Freshmen

discover soil virus; International students lend helping hands in Haiti,

India and Swaziland

18 Yote Notes

Scott Garson named men’s basketball coach;

Holt, Klopfenstein cap a banner year for Coyote runners

20Alumni News

Alan Moore ’74 makes Bogus Basin a Treasure Valley icon;

Football alums share memories, laughs at the Coyote Reunion

22Class & Campus Notes

26 Alumni Profile

27 Alumni Calendar

Features4

Force of Nature by Jordan RodriguezAge just a number for adventurous alumna Dorothy Custer ’33

8 The Nature of Things by Jordan Rodriguez

C of I researchers study Idaho’s ecosystems

10 Let’s Take This Outside by Randall Post

C of I Outdoor Program helps students experience Idaho

12Photo Essay

The winners of the online Quest nature photo contest

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quest • page 4

Force of Nature


BY JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

On May 30, 2012, Dorothy Custer ’33 celebrated her 101st birthday by zip-lining through the Snake River Canyon.

A year later, Custer marked the occasion by BASE jumping off the famed

Perrine Bridge in her hometown of Twin Falls, parachuting nearly 500 feet to

the river bed below.

She summed up each thrill ride with the same thought: “It was too short.”

It was sincere commentary from a woman known for her sense of humor.

While Custer’s birthday exploits have made her a local hero and a national

Internet sensation, she does them not for publicity, but for a much simpler

motive that defines both her longevity and her love for life:

If you are enjoying the journey, why should it end?

‘PLAIN OLD COUNTRY GIRL’ Custer was born Dorothy Cline on May 30, 1911. She spent the first two weeks

of her life in Hailey before moving to Twin Falls where, apart from her three

years at The College of Idaho, she has lived ever since.

As a child, Dorothy rode horseback 5¼ miles every day to attend school in

Hansen north of Rock Creek. Her fearless enthusiasm for life shone through

at a young age; she recalls climbing to the tops of the tallest trees at every

opportunity and holding on to the spokes on the wheels of her family’s horse-

drawn buggy—while it was in motion.

“I would just go around and around and around,” Custer said with a laugh. “I

was the only one small enough to do it.”

Custer graduated from Hansen High School in 1929 and jumped at an

invitation from her aunt to move to Caldwell, where she helped take care of her

young cousins in exchange for room and board while attending the C of I. It was

hard work—she often had to run seven blocks to campus to make it to class on

time—but Custer made the most of her time at the College.

“I enjoyed it very much,” said Custer, whose college interests included drama,

choir, a vocal quartet, Glee Club, the Myra Tella sorority and “all athletic things.”

“I enjoyed PE classes a great deal,” she recalls. “Because I was the smallest

one, I always got to be the top one in the pyramid.”

Today, Custer is one of the few living C of I alumni to have taken classes from

founding President Rev. William Judson Boone.

“Dear old Dr. Boone was my botany teacher,” she said. “I can still hear his

voice today talking about the roots of the plant. He would pronounce it ‘the ruts’

and we all would laugh.”

Custer left the College after three years—tuition was $50 per semester,

and with her family only bringing in $30 per month, she couldn’t afford to

stay. After college, she took a job in the Murtaugh School District teaching

the sixth and seventh grade. She shared her love of the harmonica with her

students, forming a harmonica band. She also met and married Marvin Custer,

with whom she would raise four children and enjoy 68 years of marriage.

Custer’s eyes moistened as she looked back on those early years.

“I’ve had a wonderful life,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed every day of it. But I’m

just a plain old country girl, a cowboy’s daughter.”

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES One doesn’t spend 102 years in Idaho without experiencing her fair share

of outdoor adventure. But some of Dorothy’s most memorable exploits have

come during her second century in the Gem State.

Her 2011 birthday zip-line attracted big crowds, media attention and

thousands of views on the Internet. She was the first customer to ride “Zip

the Snake,” which opened to the public shortly thereafter and gave away 101

rides in Custer’s honor.

Custer, who played her harmonica while zipping hundreds of feet above the

Snake River Canyon, had this to say about the experience:

“It was over so quick I hardly knew I was there. I’ve climbed trees higher

than that!”

At 102, alumna Dorothy Custer’s adventurous spirit is alive and well

Dorothy Custer BASE jumps nearly 500 feet off the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls with pro BASE jumper Sean Chuma. Photo courtesy of Sean Chuma at tandembase.com and seanchuma.com. Opposite page: Custer’s BASE jump illustrated by Chelsea Larsen.

quest • page 6

For her most recent birthday celebration, Custer had planned to jump out

of a plane. But the $400 price tag seemed frivolous to her, so she decided she

would spend her birthday at home.

That’s when Dorothy’s grandson, Greg Custer, stepped in and arranged for

his grandmother to meet with professional BASE jumper Sean Chuma. After

meeting Custer, Chuma offered to accompany her on a tandem jump off the

Perrine Bridge.

“We talked about it and I said, ‘I can’t see any reason why not, I’ll either

make it or I won’t,’ ” Custer said. “So over we went, and I laughed the whole

way down. I just enjoyed it so much, it was a thrill; I wasn’t afraid one bit!”

The jump put the fearless centenarian into the record books as the world’s

oldest BASE jumper.

“I was a lot more nervous than she was,” Chuma said. “She was just ready to

go. Sometimes with parachutes you can land hard, so I just kept it in my mind

that we needed to have a soft, perfect landing, and that’s how it went.

“I knew it was a big challenge, but who am I to tell her she couldn’t do it?

And I’m glad we did—it turned out to be one of the most special days of my life.”

Just weeks after the BASE jump, Chuma helped Custer fulfill another

lifelong dream: Riding an elephant. Through some connections with a circus

employee, Chuma and a friend arranged for Custer to ride an elephant when

the Shriner Circus came to Filer. Dorothy’s son, Neal Custer, also arranged for

her to ride an elephant at a circus in Boise this summer.

After waiting 102 years to ride the world’s largest land animal, Dorothy got

her wish twice in a month’s time.

“I’ve just always thought an elephant was an interesting animal,” Custer

said. “I’m so glad I finally got to ride one.”

Custer has been on many memorable rides through the years, from her

horseback riding childhood to snowmobile trips with Marvin through the

Magic Valley’s South Hills. She’s also traveled through most of the United

States and much of the world, including a climb up a towering staircase to a

mountaintop monastery in Thailand.

But no matter where her travels take her, Custer’s “ruts” remain firmly

planted in Idaho’s Magic Valley.

“This is home,” she said. “I wouldn’t live any other place.”

IN THE LIMELIGHT

When she was 5 years old, Dorothy received an invitation to play Tiny Tim

in a local production of A Christmas Carol.

She hasn’t turned down an opportunity to perform since.

“It’s just in me—I’m a Gemini,” Custer says of her love for the stage. “When I

got to be Tiny Tim, I liked it. When I’m in front of people, I don’t have to think,

the words just come out.”

Custer majored in drama at The College of Idaho and was a member of

several campus performing groups, including Scarlet Masque. She said one of

her college performances drew a particularly flattering review that compared

Custer to silent film star Louise Fazenda.

After her children were grown, Custer’s performing career took off. She

created a “Granny” alias based on The Beverly Hillbillies character of the same

name and went on to develop more than a dozen characters for her standup

routines. She incorporated costumes, handmade dog marionette puppets,

singing and, of course, the harmonica into her routines, traveling all over

Idaho and the West.

“I’ve had so much fun all my life,” said Custer, a mischievous grin spreading

across her face. “The bubbles just keep coming. I don’t mean to be funny or

anything like that, it’s just me.”

Already a celebrity in the Magic Valley, Custer shot to national fame in 2011.

After being named Pioneer of the Year at the age of 100, Custer’s story caught

the attention of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She appeared on the show

June 21 and immediately became a favorite of Leno and his audience.

(At left) Dorothy plays “Turkey in the Straw” during her 2011 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. (Above) She returned to Leno on Valentine’s Day 2012 and shared a laugh with actor Tyler Perry.

“She said ‘I guess I am mistaken, but you sure look like Helen Brown.’ I looked at her and I said ‘Well, I don’t look very good in yellow, either.’”

—Dorothy Custer ’33


Custer played “Turkey in the Straw” on her harmonica during the segment,

and her story of a blustery day at Universal Studios left Leno in stitches.

“I had a skirt on, and the wind was blowing it, and I was hanging on to

my hat,” Custer told Leno. “And a kid came up to me and said ‘Lady, you

better stop hanging on to your hat and pull your dress down, you’re showing

everything you’ve got.’ And I said ‘I don’t care, what they see down there is

100 years old. This is a brand new hat!’ ”

The Leno appearance made Custer an overnight Internet sensation.

Video of the segment has received more than 800,000 views on

the website of KTVB News Channel 7, making it the most-watched

story in the history of the highly rated, Boise-based news station.

Subsequent KTVB stories featuring Custer’s birthday adventures also

have garnered thousands of views.

In February 2012, Leno invited Custer back onto the program as

his Valentine’s Day “sweetheart.” She was a crowd pleaser once again,

serenading Leno with a rendition of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”

and sharing a laugh with actor Tyler Perry.

“Jay asked me if anyone had recognized me since my first time on

the show,” Custer said. “I told him about one lady who came rushing

up and thought she knew me. I told her she must be mistaken,

because I didn’t know her, and she said ‘I guess I am mistaken, but

you sure look like Helen Brown.’ I looked at her and I said ‘Well, I

don’t look very good in yellow, either.’ And Tyler Perry fell over.”

Custer never imagined she’d appear on Leno, let alone become a crowd

favorite. But, in typical Dorothy fashion, she rolled with the opportunity and

made the most of it.

“I was just very flattered by it and very pleased, it was wonderful,” Custer

said. “I’ve never met a nicer man. Jay is a gentleman, and I enjoyed every

minute of it.”

‘DON’T THINK OF AGE’ “What is the secret to your longevity?”

It is a question that has been asked of Custer more times than she can count.

Dorothy knows the inquiry is coming, but she smiles thoughtfully as she

answers it once again.

“I think we are all given a purpose,” Custer said. “Some of us are just given

a little bit more time. I think a great lot of it is just to think positive and don’t

think of age! I never think of age. I’m game for whatever comes along.”

Part of Custer’s longevity may be hereditary. Her grandmother lived to be

97, and she was told her grandmother’s grandmother was 106. Whatever her

secret is, it certainly is working. Dorothy still lives in her own little house

outside of Twin Falls, welcoming all visitors but issuing a stern warning to

would-be scammers: “I’m a very suspicious person. I won’t let them get me!”

