Graduate student in mental health counseling Junko Takamura prepares dinner with her daughter Rin after school. As a Japanese mom in the United States, she struggles to balance motherhood and foreign schooling. Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

Succeeding as a single parent while in school can be hard and is not a lifestyle most would choose. But when Junko Takamura, graduate in mental health counseling, wanted to finish her education, she and her seven year-old daughter Rin packed their bags and headed to Kansas.

Junko’s husband works as an engineer in Japan and after long discussions, supported his wife’s decision to continue her education in America. But she did not receive the same support from his family who believes a wife should be home to support the husband and raise the children.

“Japan is very conservative to gender roles,” Junko said. “Like me, it is very unusual for a mother to leave. Most of my family was opposed to me coming to the United States, except my husband.”

A year of preparation led to both Junko and Rin enrolling in new schools in a new country. Rin attends the William Allen White Elementary School while her mother has class during the day.

Rin said her favorite class is computers because she gets to play games. She also enjoys playing soccer, house and jumping rope during recess.

“I have time to study until she gets out of school,” Junko said. “I meet her after school so we can eat then we usually come back to ESU to study. When she came to the U.S. she spoke very little English, but now she has friends at school and she speaks better.”

Both Junko and Rin spoke very little English before the move, but Amy Murphy, sophomore elementary education major, helped them improve their English, meeting with them once a week for tutoring and even taking them to Wal-Mart.

“They were always eager to learn,” Murphy said. “Rin was always fun because she loved talking to me about animals and the stuff she did at school, but she would get distracted easily, especially when there where people who spoke her language around.”

To finish her degree, Junko will need to spend three years in Emporia. During this time she plans to only go home during the summer, spending holidays with friends in the states.

“I really wanted to study mental health counseling,” said Junko. “Before I came to the United States I worked as a nurse midwife and I saw many pregnant women and mothers who suffered from mental health illness, and I wanted to help them.”

Junko attended Saniku Gakuin Junior College and Suzuki Memorial Hospital Training School for Midwives in Japan. She also graduated from Ferris University, a women’s college in Yokohama. She decided to come to the U.S. because she would receive a better education for mental illness counseling.

Junko discovered ESU through Sakae Institution Study Abroad, an organization which provides information about universities and study programs in the United States.

Junko’s bicycle is the main method of transportation for the two, a benefit of living close to campus. They spend most of their time at William Allen White Library so Junko can study for the workload of nine credit hours.

Without a job, Junko relies on her husband for financial support. She keeps in contact through Skype and e-mail whenever she can find time.

Rocky Robinson

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ANDERSON

In her fourth year at Emporia State, Sarah Anderson emerged as a consistent offensive weapon for Hornet soccer, an area the team need improvement on in going into the season.

Under her leadership, the Hornets have been able to generate 184 shots this year, 103 of those shots on goal.

“She’s a quiet leader,” said head coach Bryan Sailer. “But she does the right thing. She leads by example. She’s a hard worker. She’s here everyday. She’s not missed one practice, one game, not late, nothing. She’s just a good kid, in the community (and) just as a person.”

Anderson grew up in Overland Park where she began playing soccer at an early age, as her dad influenced her to take up the sport.

Although soccer was the first sport she played growing up, she was also a pitcher for a competitive softball team until she entered high school. But in the end, soccer was Anderson’s first choice.

“Honestly, I just love the sport,” Anderson said. “I really like endurance… I love long distance running, so that matches a lot more with soccer than it did softball. Plus, just the whole soccer atmosphere, I like it better than softball.”

Anderson attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School where she lettered for three years in soccer. During her senior season, she scored five goals and had two assists and was a member of the 2006 and 2007 state championship teams.

After high school Anderson chose ESU over other MIAA members Truman and Washburn. In the end, her future plans and the location of the campus persuaded her to choose ESU.