Sally Skinner ’78, director of alumni and parent relations, came away

impressed after recently meeting Dorothy for the first time.

“It’s not every day we get to meet a charming and quick-witted alumna

who can share stories about taking botany from Dr. Boone,” Skinner said. “At

times, it felt like we were time travelers—Dorothy is a link to the past. But it’s

clear that she doesn’t live in the past. She relishes every moment of every day,

finding the thrill of new challenges and the joy of the simple things. I’m sure

Dr. Boone would be proud of his former student. We certainly are.”

Custer made a similar impact on her BASE jump partner, Chuma.

“I’m honored to have her in my life,” Chuma said. “She’s a special lady.

She’s so wise and she knows so much, but I think my favorite thing about her

is how she doesn’t think about age. That’s how she stays young, and I think

it’s a great way to live your life.”

And Greg Custer, who lives in Twin Falls and sees Dorothy more often than

anyone these days, just smiles and laughs at his grandmother’s growing fame.

“People are surprised by her zest for life, but she’s always had it,” Greg

Custer said. “I came out to see her maybe five years ago and she was crawling

over the fence with a chainsaw to take care of a tree. That’s just Grandma.”

Custer says she sometimes wonders what purpose her life has left to

fulfill, but she’s ready to embrace whatever comes. In the meantime, she’ll

keep playing her beloved harmonica like nobody’s business, whether for a

national television audience, a living room full of visitors, or no one but her

cat, Shadow.

She still enjoys the music, so why should it end?

JORDAN RODRIGUEZ is the editor of Quest.

“People are surprised by her zest for life, but she’s always had it. I came out to see her maybe five years ago and she was crawling over the fence with a chainsaw to take care of a tree. That’s just Grandma.”

—Greg Custer, Dorothy’s grandson

quest • page 8

Nature plays a fundamental role at The College of Idaho. Inside the classroom, courses in biology, environmental studies and natural sciences rank among the College’s most popular academic offerings year after year. Outside the classroom, students, faculty and staff enjoy access to some of North America’s most beautiful natural environments.

Quite often, the study and enjoyment of nature overlap as students and faculty undertake field research projects in an effort to better understand our natural world. This summer, three such projects are ongoing as C of I professors and students take an academic look at Idaho’s wildlife and the delicate ecosystems that tie all living things together.

FISH FINDERS

C of I researchers study the redband trout of Dry Creek

Southwest Idaho’s tiny Dry Creek contains more water than its name

suggests, but only a little. Just a few feet across and less than a foot

deep in most places, Dry is the kind of stream that makes one think “No

way are there fish in there.”

But the fish are there, alright—native redband trout. And this summer,

College of Idaho student Shelby Richins is doing her best to make sure

the fish will always be there through her honors thesis project “Genetics,

Movement, and Distribution of Columbia River Redband Trout in Dry

Creek, Idaho.”

“I’ve always been interested in fish and wildlife,” said Richins, a senior

biology major from Boise. “I care about these fish and I’d love to help

their population and make sure that they persist and flourish here in

Dry Creek.”

Richins is fulfilling her project as an intern for Trout Unlimited,

which recently received a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation-Wells

Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities Grant to support the

development of a community-based fisheries conservation project. The

goal of the project is to better understand the fish inhabiting one of the

Boise River’s smallest tributaries. Genetic analysis has revealed that trout

upstream of Dry Creek’s artificial waterfall and culvert—built decades

ago to accommodate Bogus Basin Road—are genetically distinct from

downstream trout, suggesting that the structures may be a barrier to

trout dispersal.

“This project is important because the redband trout in Dry Creek are

genetically pure,” said Dr. Chris Walser, a professor of biology at The

College of Idaho who is helping lead the collaborative Dry Creek project.

“Genetically pure populations of redband trout are rare in the Boise River

watershed. It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to do this type of

field research right in our own backyard, so close to The College of Idaho.”

Walser, Richins and a team of volunteers are tackling the project using

fishery technologies donated by Biomark, a Boise company specializing

in the electronic identification of animals. After capturing fish using

electrofishing equipment, Walser and Richins take a genetic sample,

measure and record fish size and inject each trout with a small PIT

(passive integrated transponder) Tag. Fish movement and distribution

are monitored by two in-stream, solar-powered PIT Tag Antenna Systems.

The team has tagged more than 300 fish to date, and at least 400 will be

tagged to form the basis for Richins’ thesis.

“This has been a great opportunity,” said Richins, who plans to attend

graduate school and pursue a career in fisheries research. “I’m very lucky

to have this research and career experience with Trout Unlimited.”

C of I researchers take a first-hand look at Idaho’s ecosystems

BY JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

THE NATURE OF THINGS

Shelby Richins tags and releases a small redband trout for her Dry Creek research project.


NO STONE UNTURNED C of I group uses crayfish to study ecosystem toxicology

Shy, elusive and able to fit into the smallest of underwater cracks, the signal crayfish isn’t the easiest animal to get one’s hands on. But this summer, a group of students at The College of Idaho is diving right into a study of the crayfish and its ability to serve as a key indicator of contaminants in Idaho’s aquatic environments.

Funded by grants from the M.J. Murdoch Charitable Trust and the Idaho INBRE program and led by C of I biology professor Dr. Mark Gunderson, the group is spending ten weeks collecting crayfish throughout southwestern Idaho and studying them in a campus biology lab. The project aims to learn more about how different chemicals affect aquatic ecosystems by collecting crayfish from field sites where a variety of land uses are taking place and measuring the animals’ responses to contaminants through lab exposure studies.

“Crayfish often serve as keystone species in aquatic ecosystems,” Gunderson said. “They feed on a variety of plant and animal matter, and they’re also an important food source for fish and terrestrial organisms. We’re using the crayfish as an invertebrate model to serve as an indicator for exposure to contaminants in the environment.”

Gunderson and his six-student team of Collin Clovis, Patrick Erstad, Laura Holden, Alicia Latta, Connor Lineberger and Juan Carlos Cervantes Reyes are traveling throughout the Treasure Valley to collect crayfish from the Boise River, Snake River and Payette River watersheds. The students get right in the water, using hand nets and buckets to collect samples from each site.

“We’re using crayfish as a biomarker so we can see how certain chemicals might affect us in the end,” said Clovis, a senior biology major from Boise. “Not only do [humans] pollute the water, we also use it for drinking and watering crops, so it all circles back to us.”

In addition to its scientific merits, the project is giving Gunderson’s students an opportunity to perform high-level undergraduate research both in the field and in the lab.

“It’s been really cool to work so closely with [Dr. Gunderson],” said Erstad, a junior biology-religion double major from Boise. “It’s great hands-on experience, and it’s really important to have the opportunity to learn this closely and interactively where you can synthesize your own knowledge and figure things out on your own.”

UNDERGROUND CONSERVATION Dr. Eric Yensen lends Idaho ground squirrels a helping hand

Measuring roughly 10 inches in length and weighing less than a pound, Idaho’s ground squirrels live their lives relatively unnoticed by much of the outside world. Apart from the farmers who consider them pests and the predators that rely upon them for survival, few are aware of the ground squirrels’ quiet existence, and fewer still realize the important role they play in Idaho’s ecosystems.

“These animals actually are very beneficial in the wild,” said C of I biology professor Dr. Eric Yensen. “There are no native earthworms in our ecosystem, so they fill an important ecological role in establishing and maintaining soil fertility and plant growth.”

Since 2010, Yensen has led an effort to boost struggling populations of southern Idaho ground squirrels through a translocation program. Partnering with Zoo Boise, Yensen and his wife Teresa, also a biologist, have developed a technique to capture squirrels from farms and golf courses where they aren’t wanted, transport them to suitable native habitats and help them maintain a healthy population. With the help of Zoo Boise director Steve Burns and dozens of volunteers—including current and former C of I students Cameron Braun, Zach Clayton, Sam Finch, Steve Guild, Diana Melgarejo and Cristian Noya-Rada—Yensen has spent hours capturing, tagging, tracking and moving the squirrels into protected nesting boxes where they can acclimate to their new

surroundings in safety before venturing out on their own. In spite of difficulties with predators—the squirrels are a key prey item for badgers, weasels, coyotes, raptors and

snakes—the program has seen its share of successes. With a little help from Yensen’s team, the relocated squirrels are surviving at a sustainable rate, leading to hope that the method could be used to bolster populations of the northern Idaho ground squirrel, which is on the federal list of threatened species. The process is neither easy nor cheap, Yensen said, but it could be used to reestablish populations if it becomes necessary.

“It turns out it’s a lot harder to use translocation for ground squirrels than it is for wolves,” Yensen said with a laugh. “It was a real challenge to start a new population from scratch, but we are seeing some positive results.”

C of I students (from left to right) Patrick Erstad, Collin Clovis and Juan Carlos Cervantes Reyes search for crayfish in Mores Creek.

C of I volunteers help translocate ground squirrels to their new home outside of Boise.

quest • page 10

The College of Idaho Outdoor Program has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the Finney Hall basement. The student-run, student-driven organization moved into the McCain basement (formerly the bookstore) this summer, giving it proper space to show off its offerings to students.

If all goes as planned, the OP soon will be on the move again. The program, which offers recreational and educational outdoor experiences for students as well as equipment rentals, is set to be housed in the College’s new Athletics and Outdoor Education Center. Construction begins this fall on the $3.5 million facility, with an additional $1.2 million set to be raised specifically to create a new home for outdoor education at the College.

OP director Ron Bonneau says the new center will professionalize outdoor education at the C of I and help develop an outdoor component into the everyday curriculum.

“The Outdoor Program has provided a lot of positive experiences and has had a lot of success, but I think it has so much more potential,” Bonneau said. “It’s just waiting to happen.”

TO THE BASEMENT, PEOPLEWhen Bonneau became director in the mid-1990s, the OP occupied a

dirt-floor closet in the Finney Hall basement. It has bounced around campus since, from Hendren Hall to McCain and even a campus-owned house off Oak Street. “It was perceived as a club house and [students thought] ‘If you weren’t part of the club, you weren’t invited,’ ” he said.

But that’s simply not the case. The Outdoor Program provides an opportunity and a service to the entire campus community—including faculty, staff and alumni—and all are welcome to join an OP trip or rent gear for their own adventures in the Idaho wilderness. “Everybody gets to play,” Bonneau said.