“The location was pretty good for me… I wanted to be close to all my friends and be able to have my parents come to my games, and stuff like that means a lot to me,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s career plans include becoming an elementary teacher or a middle school math teacher. During her time at ESU, Anderson has scored six goals and has had seven assists. This year she scored her sixth goal against Southwest Baptist in a game the Hornets won 3-0. Anderson also had an assist in the game.

Anderson, who has had three assists this year, is currently tied for second on the team in total points. Her leadership this season has not gone unnoticed.

“She shows us by, not only verbally speaking to us, but she also shows us by playing to her best ability,” said junior forward Ashley Hill.

This year is the first for the MIAA soccer tournament. The top six teams will earn a bid, and the Hornets are currently seventh and one point behind Washburn.

As the Hornets attempt to make it into this year’s tournament during their final two games, Anderson’s play at forward will be essential for the team’s success.

Brandon Schneeberger

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Emmy Rice, graphic design instructor, stands next to a display of shampoo designs made by her students in King Hall Tuesday afternoon. Prior to teaching in Emporia, Rice taught graphic design at Kansas State. Julie Thephachan/The Bulletin

Emmy Rice, Emporia State’s newest instructor of graphic arts, is bringing fresh ideas to the art department in the form of web design for artists.

Before arriving at ESU, Rice was a graphic arts teacher at Kansas State, her alma mater, but she decided to come to ESU for the contrasting opportunities it offered.

“(I came to ESU) because it was a great opportunity, nice community and had small class sizes,” Rice said.

Rice’s experience at K-State with larger class sizes was one of the things the art department liked about Rice, said Patrick Martin, associate professor of glass blowing and interim chair of the art department.

Another thing that set her apart from the other candidates was the fact that Rice already had a freelance web designing business. She will teach a course in web design next semester in addition to her graphic arts classes.

“I just gave a talk to the art department on the importance of creating an online presence for your work,” Rice said. “Using blogging, Twitter, Pinterest and other social networking sites as viral marketing is a concept that is really important for today’s design student,” Rice said.

Rice is the only graphic arts teacher at ESU, so she has a lot of freedom with the curriculum when it comes to her classes.

“I regularly incorporate collaborative projects into each semester that mirror the real world,” Rice said.

Rice’s classes have also put together a blog using Wordpress to document their daily artistic process.

“Incorporating Wordpress into my daily curriculum is a baby step towards (web design),” Rice said.

Rice said group work projects that students create together helps to create a more lifelike situation of what jobs will be like when the students graduate.

“These students want to learn how it will be in the real world,” Rice said. “This way they get a feel for what it means to work in the same conditions as a professional.”

They recently finished a group packaging project, which is posted on the students’ blog.

“It seems like the projects she has her student do are appropriate – you know, fun and very real life,” said Stephanie Lanter, instructor of ceramics.

Lanter, a fellow first year instructor, said she was glad to have another new instructor in the department.

“Emmy is wonderful,” Lanter said. “She has tons of energy, cares and her positive attitude has contributed to my experience at ESU… we are both new this year so we connected easily. Trying to figure out the system together and everything.”

Rice said she was excited to be at ESU and hopes to make Emporia her home for a long time to come.

Megan Nolan

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Gregory Robinson, associate professor of English, discusses his background in his office Tuesday morning. Prior to ESU, Robinson taught in Alabama for five years. Julie Thephachan/The Bulletin

When new English associate professor Gregory Robinson joined the department, students and faculty were refreshed by his teaching style and specialization.

“It’s refreshing to have an English course taught by somebody whose first language is not English,” said April Spahalski, senior English major. “He’s very passionate about Spanish culture.”

Mel Storm, professor and interim chair of English, said Robinson is an asset to the English department.

“He’s particularly valuable to us because he can teach in two different sides of the department – the modern language side and English literature side,” Storm said. “His specialties, which are mainly women writers and film directors, especially in Hispanic culture, are new for us.”

Robinson is originally from Panamá. He graduated from the University of North Alabama with a degree in secondary education and was certified to teach Spanish in 2000. He then went to teach high school for five years while finishing his master’s degree in English as a second language at the University of Alabama.

“I like Emporia State very much,” Robinson said. “It’s a type of institution where you have time to meet with the students and give them feedback, like give them comments for their writings.

“When I was teaching at the University of Alabama, I didn’t have much time to meet with the students. So I like that Emporia is a smaller institution, and I have time to meet with the students, help them and I have more time to prepare for the teaching.”

After five years of teaching high school, Robinson decided to continue with his PhD, which he recently received in Central American studies and short fiction.

Robinson moved to Emporia last May, and he is teaching four courses this semester – later world literature; studies in world literature; studies in the culture of Latin America; and seminar in world literature.

Spahalski said studies in world literature was one of her favorite classes. The course mostly focuses on South American and Central American literature.

“We have discussions every day,” Spahalski said. “I like that he goes really deeply into discussions with us. We’ve been watching a movie called ‘Vidas Secas,’ which translates out to Barren Lives in English, and every 10 minutes we stop the movie and discuss what we’ve seen.”

It was a challenge for Robinson to learn English in Panamá at the beginning, he said. He started learning English in fifth grade and then realized he wanted to learn more about the language. For him, learning a second language is important and it’s a whole process. Storm said Robinson has a natural ability in English.

Storm said that Robinson was hired because his academic records, recommendations and field of specialization helped him to rise to the top of the applicants.

Tianhai Jiang

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Senior psychology major Jessica Decker keeps a close eye on the ball at soccer practice Tuesday. Decker has played for Emporia State since her freshman year. Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin

Much like any sport, the defensive intensity a team brings to the game is a determining factor of their success. This year, the Emporia State soccer team will have confidence and experience in the form of senior defender Jessica Decker.

“She’s special,” said head coach Bryan Sailer. “She’s always in the right spot, always in the right position. Her leadership has been great. I mean she saves us a lot of times. She anchors our defense. She mentally understands where to be and how to play the game.”

Decker, a psychology major, began playing soccer at an early age along with other sports, but eventually stuck to soccer and volleyball at Emporia High School. Though volleyball was of high interest for her, she decided to continue in soccer as she earned first team All-League, All-Region and All-State honors her senior year.

“Pretty much the whole time growing up I knew I wanted to play soccer further than just high school,” Decker said. “I love volleyball, but it would be hard to play two sports in college. One sport was enough for me.”

After high school, Decker contemplated attending Washburn University in Topeka before finally making the commitment to ESU.

“I looked at Washburn,” Decker said. “I was pretty dead set on going there, but then I knew a lot of the players that were older than me here at ESU, and I just liked them so much more that I came here, and being home was a little bit easier.”

Though this year will not be Decker’s first season, she is accepting a leadership role due to the defense starting three freshman defenders along with her. Despite the newcomers, the Hornet defense allowed only two goals in last weekend’s tournament, thanks in large part to Decker’s leadership.

“I think she leads by example more than anything, and if our players follow her example then we’re in good shape,” Sailer said, “she’s adapted well to it. She likes being a mentor in a sense. She likes that role, and she’s very good at it.”

After receiving an honorable mention her freshman season, Decker earned second team All-MIAA honors her past two seasons as a Hornet. That type of experience will be pivotal this year for the ESU defense – an area of the team in which she believes the Hornets have strength.

“Defensively, we’re not looking bad,” Decker said. “In our last tournament we held each team to one goal. So we’re looking pretty solid in the back even though we have three freshmen.”

Junior psychology major Ashley Hill recognizes Decker’s improvement as a leader on the defensive end of the field.

“(She’s improved) mainly as a leader,” Hill said. “She came out not only action wise, but vocally she’s gotten better at leading the team. She helps (the freshmen) when they have questions, and she just leads them and keeps the back sturdy.”