Now the program has moved back to its basement roots, this time the clean, carpeted floor of McCain. Sleeping bags and helmets stock the shelves, cook stoves are displayed and a tent occupies the floor

of what looks like the outdoor section of a big-box store. When students return to campus this fall, they’ll be able to see what kind of outdoor possibilities await them.

“We are able to actually get our equipment out,” Bonneau said. “Up until this time, it has been squirreled away in closets and a lot of it, frankly, has been unidentified as far as being available to use.”

A GATEWAY TO NATUREIt is Bonneau’s job to make

sure the OP operates smoothly as its student directors graduate and pass the torch each summer. He also oversees risk

management—students plan their own trips and Bonneau must make sure students are qualified to meet the demands of the adventure.

“We’re not going to set students up to fail,” Bonneau said. “We’re not going to put them in a position where they’re over their head.”

Some of the more popular OP trips include winter yurt camping at Bogus Basin, star gazing at Bruneau Sand Dunes and rafting the Payette River (more extreme trips such as rafting are contracted

Let’s take this outsideC of I Outdoor Program helps students experience Idaho

BY RANDALL POST

Outdoor Program director Ron Bonneau invites all students to check out the OP inventory in McCain.

Ben Thomas ’07 (top left) and Katherine Blackadar ’06 (top middle in sunglasses) are among the countless C of I alumni who have been impacted by their involvement with the Outdoor Program.


C of I to break ground on Athleticsand Outdoor Education Center

The College of Idaho has received a $100,000 gift supporting its planned Athletics and Outdoor Education Center. Construction on the new facility is set to begin this August.

The $100,000 gift from the Larry and Marianne Williams Foundation will go toward the $3.5 million facility that will provide training and support facilities for the C of I’s student-athletes, including the reinstated football team that will begin competing in fall 2014.

Phase two of the project, a $1.2 million Outdoor Education Center in the facility, also will bolster the College’s programs for all students to enjoy the outdoors and develop an appreciation for nature.

To learn more about the Athletics and Outdoor Education Center, please call (208) 459-5168. To make a tax-deductible gift toward the building, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu/makeagift.

out). While most of the emphasis is on Idaho, the program also has ventured to the Oregon Coast, the Utah Canyonlands and the Olympic Mountains in Washington.

Wherever it takes students, the OP’s main objective remains the same: to provide the access, equipment, transportation and knowledge necessary to safely learn about and enjoy the outdoors.

“Most students do not have a car, they don’t know whom to go camping with, they didn’t bring a backpack with them and they don’t know where to go,” Bonneau said.

BEN THOMAS ’07: THIS IS THE LIFEC of I alumnus Ben Thomas ’07 grew up in the Sawtooth Mountains.

When he came to the College, bonfires on the Quad quickly drew him into the Outdoor Program. The international political economy major took his first excursion—a fall break trip to Escalante Canyon in Utah—as a freshman. The next year, he led a stargazing trip to Bruneau Sand Dunes and hot springs trips near McCall and in the Owyhee Mountains.

As an OP leader, Thomas expanded the program’s reach, targeting students with little or no outdoor experience. A spring break trip to Hell’s Canyon in 2006 included Austin Orgah, a Tulane University student displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

“It was his first time in the outdoors, the mountains of Idaho,” Thomas said. “That was the really great part of it.”

While in Hell’s Canyon, the group ran into Idaho Statesman outdoor guru Pete Zimowsky. That experience became part of an Idaho Outdoors newspaper feature, which is proudly displayed on the wall in the OP’s current digs.

Thomas now works in marketing and communications at a firm in Washington, D.C. He visits Idaho as often as possible to experience the outdoors, and he and alumna Lindsay Russell ’07 still go camping on the beach or in the mountains as much as they can. Thomas floated the Middle Fork of the Salmon River out of Stanley this summer, and he said he looks forward to the continued integration of outdoor education into the C of I curriculum and use of the OP as a tool for building community.

KATHERINE BLACKADAR ’06: FUN IN THE WILDERNESS Katherine Blackadar ’06 went on many Outdoor Program trips during

her time at the College. One of her favorites was backpacking through Utah’s Zion National Park.

“We took a College van and trailer with about eight of us to Zion for ten days in October,” Blackadar said. “We backpacked, hiked and hung out. The cost of the trip was only $50 for the entire trip: gas, food and park pass all included. It was amazing!”

Another memorable excursion was a well-attended ladies’ trip to Kirkham Hot Springs. The girls enjoyed Dutch oven cooking—sticky buns for breakfast—chatting around the campfire and, of course, hot springing.

“I loved working for the Outdoor Program,” Blackadar said. “We had the freedom to put on fun, cheap trips. The sky was the limit at The College of Idaho. I was so thankful for the freedom to get outside and use the equipment—and the Outdoor Program had some sweet equipment, too.”

Blackadar majored in psychology and minored in human biology. She now works as a physical therapist at the Elks Rehab Hospital in Boise.

LEAVE NO TRACEThe Outdoor Program’s new home in McCain gives the program

space for pre-trip meetings and soon, Bonneau hopes, it also will become a classroom. The first step toward that goal is offering an outdoor leadership minor, which fits into the Professional Studies & Enhancements “peak” in the College’s unique PEAK Curriculum. Another concept that Bonneau would like to find its way into the outdoor curriculum is the “leave no trace” principle. Most people associate “leave no trace” with camping in the woods, he says, but the idea can go further than that.

“You can apply ‘leave no trace’ into every aspect of your life: on campus, at home, in the classroom,” Bonneau said. “Are you leaving this place better or as good as you found it?”

He also hopes the program and curriculum will instill the concepts of responsibility and sustainability in all students at the C of I.

“From the basement of Finney Hall to get to this point, it’s taken a while,” Bonneau said. “Almost 20 years, but we’re getting there.”

RANDALL POST works in the C of I Office of Marketing and Communications.

An OP trip to Hell’s Canyon was a positive experience during a time of turmoil for Austin Orgah, who came to the C of I after Hurricane Katrina displaced him from school in Louisiana.

quest • page 12

Coyotes in Nature

Enjoying the outdoors is an integral part of life

in Idaho. From the scenic Sawtooth Wilderness

to the wildlife-rich Snake River Valley, College of

Idaho students and alumni are afforded limitless

opportunities to enjoy world-class hiking, bike trails,

whitewater rafting, fishing, skiing and some of North

America’s most breathtaking landscapes. These

photos, taken by C of I alumni, students and staff,

showcase the natural beauty that surrounds us.

faces and places

Palouse Rainbow Sam Hunter ’03

Sunbathing Squirrel Amanda Stockdale Dumont ’02

Lake Lowell Azra Basaric ’12Lake Cascade Landscape Brian Hibberd ’02

Camouflage Lizard Jordan Rodriguez


Stanley Lake Becky (Strine) Parkinson ’82 Sunset Marie Paradise ’03

Mountain Stream Trisha (Fosberg) Phillips ’04 City of Rocks Sherri Roberts ’79

Cove and Sapphire Lakes Michele Bonneau ’04

Ornate Hawk-Eagle at The Peregrine Fund Lorraine Barreras ’14

quest • page 14

The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is a second home to Grant Porter ’98, pictured above with his wife, Kim, and son, Bennett.

Growing up in Ketchum encircled by central Idaho’s rugged Sawtooth, Pioneer and Boulder mountains, College of Idaho senior

Tanya Greenwood never found herself lacking an opportunity to explore and enjoy the outdoors.

This summer, Greenwood has translated her appreciation for those spectacular wild areas into public advocacy and outreach, with assistance from College of Idaho alumni and friends who created an award to help students interested in environmental issues develop their leadership abilities.

Greenwood, a biology and environmental studies major, is interning with the Idaho Conservation League at its Ketchum field office. Her job includes gathering information and advocating for ICL’s ongoing initiative to make the Boulder-White Clouds Mountains a national monument while also conducting her own environmental research project.

“This is a great opportunity for me to bring the biology background I already have together with more of a background in conservation policy and outreach,” Greenwood said. “I really think that

understanding the policy side of conservation and environmental issues is critical. Policy issues are complex, and you need an ability to get people engaged and forge compromises between them.”

Funding from the College’s recently-established Environmental Leadership Initiative is making Greenwood’s internship experience possible.

The award supports student research and other experiences related to environmental issues.

“My experiences at the C of I have really helped me think about environmental issues in a complex way,” she said. “Environmental issues ultimately center on people, and we have to make decisions with people in mind.”

For her independent research project, Greenwood hopes to investigate either historical mining sites in the Ketchum area and their impact on the people of Idaho or how less water in the Big Wood River Valley could affect the livelihoods of farmers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

“I’m not sure exactly what career path I want to pursue, but I want to do some public advocacy related to conservation and the environment,” Greenwood said. “It’s a great legacy we’re starting at The College of Idaho with the Environmental Leadership Initiative and I know that this internship will help shape where I go in the future.”

Support the College’s Environmental Leadership Award by making a gift online at collegeofidaho.edu/ makeagift or call 208-459-5168.

college news Grant Porter ’98 first floated the Middle Fork of the Salmon River at 8 years old. Today, he is the

owner of Middle Fork Rapid Transit, the Porter family business since 1980.

“I know how much [the river] has positively affected me and my friends and family,” Porter said. “It’s

really important for me to provide that for my son, his cousins and his friends.”

Middle Fork Rapid Transit began as a side business for Porter’s parents, Bob and Karen, now a

retired orthopedic surgeon and travel agent from Twin Falls. Grant, the youngest of five siblings, started

guiding river trips in 1993 and continued working summers throughout his years at The College of

Idaho. He started managing the business after graduation and soon afterward, the pieces of his life

puzzle began falling into place. In 2002, he entered the mortgage business and purchased MFRT from

his parents the same week he married his wife, Kim Bennett. He now co-owns Columbia Mortgage in

Boise with his brother, Tyler Porter ’95 and JJ Astorquia.

Today, Middle Fork Rapid Transit stays busy all summer offering six-day trips for up to 24 rafters per trip

in the heart of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Guests come from all over the world—

“it’s one of those ‘bucket list’ trips,” Porter says—and many trips are booked a year or more in advance.

In February, Porter had the opportunity to give once-in-a-lifetime experiences to bidders at the C of I

Scholarship Gala. He donated four Middle Fork trips, raising nearly $10,000 for student scholarships. He

regularly donates river trips, focusing his philanthropy on youth, education and medical organizations.

Porter gets out on the river only about three weeks of each season these days, but his passion for

rafting remains. He recently took his 8-year-old son, Bennett, on his first rafting trip, and he looks

forward to sharing the lessons the river taught him—connection to nature, work ethic and responsibility

for others’ safety—with his family and his customers for years to come.