Brandon Schneeberger

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Soccer coach Bryan Sailer practices with the women’s soccer team Wednesday afternoon at the practice field. Wednesday’s practice was the last one before they go on the road to Ada, Okla. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

Head women’s soccer coach, Bryan Sailer, talks about his background and plans for this season.

 Where were you before ESU and what brought you here?

I was at Barton Community College in Great Bend. We were a member of the Kansas Jayhawk community conference. I was there for four years. I came from Colorado to there. I coached high school before that, but I wanted to step up to the college ranks. (Barton) was a struggling program, but I worked my tail off recruiting and coached them up, and we got better. We won the conference in my second year, and it was the first time the school has done anything like that. I wanted to coach at a higher level, and the opportunity came up at Emporia State. I felt like it could be a real good situation to come in to and try to rebuild and do good things here.

Did ESU’s past record have any effect on your decision?

I would rather be in that situation than be in a situation where they were in the national championship (and) then be here. That’s kind of a no win situation. In a sense there’s only one way to go and that’s up. I’m very impatient when it comes to being good. I don’t want it to take too much time, so in that sense, I felt like we could do it quickly. If I thought it was going to take a long time then I wouldn’t have done it. But I didn’t feel that because it’s a good school. It’s well known academically. It’s a good recruiting area, so I felt that with all those things on our side that it wouldn’t take so long – it would be relatively quick.

Last year’s team struggled with ties – what’s the plan on turning those ties into wins?

It’s finishing games. It’s not settling for ties. It’s as much mental as it is physical. I mean the physical aspects of late game failures or struggles a lot of times have to do with fitness, so fitness has to be very high because it is a long grind. You’re talking about 90 minutes plus another 20 or 30 minutes. So physically you have to get stronger as the game goes later. Tactically, a lot of times in those types of games it’s the team that wins, but it’s the individual that scores. I think we’ve been lacking that type of factor – somebody that just steps up, takes the ball and ends the game.

What are some realistic goals for this season?

I always try to set a realistic goal. This year is the first year there’s going to be a conference tournament. There are six teams that are going to make it – I want to make that. Is it too lofty a goal? If people look at our history, it is. But I think we’re good enough and close enough to make that – even if it’s sixth. I really intend to improve on last year, that’s for sure.

Brandon Schneeberger

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Courtesy photo from ESU athletic department.

The Hornets football team will see many familiar faces this season, including junior quarterback and team captain, Tyler Eckenrode.

Eckenrode said his passion came from his first year of tackle football in the fifth grade, and his love for the game has evolved ever since.

“I played my first year of tackle football in the fifth grade, and have been involved ever since,” Eckenrode said. “I grew up watching my Uncle play football for Southwest Baptist, and since then I knew I wanted to play football.”

Eckenrode is originally from Houston, Texas, where he began playing football. He competed in both football and baseball in high school and achieved success in earning honorable mention, academic all-state honors while leading his team to the thirteenth consecutive Texas 5A playoffs. He threw for 1,580 yards and 11 touchdowns his senior year.

“We finally have a guy who is steady,” said head coach Garin Higgins. “He knows how to prepare for the game and does everything we ask of him. I can trust him.”

Last season, Eckenrode had an impressive year in which he threw for over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a solid outing against Northwest Missouri State. He totaled 207 yards passing with 2 touchdown passes, while he added another touchdown on the ground.

“He’s a smart, calm and composed quarterback,” said senior offensive lineman Ben McKaig. “He is such a good decision maker and is really good at getting the ball to our playmakers.”

Eckenrode believes this season will have many successes due to the camaraderie of the football team, and said the team is clicking on all cylinders.

“We have a good solid group of returning players this season,” Eckenrode said. “Both the offense and defense are playing well together. We have some talent and can’t wait to get out there and compete this season.”

Marcus Hix

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After 29 years at Emporia State, Myrna Cornett-DeVito, professor of communication and theatre, decided to retire at the end of this semester.

After 29 years at Emporia State, Myrna Cornett-DeVito, professor of communication and theatre, decided to retire at the end of this semester.

“I’m at the stage of life that I need to cut back a little bit,” Cornett-DeVito said. “It seems the right time to do that as I try to explore what else I might want to pursue.”

But Cornett-DeVito is still passionate about communication.

“I was drawn to communication because I saw it as the only solution to the problems we have in the world,” Cornett-DeVito said. “Through communication, we share and create meaning among us and we also influence each other.”

Of all the communication classes Cornett-DeVito has taught, she said she has a special interest in intercultural communication. Cornett-DeVito has traveled to different countries to do intercultural research and has published much of her research in different professional journals.

“In many situations, we have more similarities than we have in differences,” Cornett-DeVito said. “Often we assume that someone is very different from us because they are from another country or speak another language, and that can create unwillingness to reach out and get to know someone.”

Kenna Reeves, professor of communication and theater, worked with Cornett-DeVito to co-author an article on communication.

“(She) is prolific in terms of her research and the discipline,” Reeves said.

During her tenure at ESU, Cornett-DeVito has been very involved in working with her students.

“She is one of the most student-related professionals that I have ever had the pleasure to work with, and students really respond to her style of teaching,” Reeves said.

Heidi Hamilton, assistant professor of communication and theater, said Cornett-DeVito is supportive of the international student on campus and “she really takes a lot of time working with the students, making sure that they understand what she said and she understands their points of view to bridge any cultural differences.”

Cornett-DeVito is the founding faculty adviser for the communication honor society, Lambda Pi Eta, and has been its co-adviser for nine years. In addition, she has been on many campus-wide committees including Faculty Senate, Research and Creativity and General Education Council.

“(After retirement) I will continue on a selective basis certain activities that I’ve done, but then I will try to incorporate some new activities so I can grow in different ways,” Cornett-DeVito said.

Huibing Lu

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For James Ehlers, assistant professor of art, death is a part of life. Ehlers collects dead and decaying animals and engraves the carcasses into metal plates as a hobby.

For James Ehlers, assistant professor of art, death is a part of life. Ehlers collects dead and decaying animals and engraves the carcasses into metal plates as a hobby.

“The things I’m interested in are everyday occurrences and these (dead animals) are an everyday thing… I render death,” Ehlers said. “How many dead squirrels in a week do you see in the road?”

Ehlers said his goal is to draw attention to these natural displays of death since people usually just dismiss a dead animal on the side of the road and move on. He said he wants to show the world how he sees it “in a state of perpetual decay.”

“His engravings are raw and dark art and are something right out of a nightmare,” said Brenna Fulton, senior fine arts major.

Whether they are frogs, birds or other animals Ehlers said all of his subject matters are dead “things” that he or other finds.

“Sometimes I find dead things in my mailbox from people that sent them to me,” Ehlers said.

Most of his works are metal engravings and Ehlers said he prefers this method because other forms have too many variables.

“I like the mark it leaves, the clarity of a beautiful line,” he said.

Michelle Parkman, sophomore print making major, said Ehlers’ strong point is his line making and that he does “great work” with his subject matter.

According to jamesehlers.org, he has participated in over 100 national, international, competitive and solo exhibits.

“I exhibit like crazy (trying to get) someone to see it and like it – it’s not safe art,” Ehlers said.

Ehlers said “safe art” is that which is able to be sold and generate a profit for the creator.

Other than the support he receives from his students, Ehlers said that his family is supportive of his work, but “it’s not something they put on their wall.”

            According to ESU’s website, Ehlers has been teaching for the “first and only Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Engraving Arts in the country,” since 2007.

            Ehlers is not the only artist who “renders death” in his work. Based in Amherst, Mass., the artists of “Art from Ashes” mold the ashes of the dead into glass.

According to their website, “The ashes of your loved one (including pets) are integrated into a unique, handcrafted glass memorial, creating a lasting, meaningful remembrance.”