“The river is really embedded in my life passion and love for life in general,” Porter said. “It’s become

a legacy now and could become one of the longest-standing family-owned operations on the river.

“Now that’s something to be proud of.”

CHELSEA LARSEN is a C of I senior and Quest’s summer intern.

Life on the River BY CHELSEA LARSEN Rafting a lifelong passion for alumnus Grant Porter ’98

Student prepares for environmental leadership

Tanya Greenwood at Galena Summit in view of Gladiator, Galena and Easley Peaks of the Boulder Mountain Range.


In late March, Schultz and classmates Jessica Lambright and Anna Chase presented their class research to the Idaho Academy of Science, winning first place for best poster presentation. Students also uploaded their findings into a national biological database, and Schultz presented the research this summer at a national

symposium organized by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as part of its Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science project.

While RhynO is now documented for scientists worldwide, the C of I’s virus hunters aren’t finished. This fall, a new group of freshmen will begin searching for another undiscovered soil virus.

To learn more, search “soil virus” at www.youtube.com/goyotes.

Kaden Schultz, left, was one of 40 freshmen who helped discover the RhynO bacteriophage.

is a great opportunity for me to give back,” Bui said. “Palate deformities [are] a huge deal [in Asia] because they carry a social stigma, so these children aren’t able to integrate into society.”

The project has three phases. The first is to renovate Operation Smile’s pre- and post-operation rooms to allow for a better patient experience. Secondly, Bui and Sharma are organizing and training a team of volunteers to assist patients and educate the surrounding villages about facial

deformities and dental hygiene. The final phase focuses on public education, including visiting local schools, providing villagers with dental supply kits, distributing information about Operation Smile to local clinics, conducting surveys to find potential Operation Smile patients and educating the C of I campus this fall.

“It’s definitely a worthy cause,” Sharma said. “Fixing these deformities is a relatively small thing, but it instantly makes a huge difference for the children. As [United World College] students, we are taught to be agents of change, and this is one way Mark and I have an opportunity to do that.”

C of I students now have had a Davis Project for Peace funded in six consecutive years.

To learn more, visit www.davisprojectsforpeace.org and www.operationsmile.org.

Reason To Smile STUDENTS HELP CHILDREN IN INDIA THROUGH DAVIS PROJECT FOR PEACE

C OF I FRESHMEN DISCOVER SOIL VIRUS

Each year in India, thousands of babies are born with cleft lip and palate deformities— conditions that can lead not only to health and communication problems, but also to social stigmas.

This summer, two College of Idaho students are helping affected children through their Davis Project for Peace, “Bringing Smiles Where They Never Were: Combating Facial Deformities and Affixed Social Superstitions through Education.” C of I senior Rahul Sharma and junior Minh “Mark” Bui are using a $10,000 Davis grant to provide logistical support and upgrade services for Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity focused on eradicating lip and palate deformities.

Bui, a political economy major from Vietnam, and Sharma, an art major from India, appreciate the opportunity to assist Operation Smile, an organization they volunteer for regularly.

“Operation Smile has taught me a lot, so this

Not many college freshmen get a chance to discover a new virus and contribute to the fight against diseases affecting humans. Yet that’s exactly what College of Idaho students taking an introductory biology course last year did as part of a national genomics research project.

In fact, the virus that the freshmen isolated and christened “RhynO” is the first mycobacteriophage to be identified in Idaho, said student Kaden Schultz.

“I really liked doing this because it was our own research project, it wasn’t already set up for us,” he said. “It’s exciting to not know what you’re going to find when you get started.”

Approximately 40 C of I freshmen collected soil samples from several locations in the Treasure Valley and then isolated viruses—known as bacteriophages—that infect soil bacteria. The students then characterized their viruses and selected one, RhynO, to have its entire genome sequenced.

While bacteriophages can’t infect people, gaining a better understanding of them has implications for improving human health, said Luke Daniels, an assistant professor of biology who co-taught the course with Ann Koga, an instructor of biology and pre-health professions advisor.

“The relationship between phages and soil bacteria is very important for scientists to understand because phages also infect bacteria that cause human disease,” Daniels said. “It’s also important for us to understand how phages change and diversify over time, as well as their geographic diversity.”

Rahul Sharma, left, and Minh “Mark” Bui.

quest • page 16

college newsCollege honors five faculty retirees

The College of Idaho will offer classes on Chinese language and culture during the 2013–14 academic year, providing students with an opportunity to learn more about the world’s most populous nation. Having Lin Yueh-Chih, a Fulbright Teaching Assistant from Taiwan, assigned to the College is a great opportunity for students, said political economy professor Dr. Robert Dayley.

“Courses in Chinese language and culture help prepare students in the social sciences and business with an international perspective,” said Dayley, who teaches Asian studies courses.

Lin has taught English for more than five years and received her bachelor’s degree in foreign language and literature and her master’s degree in TESOL at Tsing Hua University in Taiwan.

Fulbright instructor to offer Chinese

Starting in fall 2013, The College of Idaho will offer a new major in mathematics-computer science that capitalizes on its strong liberal arts curriculum.

Frank Jones, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, said that computer science is cross-disciplinary by nature, yet often is studied largely independent of other fields.

“Our objective is to provide majors with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of computer science while encouraging them to investigate and integrate these concepts within the context of other areas of knowledge,” Jones said. “Qualified computer science graduates are in high demand in virtually every field. The kind of well-rounded graduates that a liberal arts education can produce are especially sought after.”

Courses will focus on learning and reinforcing theory through application and investigation as early and often as possible, so that students immediately see meaningful applications of their knowledge.

Majors also will be encouraged to work on independent projects such as developing smart phone applications or collaborating on faculty-driven research activities. C of I students have already formed a chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery.

A senior capstone course will give students a chance to apply fundamental practices of software engineering in a project that aids a business or charitable organization.

College launches computer science major

The College of Idaho bids a fond farewell to five longtime members of the campus community this summer as Ellen Batt, Don Burwell, Dora Gallegos, Wally Lonergan and Don Miller depart to enjoy well-deserved retirements. These five educators taught for more than 125 years combined at the College, touching thousands of lives for the better through their teaching, friendship and scholarship. “I’m humbled when

I think about the accomplishments of our colleagues,” said Dr. John Ottenhoff, vice president for academic affairs. “They have truly left their mark on this place and made it stronger, not only academically but also as a community that cares about people and how they work together.”

Dr. Ellen Batt taught at the C of I for 29 years, serving as chair of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages. One of Batt’s career highlights was working with colleagues to design a master of education program with a focus on effective pedagogy for English learners and bilingual education.

“Farewell to my esteemed students, colleagues and friends!” Batt said. “I look forward to continued contact with my former students. Learning of their successes

continues to be most rewarding!” Dr. Don Burwell has worked as an educator

in Idaho for more than 43 years, including the past 26 as a member of the C of I Department of Education. He taught at both the

undergraduate and graduate levels, focusing on teaching identity, classroom interaction analysis and the use of digital tools.

Dora Gallegos was a familiar face both in the classroom, where she taught geology and geography, and in the Center for Experiential Learning, which she directed for 16 years. Countless students and alumni received job offers, secured internships and built professional relationships through Gallegos’ Coyote Connections program.

Dr. Wally Lonergan ’50 was beloved by students during

his 27-year tenure as a professor of business management. In return, Lonergan said his favorite thing about teaching at the C of I was working with undergraduates who kept him

“young and challenged.” Don Miller ’70 began lecturing at the C of I

in 1975 and became a full-time visiting assistant professor in 2000. Miller taught courses in accounting, taxes and wealth planning. He built close relationships with students and was instrumental in helping many of his pupils find internships.

Dr. Wally Lonergan ’50

Dr. Ellen Batt


Khosi Nkambule fights poverty in Swaziland College of Idaho junior Makhosazana

“Khosi” Nkambule is spending her summer working to alleviate poverty in her homeland through her project “Swazi Seed.” Swaziland has been hit hard by the HIV epidemic, and many of those left orphaned by the disease are foregoing an education to take care of their younger siblings. Young women have been disproportionately affected, and Nkambule aims to start up child care centers in Swazi villages so women can go to school and obtain entrepreneurial skills.

Nkambule, who is studying international political economy, has received support for “Swazi Seed” from the market and social research firm ActivQuest as well as Rising Tides, a program that promotes self-sufficiency for young people leaving the foster care system. Her goal is to figure out which

poverty alleviation techniques will work in a particular village. She wants each village to use any competitive advantage it has to create sustainable business models, income and markets. “For example, the Hhohho District in

northern Swaziland has fertile land, so it could grow crops,” Nkambule said. “That would allow its people to create a market to support themselves and stop importing food from South Africa.”

In April, Nkambule attended the Clinton Global Initiative University at Washington University in St. Louis to present her ideas. She quickly gained the support of Rising Tides and also found inspiration to start a Commitment to Action Organization—taken straight from President Bill Clinton’s mantra of “turning ideas into action”—on the C of I campus, using her Swaziland project as an example.“People are willing to fund small

projects,” Nkambule said. “Students must recognize the different challenges across the world and work with communities to help them help themselves.”

Over the summer, Nkambule is working with ActivQuest to analyze villages for the project. She’ll return to the C of I for the

fall semester, but she’s committed to her cause for the long haul. “It’s going to take years. Probably

until I die, but it’s worth it,” she said. “Empowering females on one side, educating orphans on the other side, entrepreneurship on another; [not doing] these things contributes to poverty and if we eliminate [those issues], we eliminate poverty.”

in person, working with the people of Nan Misye to transport the rainwater tanks and other equipment to the village,

and then installing gutters that will transport water from people’s roofs into the barrels.

“This project will have an immediate impact on people’s lives,” Pierre-Louis said. “Women and children will have

more time for cultivation and education. It will bring reconciliation between people by creating the need

to use and maintain a common water source.”Easing the tension that has built up between people over water is one of Pierre-Louis’

ultimate goals.“A lot of young people leave for the city [Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital] because

of the conflict, but there’s so much unemployment and overcrowding there,” she said.“I believe that this project will not only provide clean water, it also will bring hope and empower Haitians to make a difference in their own situation by working together.”

To

support “Water for Peace,” mail Margarette.PierreLouis

@yotes.collegeofidaho.edu. Margarette also talks about the

project in a video interview at www.youtube.com/goyotes.

Margarette Pierre-Louis works to bring clean water to HaitiCollege of Idaho sophomore Margarette Pierre-Louis

remembers walking two hours every day to carry water needed for drinking and irrigating crops back to her native village of Nan Misye.

While the physical trek is difficult enough, conflict over the limited water supply often grows deadly.

For Pierre-Louis, that reality became stark last November, when she received word that her 16-year-old cousin was trying to gather water when a fight broke out between other local villagers. Her cousin sustained serious injuries during the fight and died a month later.“A lot of small villages in Haiti lack access

to water, and that leads to a lot of conflict,” Pierre-Louis said. “We need to solve that problem and give people a way to improve their lives, because everyone knows that water is life.”

Pierre-Louis wants to be part of the solution through her summer project “Water for Peace.” The $13,500 project will purchase and install 40 tanks that can each catch 125 gallons of rainwater, which is naturally clean and abundant in Haiti’s mountainous regions. Pierre-Louis and her host family from First Baptist Church traveled to Haiti in early July to supervise the project

quest • page 18

yote notes

OFF AND RUNNING NEW MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH SCOTT GARSON HAS BIG PLANS FOR THE COYOTES BY MIKE SAFFORD & JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

Scott Garson believes big things are possible at The College of Idaho. So much so that the Coyotes’ new basketball coach left behind

the bright lights, the big city and the opportunity to coach future NBA stars and jumped at the chance to build his own program in Caldwell. Garson, a former assistant at Division I powerhouse UCLA, was introduced April 29 as the Coyotes’ 15th head coach. He’s had a busy first summer signing new recruits, working with his

players and getting to know the C of I community as he looks to lead the Coyotes back to national prominence. “I am honored that President Henberg and Marty Holly have given me the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at The College of Idaho,” Garson said. “I feel very fortunate to be at an institution with such an outstanding academic reputation combined with a tremendous passion for athletics.”

Garson, a native of Calabasas, Calif., was an assistant for Ben Howland at UCLA from 2006 to 2013, serving two prior seasons as the Bruins’ video coordinator. Garson was responsible for the development of perimeter players—including current NBA All-Stars Jrue Holiday and Russell Westbrook. At the C of I, Garson plans to coach a fast-paced, high-scoring style he believes will resonate with players, fans and recruits. He hopes to fill the J.A. Albertson Activities Center and rekindle the excitement of the Coyotes’ glory years, which include the 1996 NAIA National Championship. “We are going to get up and down the floor and play an exciting brand of basketball,” Garson said.

“There is a great tradition of winning at the C of I, and I believe the character of our student-athletes along with the support and resources that exist here will allow us to build the foundation of a successful program that will invoke great pride in the alumni, students, faculty and staff for many years to come.” During Garson’s tenure at UCLA, the Bruins amassed a record of 222–90, including four conference championships and three trips to the Final Four. Garson was instrumental in the recent recruiting efforts of the Bruins, who claimed ESPN’s No. 1 recruiting class in both 2008 and 2012. “Scott is an amazing coach with a great blend of work ethic and talent,” Howland said. “On the floor, his preparation and knowledge of the game is outstanding, and most of all, he is a really good person. The College of Idaho campus, the faculty, and the community of Caldwell will love Scott Garson.” Garson, 37, played one season of college basketball and baseball at Washington University in St. Louis before transferring to UC-Santa Barbara, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in law and society. He also received a master’s in exercise and sports science while coaching at the University of Utah under the late Rick Majerus. He began his coaching career as a video coordinator at Pepperdine. Watch Coach Garson’s introductory press conference online at www.youtube.com/goyotes.

Mike Safford is the sports information director at

The College of Idaho.

Coyotes Sign 7-Foot-1 Center There will be a new big man on campus this fall—the biggest the C of I has ever seen. Coach Scott Garson made the big announcement in May, signing 7-1 center Joe Vaz. The junior transfer from Palomar Community College in California becomes the tallest player ever to put on a C of I uniform. “Joe gives us a true center and brings a unique skill set to go along with his size,” Garson said. “He has great hands and touch, and I love his toughness and team spirit. Joe gives us a different dimension on both ends of the floor, and the C of I community is going to love this young man.” Vaz averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds last season, earning Co-MVP honors in the Pacific Coast Conference while leading the league in rebounds and blocked shots. In addition to Vaz, Garson has signed incoming freshman point guard Emanuel Morgan and junior transfer guard Joshua Wilson. Keep up on all the latest hoops news at www.yoteathletics.com.

In early April, the C of I softball team owned a record of 20-20 and had little hope of qualifying for the Cascade

Conference Tournament, let alone nationals. One unforgettable month later, the Coyotes were league champions. Coach Al Mendiola’s team won 14 of its final 15 games, rallying to capture an improbable league title and qualify for its first appearance at the NAIA Softball National Championships since 2009. “When the girls’ backs were against the wall, they played their best softball of the season,” Mendiola said. “We struggled a little earlier in the season, but the girls knew they had an opportunity to do something great down the stretch, and they took full advantage of it.” After fighting their way into the playoffs on the season’s final weekend, the Coyotes won the Cascade Conference crown by upsetting Corban 2–1 and knocking off Oregon Tech twice, 3-1 and 8–0. In the championship game, freshman shortstop Katie Rowe went 3-for-3 with five RBIs and ace pitcher Nickayla Skinner tossed her ninth shutout of the season as the Coyotes dominated from start to finish.

Skinner’s title game victory put an exclamation mark on one of the greatest seasons in program history. The junior from Mountain Home posted a school-record 25 wins, a 1.77 ERA and 247 strikeouts, earning Cascade Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and an NAIA All-America honorable mention. “When you have a dominant pitcher, you always have a chance to win,” Mendiola said.

“Nickayla is special because the longer the game goes, the more dominant she is, and she just competes so hard that her teammates compete that much harder around her.” Gold Glove senior third-baseman Molly Mills and sophomore first-baseman Alexis Macias joined Skinner on the All-CCC team, while senior catcher Rachel Strong was an honorable mention. Mills hit .355 and set school records with 70 hits and 43 runs scored, while Macias batted a team-best .378 with 28 RBI. The Coyotes finished with an overall record of 36–23, falling in the championship game of the Irvine Bracket at nationals.


A record-setting season for The College of Idaho track and field program came to a thrilling finish in May as junior distance runners Sora Klopfenstein and Hillary Holt won individual national titles to lead the Coyote women to a school-record seventh-place finish at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in Marion, Ind. Klopfenstein dominated the field in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, smashing her own school record by 10 seconds while winning in 10 minutes, 35.58 seconds. The junior from Meridian broke away midway through the 7 ½-lap, five-hurdle race and cruised to victory, becoming the second C of I athlete to capture an individual championship in track and field. Klopfenstein now is a six-time All-American. “It’s exciting to achieve the goal I’ve been working so hard toward,” Klopfenstein said. “It was a special moment. After I finished and saw my teammates...they all started crying and I started crying. It was a cool experience to see how much everyone was rooting for me.” Holt continued her dominance in the 1,500-meters, defending her NAIA Outdoor title to win her fifth individual national championship. The junior from Meridian used a late push to separate herself from the pack and eased to a one-second win in 4:26.92—four seconds faster than her 2012 victory. Holt also placed second in the 800-meters to give herself 10 career All-America finishes, the most-ever by a C of I female athlete. For her outstanding 2012-2013 season—which included four individual national championships (three in track, one in cross country) and a fifth in the indoor distance medley relay—Holt was honored as the Cascade Conference Athlete of the Year. C of I coach Pat McCurry, the Cascade Conference Coach of the Year in both track and cross country, is excited about the steps his program made during 2012–2013 season. “We had a breakthrough year, particularly for our women’s program,” McCurry said. “To me, the cool thing about our sport is to watch the development of each athlete, to see them excel as individuals, and then to have them come together and succeed as a team.”

GOLDEN GIRLS HOLT, KLOPFENSTEIN CAPTURE NATIONAL TITLES FOR YOTES

Coyotes win Cascade Conference softball title

Hillary Holt, left, and Sora Klopfenstein celebrate after Klopfenstein captured her first individual national title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

C of I pitcher Nickayla Skinner enjoyed a dominant junior season, propelling the Coyotes to the NAIA Softball National Championships.

quest • page 20

Idaho continue to guide

him, especially the advice

of business professor Gen.

Edward Sawyer.

“He was just a wonderful

man, but he and I had

a divergence of opinion

about what I wanted to

learn,” Moore recalls. “I

was more interested in the

quantitative side, but in

almost every class, Sawyer

said ‘business is people’.”

At the time, Moore said that phrase

exasperated him.

“It took me years before I realized kindly old

General Sawyer had it right and I had it wrong,”

he said. “Business is about people. It’s about

how you trust them, how you evaluate them,

how you communicate with them.”

Moore’s relationship with the College has

continued past graduation. He taught a

corporate finance course during the 1980s

and he’s recently worked with Scott Johnson,

director of business and accounting, as part

of an ongoing initiative to strengthen those

programs.

And, of course, he has a close relationship

with the C of I ski team.

“I’ve known Ron Bonneau for about 10 years

and he’s a tremendous coach and motivator,”

Moore said. “It’s great to see the College’s ski

team be so successful and for Bogus Basin to be

their home mountain.”

Whether it’s helping the Coyote ski team or

developing new programs for Treasure Valley

children, Moore’s vision for Bogus Basin is clear.

“We are doing everything we can with that

one square mile of paradise we have up there,”

Moore said. “It’s our responsibility not to

squander that resource.”

DUSTIN WUNDERLICH is the assistant

editor of Quest.

Though Alan Moore ’74 grew up in the

Treasure Valley, he never put on skis until

he came to The College of Idaho.

In fact, his first trip to Bogus Basin Mountain

Recreational Area came during a College-

sponsored ski night, when two buses packed

with students rumbled up the foothills.

“It was a beautiful night and the lights were

on,” Moore said. “It was a great time, and I

remember we did a candlelight procession down

the Bowl.”

While Moore continued skiing, he never

imagined that first cold night on Bogus Basin’s

slopes that he would eventually manage one of

the Treasure Valley’s most beloved institutions.

After graduating, Moore entered a business

manager program at what is now URS in Boise

and steadily moved up the ranks. One of his co-

workers was Mike Shirley, who went on to manage

Bogus Basin for two decades. In 2001, Shirley

asked Moore if he was interested in the controller

position at Bogus Basin.

Moore quickly accepted the offer.

“I didn’t change jobs because of boredom; I

wanted a different experience and I really liked

what Mike Shirley was doing by making Bogus

Basin more affordable to the Treasure Valley,”

Moore said.

After a decade, Moore was named general

manager of Bogus Basin in March 2012.

The position requires everything from keeping the

ski lifts running to fundraising to managing staff.

Even during the summer, Moore is busy working on

marketing plans, doing lift maintenance and lodge

repairs, and even cutting brush.

While summer goes by quickly, things are busiest

from the week before opening day through the

holidays, when Moore is at work every day.

“Bogus Basin is like a little city with everything that’s

up there, and everything can break,” Moore said.

Despite the long hours, Moore said he finds

great reward in working to make Bogus Basin the

community’s most treasured asset.

“Our commitment to affordable skiing allows

almost every person in the Treasure Valley the

opportunity to come up and ski here,” Moore

said. “In addition to the skiing, our board wants

to do great things for kids. We have kids programs

year-round, such as summer programs for kids

with diabetes and obesity, and we’re making a

difference in their lives.”

Moore said his experiences at The College of The Moore family has a strong legacy at the College. Alan Moore had two sisters and an uncle attend the C of I, and his father served as campus chaplain for two years.

alumni news

Alumnus makes Bogus Basin an oasis BY DUSTIN WUNDERLICH

Alan Moore, shown here at Bogus Basin, served as student body president at the C of I.


Coyote Reunion

C of I football recruit Cory Brady speaks during the Coyote Reunion. Brady and more than a dozen teammates in attendance received a standing ovation from the crowd.

(above) Former C of I quarterback Dave McAnaney ’77 holds up the game ball from the last football game played at the College in November 1977.

(right) Alumnus Bob Bement ’59 and the Coyote mascot are ready for some football!

Joe Glaisyer ’73 embraces Ed “Buzz” Bonaminio ’56 after announcing a $100,000 gift in his honor. The gift to the College’s new Athletics and Outdoor Education Center will name the head football coach’s office after Bonaminio, who coached the Coyotes from 1965–1971.

“I remember the collegiality and camaraderie of the players the most. And [Coach] Babe Brown was like my second dad, he really took care of me. When my classmates and I got into the world of coaching, we had a strong commitment to taking care of our kids, too, and helping them to take the next steps they needed to succeed.”

—Elmore “Mo” Brooks ’66, former C of I quarterback and Idaho high school coaching legend

“I had Professor [Lamar] Bollinger for economics at 1:30, and football practice started at 3. So I was always sneaking out early and Professor Bollinger always knew I was sneaking out early, ‘cause he’d be up on the board and I’d be running down to throw to the wide receivers. Lamar was a very tough professor, but I came back [after graduation] and attended a function, and he brought a little book with clippings of football and all the things I had done at the College. I always thought we were kind of adverse. Yet at the same time, the memory was how much he cared about me. That’s what it was about the College. It was about people who cared about other people.”

—Dave McAnaney ’77, former C of I quarterback and attorney at McAnaney & Associates, PLLC

“We were running a pro-style offense back in 1952. R.C. [Owens] would catch the ball and outmaneuver the defensive backs all the time. He had something like a 39-inch vertical leap. There weren’t too many guys doing that in those days. The jumping gave him his fame, but R.C. was just a great athlete. He could do anything.”

—Ed “Buzz” Bonaminio ’56, former C of I halfback, head coach and teammate of the late, great R.C. Owens ’58

“I had [the late] Ken Woodbridge as my left guard and Tony English as my tight end, so we had a good left side of the line, and it made it very enjoyable to play football. One of my best memories involved the tennis coach here, Cisco Limbago. We ran the wishbone, [where] you option off the defensive end and leave him unblocked. I had to pull and get the inside man. I remember looking back at Cisco pitching very nicely to the defensive end from Lewis & Clark. That’s always stuck in my mind; I’m going ‘Cisco! What are you doing!?’ And me not being petite of feet, I couldn’t catch the guy.”

—Rich Aitken ’72, former C of I left tackle and retired businessman

Hear more stories from C of I football heroes by viewing our collection of “Coyote Classics” videos online at www.yoteathletics.com/kickoff2014

C of I Memories Coyote football alumni share their fondest gridiron experiences

quest • page 22

Join the C of I online community! Update your information online, view and post jobs, find lost classmates and more by visiting www.alumniconnections.com/yotes. If you have questions or need help logging in, call us at (208) 459-5306. You can also use the C of I online community to submit class notes. Or, email them to us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing about your accomplishments!

1940s

Barbara Attebery (’47) recently was featured on the front page of the Idaho Press-Tribune’s Sunday community section. The article focuses on Attebery’s role teaching, inspiring and entertaining the Caldwell community through music for more than 50 years.

1960s

Ron Bitner (’68) and his wife, Mary, have been named the 2013 Farm Family of the Year by Northwest Farm Credit Services. The Bitners own and operate their own winery, Bitner Vineyards, which Ron began planting in 1981. The Bitners are being recognized for the award at the Canyon County Fair this summer and at local chamber luncheons in October.

Jan Boles (’65) has a new exhibition on display at the Boise Art Museum. URBAN, an exhibition of Boise City sites in celebration of Boise’s Sesquicentennial, also features artists Charles Gill, Michael Miller and Karen Woods. The exhibition remains open through Sept. 22. For more information, visit www.boiseartmuseum.org.

Terry Dowd (’69) and the 1984 Kimberly High girls basketball team recently were honored with the Idaho High School Activities Association “Legends of the Game” award. Dowd coached the 1984 Bulldogs to the school’s first

state championship, which included a thrilling 46-43 victory over rival Declo in the A-3 title game. He and his play-ers were honored during the 2013 girls basketball state championships at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

Bob Madden (’67) recently received the National Association of Athletic Development Directors’ 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award. Madden has spent 33 years in athletics development at Boise State University, where he currently serves as associate athletic director for fundraising. Madden, who also spent five years as director of financial aid and placement at the C of I, has helped Boise State increase its scholarship endowment fund from $30,000 to more than $15 million during his tenure.

1970s

Tim Bundgard (’72) has been named a 2013 CEO of Influence by the Idaho Business Review. Bundgard, the President and CEO of Pioneer Title Company in Boise, and his fellow award winners were honored during a May ceremony at the Boise Centre on the Grove and featured in a special IBR publication. Bundgard studied economics and finance at the C of I. In

addition to his leadership at Pioneer Title, he regularly serves on the boards of nonprofit groups and community organizations.

John Danielson (’76) received some welcome news this spring when his winery, Vale Wine Company, was named a “2013 Idaho Winery to Watch” by Wine Press Northwest magazine. Danielson’s winery also was featured in the fall 2012 issue of Quest.

Kent Holsinger (’78) has been promoted to vice provost of graduate education and dean of the graduate school at the University of Connecticut. Holsinger is a longtime professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UConn. His research focuses on the evolution and genetics of plants.

Jay W. Hummel (’78) has been hired as the superintendent for the Ashland School Board in Oregon. Hummel, who earned a master’s degree in education at the C of I, has been the superintendent of the Kuna Joint School District since 2005. He also has served as an assistant superintendent, high school principal, counselor, coach and English teacher during his 35-year career in education.

1980s

The Rev. Dr. Keith Beebe (’80) is a professor of theology at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash., where he has taught since 2001. Beebe recently received the 2013 Collaborative Teaching Award for his leadership of the Core 150 Worldview Studies Program and the Britain and Ireland Semester-Abroad Study Program. He also presented a paper at the American Society of Church History spring meeting in Portland, Ore., titled,

“Setting the Record Straight: Evangelical Redactions of Religious Experience in Scotland’s First Oral History Project.” In addition, Beebe’s two-volume critical edition, The McCulloch Examinations of the Cambuslang Revival (1742): Conversion Narratives from the Scottish Evangelical Awakening (Boydell and Brewer Publishers) was released this summer by the Scottish History Society.

Dr. Rebecca Constantino (’85) and her non-profit company, Access Books, recently were featured in People magazine’s “heroes among us.” Access Books, which helps bring books to disadvantaged schools in California, has donated more than 1.3 million books and refurbished more than 200 libraries since 1999. In addition to her non-profit work, Constantino is an adjunct professor at UCLA and the University of California-Irvine.

1990s

Sanya Allmaras (’97) has been promoted to director of bank operations at Home Federal Bank in Nampa. In this role, Allmaras will provide leadership and strategic oversight of the bank’s operations team. Allmaras, who majored in business administration at the C of I, has worked for Home Federal Bank for 16 years. She has experience in deposit operations, electronic banking, project management, retail banking operations, fraud investigation, security, compliance and risk management. She also is involved with the Payette County 4-H program and was a 2006 Tribute to Women and Industry honoree.

Josh Hegstad (’97) has been hired as athletic director at Caldwell High School. Hegstad has spent the past 13 years at the C of I as an assistant baseball coach and facilities manager for the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The past seven seasons, he served as the Coyotes’ associate head coach. Hegstad played baseball at the College of Southern Idaho and the C of I, graduating with a degree in education. He also earned his master’s in education leadership from the University of Idaho in 2010.

2000s

Three C of I alumni—all attorneys—were honored in the Idaho Business Review’s 2013 “Accomplished Under 40” publication. Hilary Soltman (’01) is an underwriting counsel at First American Title Company; Josh Taylor (’00) works at Pickens Law P.A., a Boise firm specializing in real estate and commercial litigation; and Allison Blackman (’06) is a litigation attorney at Stoel Rives LLP. The three were chosen based on their professional accomplishments, leadership skills, community involvement and long-term goals.

Matt Barclay (’06) has been hired as an EDM specialist for the J.R. Simplot Company. Barclay studied business administration with an emphasis in accounting and was a three-sport athlete in track, basketball and swimming at the C of I. He also is in his fifth year as an assistant coach for the Coyote track team.

Conrad Frank (’04) is the international sales manager for Litehouse Foods, which recently won the Exporter of the Year Award in Mexico. Litehouse entered the Mexican market in 2011 and now sells 16 different flavors of dressing to the country’s top

class notes

“Let them come, let them all come, and we will see what they can do.” —William Judson Boone


supermarket chains. Frank accepted the award in March during Expo ANTAD 2013 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Bryce Frates (’02) and Josh Taylor (’00) have gone public with Heart and Home Heating, a charity they have been operating privately since 2008. Heart and Home Heating provides heat sources for the homes of senior citizens and families in need by collecting and hauling firewood, purchasing propane and space heaters and supplying wood chips through the work and donations of volunteers. Learn more about the charity at www.heartandhomeheating.com.

Joe Green (’05) has been hired as the boys basketball coach at Pocatello High School. Green attended school in Pocatello, where he was a two-sport standout for the Highland Rams. He also was a star basketball player at the C of I, amassing a school-record 305 steals during his career. Green has been an assistant basketball coach at Highland High since 2007.

Gabriel M. Haws (’00) has been named a partner at the Boise law firm Belnap Stewart Taylor & Morris PLLC. Haws specializes in commercial litigation, whistle blower actions, employment issues and construction litigation. As a partner, he will expand the firm’s areas of practice to include personal injury and criminal defense. Haws, who studied English at the C of I, is a member of the Idaho Bar Association and the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association as well as a student mentor at Concordia University School of Law.

Neil Stutzman (’06) has been hired as the girls basketball coach at Vallivue High School in Caldwell. Stutzman comes to Vallivue after six years with the Weiser boys team, including three as the Wolverines’ head coach. Stutzman played basketball at the C of I for three years and spent two more as a graduate assistant coach with the Coyotes.

Dr. Addy Wissel (’01) has accepted a faculty position in counselor education at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., where she will teach and coordinate the school counseling program. Wissel, who studied political science at the C of I, is relocating to Spokane this summer with her husband and two sons.

2010s

Dorgham Abusalim (’12) has been accepted to The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva to complete a master’s degree in international

affairs. Abusalim, who has been working at the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington, D.C., majored in international political economy, minored in interactive journalism, served as president of the Davis Scholars Club and was an accomplished Model United Nations delegate at the C of I. Said political economy professor Rob Dayley: “Our department is extremely proud of Dorgham. He has raised the bar for future IPE graduates and is bound for a productive career in international affairs.”

Amber Anderson (’10) recently was accepted into the graduate program in historic preservation at Clemson University in South Carolina. Anderson studied art and history at the C of I, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2010. Since then, she has been active with the Oregon Historic Preservation League in preparation for graduate school.

Shea Hall (’10) is working as an actress in London. She recently was accepted into the Epic Stages program with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, which counts Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig and Orlando Bloom among its alumni. Hall, who is working toward a master’s degree at Goldsmiths University of London, is taking part in Epic Stages’ six-week intensive program aimed at emerging actors, delivered by industry experts and culminating with the performance of an original piece in

a West-end venue in London to an invited industry audience.

Danny Henson (’11) and Michelle Locke (’11) got married in June. The two met and became friends as freshmen at the C of I

—their first date took place during their senior year when they sat in Centennial Amphitheater and named constellations. Locke is enjoying her new job as an administrative assistant at ElderHelp & Living, an assisted living facility in Spring- field, Ore. She also is an active freelance writer, blogger and photographer. Keep up with Michelle via her blog at www.lockedoutfashion.blogspot.com.

Cassandra Painter (’10) recently won a

DAAD Fellowship to conduct research in Germany. DAAD (the German Academic Exchange Service) promotes international academic relations and cooperation by offering mobility programs and funding for students and faculty. Painter, who studied history at the C of I, earned her master’s degree from the University of Rochester in 2012 and currently is working toward her Ph.D. in history at Vanderbilt University.

Yordanos Refu (’12) has been chosen to participate in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals, a year-long, federally-funded fellowship in Germany. Refu, who studied international political economy at the C of I, was selected

1930s

Darlene Kessinger (’39)

Janette Perkins (’33)

1940s

Gordon Barrett (’42)

Donna Caskey (’42)

Milford Faylor (’40)

Alvin Randall (’44)

Leslie Summers (’44)

Verne Swanson (’45)

1950s

Guy Allee (’51)

Clifford Bevington (’54)

Marilyn Hancock (’59)

Harlow Hill (’54)

Bernice Kong (’51)

Dan Morris (’50)

Mildred Naylor (’53)

1960s

Jerry Ferguson (’60)

Gordon Gochnour (’62)

Charlotte Hays (’63)

Jessie Nau (’63)

Cynthia Ricci (’68)

Earl Williams (’62)

1970s Charles Miller (’72)

Friends

Dwight Homestead

Ellen McMikle

Gerald Overly

Murray Satterfield

Martha Stolz

Fred Wagahoff

Phil Weitz

Josephine Willmorth

in memoriam

Yordanos Refu (right) is headed to Germany.

The following alumni and friends of the College have passed away. When you learn of the death of a College of Idaho alumnus or alumna, please email the information to: [email protected].

quest • page 24

as one of 75 participants from more than 600 applicants. While in Germany, she will attend a two-month intensive German language course, study at a German university for four months and complete a five-month internship with a German company in her career field, immigrant integration. Refu, a refugee from Ethiopia, aims to eventually open a center “for refugees, by refugees” that will improve integration of refugees in host countries.

Campus Notes

FACULTY AND STAFF FOOTNOTES

Dr. Jim Angresano (political economy) recently has had one paper accepted for publication and another included as part of an online conference. The first paper, “China’s Unsustainable Economic Growth and Development: The Influence of Conspicuous Consumption,” is being published in the International Journal of Sustainable Development. The second,

“Orthodox Economic Education, Ideology and Commercial Interests: Relationships that Inhibit Poverty Alleviation,” was included as part of the World Economics Curriculum Conference in May.

Michael Capell (art) with spouse Brita Capell and recent graudate Reinaldo Gil (’13), competed again as “Team Yotes” in the Idaho Statesman Chalk Art Festival. Their piece, a group of self-portraits rendered in a VanGogh style called Sterry Night, won first place in the adult division.

Dr. Garth Claassen (art) is one of a select group of faculty members nationwide recently chosen by the Council of Independent Colleges to participate in a special week-long seminar on Teaching European Art in Context. The seminar “Dutch Art, Patrons, and Markets” was held in June at the High Museum in Atlanta, Ga., in conjunction with the exhibition of rare traveling masterpieces of Dutch art “Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis” featuring works by Vermeer, Hals

and Rembrandt. Claassen was one of 21 faculty members selected by CIC to participate in the seminar, which aims to strengthen the teaching of art history to undergraduates at smaller colleges and universities.

Dr. Robert Dayley (political economy) has been elected to ASIANetwork’s Board of Directors. Dayley will serve a three-year term as one of nine members of the national board. His election speaks highly of the Asian studies program at The College of Idaho, which has grown in recent years to include expanded course offerings

and study abroad opportunities in China and Southeast Asia. ASIANetwork is a consortium of 160 North American colleges designed to strengthen undergraduate education in Asian studies through grant-funded programming, pedagogical exchange and scholarship.

Marty Holly has been named the Cascade Conference Athletic Director of the Year. Holly, who recently completed his 32nd year at the C of I, earns the honor for the second time in the last five seasons. He also is a nominee for the NAIA Athletic Director of the Year award. Coyote athletics enjoyed a banner year under Holly’s direction, winning nine individual/relay national championships, posting

eight Top-15 team finishes, earning more than 100 conference and national academic honors, moving forward with the reinstated C of I football program and successfully launching a new website.

Diane Raptosh (’83) (English) has won her second major literary award of the year with the May announcement by the Idaho Commission on the Arts that she will serve as the state’s Writer in Residence. Raptosh, who earlier in 2013 was named Boise Poet Laureate, will be Idaho’s Writer in Residence for the next three years and receive a $10,000 prize. The Writer in Residence award is the highest literary recognition and largest financial award accorded to an Idaho writer.

Mike Safford Jr. in June was named the 2012–13 Cascade Collegiate Conference Mike Booth Sports Information Director of the Year. Safford, a 1998 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, wins the award for the third time in his 12 years at the College. This year, he oversaw the launch of a new website and helped coordinate major news conferences announcing the hiring of the Coyotes’ first football coach since 1977 as well as a new men’s basketball coach.

Dr. Donald W. Zaroban, the Curator of Fishes at The College of Idaho’s Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History, has released the new book Native Fishes of Idaho. The book, co-authored by the late Richard L. Wallace and published by the American Fisheries Society, is a complete study of Idaho’s native fishes, documenting the ecological status of more than two-dozen species for the first time. It is available for purchase at the Orma J. Smith Museum on campus or online at www.fisheries.org/shop/55071p.

STANDOUT STUDENTS

The College of Idaho’s Model United Nations delegation enjoyed a successful week of competition during spring break, traveling to New York City to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference as representatives of the Southeast Asia nation of Malaysia. In an historic first for the College, senior Tyler Hatch won a Delegate Choice Award, the highest individual distinction possible at the conference. Senior Ariel Lawson was selected to chair the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, while senior Zach Theiler represented the C of I in the International Atomic Energy Agency.

C of I students took home three awards during the 55th annual Idaho Academy of Science symposium in March. Jessica Labright, Anna Chase and Kaden Schultz won first place for their poster presentation

“Discovery, Characterization, and Genomic Analysis of Novel Mycobacteriophages,” based upon their work isolating, analyzing and naming the soil virus RhynO. Kyle Quinney gave the top undergraduate oral presentation (third place overall) for his project “Effects of Cadmium and the Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine in Saos-2 Osteoblast-like Cells,” while Betsaida Chavez-Garcia and Laura Barbour won third place for their poster presentation “Probable Causes for the Increase of Alders in Succor Creek Canyon Over the Last 50 Years.”

C of I students made a strong showing during the Treasure Valley Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing auditions April 25 on campus. Jordan Bowman was named the Division I winner and the overall first-place winner, Dawson Bonde was the Division III winner and Zach Buker and Decker Hinckley were chosen to sing in the finals.

Congratulations to the C of I team that competed in the 73rd annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition. Matt Farrell and Gary Parkinson each scored 10 points to lead the Yotes, while Olivia Poland, J.T. Garner, Greg Johnson, Roz Wallace, Shealene Zitny, Blair Symington, Tierra Candelaria, Tyler Deroin, and Rainier Barrett also participated.

Austin Basterrechea and Jasmine Sibert captured Cascade Conference titles in the decathlon and heptathlon, respectively, this spring at the CCC Multi-Event Championships. Basterrechea, a junior from Gooding, recorded the

campus notes

Jim Angresano (left) and Robert Dayley (above).


campus notes highest score in the NAIA this season, winning seven of his 10 events. Sibert, a junior from Boise, won three events and set a school record in the long

jump. Both were honored as NAIA National Track & Field Athletes of the Week and both earned All-America honors at outdoor nationals.

Jesse Dodd, a graduate student from Eagle, was named the 2012–2013 Cascade Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He earned a bachelor’s degree in math/physics in 2012 and he currently holds a 4.0 GPA while pursuing his master’s in education. Dodd, a three-time CCC All-Academic honoree and a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, hit .344 with 35 RBI for the Coyote baseball team this spring.

Ben Hersh, a sophomore golfer from Idaho Falls, recorded the first hole-in-one in program history during the Cascade Conference Championships and NAIA West National Qualifier on April 16 at Diamond Woods Golf Course in Oregon. The C of I women’s team also recorded its best-ever finish at the tournament, while coach John Bideganeta was named Cascade Conference Coach of the Year.

Austin Mendiola, a sophomore from Meridian, was named a first-team midfielder on the All-Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League team. Senior goaltender Ryan Gibson made the second team and sophomore Patrick Erstad was named an honorable mention face-off specialist.

C of I students and staff took part in the inaugural C of I Cup (Copa C of I) on May 3. The annual 5-on-5 soccer tournament and BBQ was sponsored by the International Students Football Club with ENACTUS. A group of eight

teams, made up of students and staff, participated on Hayman field at the end of dead week. There was group play with the best teams advancing to a final. Juicy Fruit and Co., a team comprised of Isfandiyor Abdullo, Anel Bueno, Aidian Peterson (’13), Jack Prendergast, Michael Capell, Emily Long, Holly Moss and Emi Yomaha won the fiercely contested final following overtime and a shootout.

JOB CHANGES

Thomas Baker (’95) is returning to the C of I as men’s soccer coach. Baker has been a middle school teacher in the Vallivue and Meridian School Districts for the past 18 years since he graduated from the College in 1995. He has coached soccer in those districts as well as at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise. Baker is married to former Coyote soccer player Stephanie Halter (’93) and will be joined at the C of I in the fall by his daughter, Taylor. Baker’s son Cole is a sophomore at Bishop Kelly.

Dr. Jennie Daniels has been hired as an assistant professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Foreign Languages. Daniels previously was a professor in the English and Modern Languages Department at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. She earned her Ph.D. in literature at the University of California, San Diego. She also completed a master’s in Latin American studies at UCSD and a bachelor’s in Spanish and psychology at Point Loma Nazarene University.

Nancy Johnson-Cassulo has been hired as director of human resources. Nancy is returning to the Treasure Valley after 23 years working in human resources for higher education, most recently as manager for employee relations at City University of Seattle. Nancy earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Boise State University and also holds an MBA from City University.

Lance McGrath has been hired as the College’s assistant librarian. McGrath, a native Idahoan, comes to the C of I from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, where he has worked as an assistant librarian and faculty member since 2005. McGrath earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and the humanities from NNU and his master’s degree in library science from the University of North Texas.

Mike Montgomery has retired after nearly 12 years working in the College’s Facilities Department. Montgomery, who most recently served as facilities supervisor, was always happy to lend a helping hand on campus. His hard work and attention to detail helped keep the College’s buildings and grounds looking good all year round.

Tim Keane has been hired as offensive coordinator for the Coyote football program. A native of Palm Springs, Calif., Keane was a four-year letterman at UC Davis, starting 23 consecutive games at center and earning All-Great West Conference honors while completing a double major in psychology and education. He began his coaching career in 2007, assisting current C of I head coach Mike Moroski with the offensive line at Davis before spending the 2008 and 2009 seasons at Tulane University, where he was an offensive graduate assistant while finishing his master’s degree in liberal arts.

Dr. Matthew North has been hired as an associate professor of business. North comes to the C of I after 10 years of teaching at Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, where his teaching focused on business information systems, primarily databases, data mining, web application development and geographic information systems. North holds a doctorate in technology education from West Virginia University, a master’s in business information systems from Utah State

University and a bachelor’s in Latin American history and Portuguese from Brigham Young University.

June Smith has retired after 16 years as an administrative assistant at the College. Smith worked with several campus departments over the years and most recently served the Student Affairs division, where her warm smile and friendly demeanor welcomed all comers to McCain Student Center. Smith’s favorite C of I memories include students leaving notes and posters on her desk, making lifetime friendships with colleagues and the cookies from Bon Appétit. “It’s been quite a ride,” she said.

Dr. Kevin Talbert has been hired as assistant professor of education. Talbert comes to Idaho as a life-long Midwesterner. He recently completed his doctorate and a post-doctoral fellowship at Miami University of Ohio. Talbert formerly was a high school social studies teacher and co-drama director in Lima, Ohio. He earned his bachelor’s in history from Ohio Northern University.

CORRECTIONS

The College of Idaho’s Howard Berger-Ray Neilsen Chair in Judaic Studies has received support from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. The foundation was misidentified on Page 8 of the Spring 2013 issue of Quest.

Incorrect information appeared on Page 27 of the Spring 2013 issue of Quest in the Class Note for Brandon Buck (’09). We apologize for the error.

quest • page 26

STATSname Shelley Davis-Brunner

year of graduation 1973 major Education

favorite professors Dr. Lyle Stanford and Dr. Pat Packard

professionRecently retired program leader of youth education and interpretation for the Bureau of Land Management in Idaho.

Shelley Davis-Brunner ’73 can’t get enough of the outdoors. From field study trips as a C of I student to a successful career as an educator for the Bureau of Land Management to epic fishing trips off the coast of Alaska, Shelley has taken advantage of every opportunity to enjoy nature. Quest caught up with the recent retiree to talk about her favorite topic.

Quest: When did you first become interested in the outdoors? I grew up in Jerome, Idaho. What really ignited my interest was my high school biology teacher, Warren Van Camp ’60, who also was an alumnus of the College. But I guess I’ve just always felt like there is no better place to be than the outdoors. There is such a world to explore; it’s magical, it’s healing, it’s spiritual, if you will. I believe being in the outdoors and interacting with nature is one of the very best things you can do with your life.

Quest: And you continued to take an interest in environmental education at the College? Yes. I was an education major, but a lot of times I would get all my education homework done in one day so I could spend the rest of my time studying biology and science. One of my first jobs was a work study position as an assistant for the outdoor education program under Terry Uhlman. We taught a basic course taking kids out to study desert ecology and water biology from the foothills down to the Boise River. We also had an advanced program that would take trips to Puget Sound and Death Valley. It eventually evolved into the Treasure Valley Alternative School in Boone Hall. Everything we taught the kids was based in science. We went skiing for P.E. It was great!

Quest: Where did you go after graduation? I moved to Kentucky and earned my master’s degree in education with an emphasis in environmental education from Murray State University. But it didn’t take me long to come back to Idaho. I’ve always loved this area. I got the job at BLM and stayed there for 22 years.

Quest: What would you consider the highlight of your career at BLM? Definitely the FIRE Up (Field Inquiry Research Experience) program, a course I developed with local high school biology teacher Bob Beckwith ’72. He’s also an alum—we actually met on a C of I field study trip to Mexico. FIRE Up was a three-week program we partnered on. Bob led a team of very skilled and talented high school teachers that trained the students in plant identification, scientific method and the use of different technologies such as GPS. Then we would look for fire-based projects that the BLM needed to have done, such as vegetation monitoring, the before-and-after impact of fires on the environment, and fire analysis on homes around Boise and Eagle. The kids had to complete a research project as well, and they produced some fantastic work. The program even received an award from the Department of the Interior.

Quest: Any big plans for retirement?More time in the outdoors! I’ve been working on a national leadership team for a program called Project Archaeology, so I’m going to continue to help with that. I’m hoping to get back into skiing. I have property near Flathead Lake in Montana where I’ll do some fishing and boating. My late husband was a big fisherman. We used to go to Alaska together every summer, and my claim to fame was pulling in 27 king salmon in one day!

Quest: What is one thing you learned during your career that you would want to share with people? I think the biggest thing I would say is that public lands are everyone’s lands, and that the conservation and management of those lands is extremely important. I don’t know that I can verbalize how much it impacts the quality of our lives as U.S. citizens. I think we all should appreciate how special it is that we have the ability to go out on public lands and be free to hunt or fish or watch birds or just enjoy the beauty of the landscape.

alumni profile


Homecoming 2013 Bring Back the Pack

All C of I alumni and friends are invited back to campus for Homecoming Week, happening Sept. 26–29! Special events include the return of the Taste of the Harvest celebration, the volleyball match versus rival Southern Oregon, “Embrace the 8’s” reunions for classes ending in “8” and a special “Seek the Greeks” reunion for fraternities and sororities, past and present. For information and registration, please call (208) 459-5301, email [email protected] or visit www.collegeofidaho.edu/homecoming.

The College also congratulates the 2013 Alumni Award winners, who will be honored at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner during Homecoming:

Distinguished Alumni Award Don Haagensen ’67

Alumni Service Award Eloise Anderson ’42 and Dr. Wallace Lonergan ’50

Young Alumni Award Kyle Sales ’03

Family Heritage Award The Bruce Family

For a full schedule of events, please visit the Alumni Calendar at www.collegeofidaho.edu. Event dates are subject to change. For more information or to RSVP for events, email [email protected] or call (208) 459-5770. We look forward to seeing you soon!

AUGUST 2013

14 Tri-Counties Area Alumni & Friends Event

(Fruitland)

17 McCall Alumni & Friends Reception (Bistro 45)

23 Alumni & Friends Night at Idaho Shakespeare

Festival (Boise)

SEPTEMBER 2013

7 Ada County Luncheon (Boise)

11 North Idaho/Eastern Washington Alumni &

Friends Reception (Coeur d’Alene)

11 State of the College Address (Campus)

24 Half Century Luncheon (Campus)

26–29 Homecoming 2013 (Campus)

OCTOBER 2013

7 College of Idaho Day


NOVEMBER 2013


13 Ada County After Hours

alumni calendar

Photo by Marie Paradise ’03

2112 Cleveland BoulevardCaldwell, Idaho 83605

A featured course during the

1971 C of I Summer Session

focused on lifetime sports

such as canoeing, fly fishing,

camping and hiking. This group,

including Director of Athletics

Don Parmelee (at left) scaled

7,880-foot Lava Mountain in

the Boise National Forest

after an overnight camping trip.

Quest is published by The College of Idaho. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Editorial offices are located in Sterry Hall, 2112 Cleveland Boulevard, Caldwell, ID 83605-4432. Telephone 208.459.5529. Email: [email protected] expressed in Quest are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College administration or the Board of Trustees.

R E M E M B E R W H E N…

summer 2013 quest magazine

Documents

outdoor education center

outdoor educationis

nature force of nature

spirit of play

play spirit

theme of nature

naturerelated studies

field studies