Ehlers said “Art from Ashes” is a “pretty cool way to pay respect.”

“My friends and I used to talk about making ink from ashes because ink is primarily oil and ash mixed together,” Ehlers said.

Thomas Govert and Kenzie Templeton

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Kendrick

In 2001, Susan Kendrick, professor of English and director of the new office of interdisciplinary studies, began teaching at Emporia State and has since been bringing authors like Shakespeare to the modern reader.

“We were discussing English history plays and she compared (a character) to Sigourney Weaver’s character in ‘Alien’… she is good at linking popular culture to Shakespeare and helping us to understand what she’s talking about,” said Josh Johnson, junior secondary English education major.

Kendrick said some of her favorite subjects to teach include Shakespeare and Tudor/Stuart drama because it introduces students to different playwrights.

“I also like teaching the British Women Writers Before 1830 class because it has some authors that students have heard of but also some that they might have missed. I get to teach novels with titles like “The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless,” how fun is that?” Kendrick said.

Other faculty and students had positive comments about Kendrick, and Rachelle Smith, professor of English, nominated her for the Schillinger Award in 2008 which Kendrick received. The Schillinger Award is given to an individual who has made “extraordinary contributions” to the women of ESU over a sustained period, according to the ESU website.

“Dr. Kendrick is smart, incredibly well read, funny and one of the wittiest people I’ve ever met,” said Ellen Hansen, chair of the department of social sciences.

Hansen said that Kendrick is great to work with and always makes meetings more entertaining, but she is also great at brainstorming. Kendrick’s classes are described as challenging and rigorous but also interesting and great fun.

“When I broke my ankle last summer, she helped me many times…I value her as a friend and a colleague,” Hansen said.

Outside of literature Kendrick also enjoys the works of Joss Whedon, like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Firefly” and “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.”

“Joss Whedon is an amazing, creative talent – he’s witty, intelligent and assumes that his audiences have brains,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick has seen the entirety of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” twice and still follows the story through the graphic novel counterparts. She enjoyed “Firefly” for its brief run and would have liked to have seen the show last.

“I thought ‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’ was hilarious in a really sick kind of way, but I teach revenge tragedies on a regular basis, so that makes sense, I suppose,” Kendrick said.

By Charlie Heptas

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Childress

After having been a high school band director for eight years, the age of computers opened a new door for Marcus Childress, chair of the Instructional Design and Technology Department, and he has embraced it.

“I really like surfing the web, especially YouTube. The Auto-Tune the News guys are just brilliant,” Childress said.

Childress enjoys all technology, and he really likes his HDTV and playing with new technologies – he loves his new iPad.

“I charted out band choreography on an Apple 2 computer. It probably took longer that way,” Childress said.

Believing there to be a strong relationship between music and Instructional Design and Technology, Childress said that this belief might just be because they are all “geeks.”

“I would say that IDT is about using technology and systematic design of instruction to improve teaching and learning in all forms, not just in K-12, but in the private sector as well,” Childress said.

IDT is making a big mark in their field and has even won PacifiCorp.

Childress said that the graduate program is not just for those interested in teaching in schools but that companies like Sprint hire people with an IDT background to train their employees.

“Foundations of IDT looks at theories that influence the field, the history of the field, and what people can do in our field: K-12, higher education, business, health care, even the military,” Childress said.

But Childress’ world does not only revolve around his work. His wife is from Taiwan, and he loves to travel. He has been to Japan, China, Taiwan and the Czech Republic.

“I went to Beijing for six days, DaLian for three days, and then to Taiwan for three weeks – we were visiting with the in-laws,” Childress said.

While in Beijing, Childress traveled outside the city and climbed the Great Wall of China.

“There’s an old Chinese saying that is ‘you’re not a man until you’ve climbed the Great Wall.’ Although that’s a bit sexist,” Childress said.

Childress is working on creating a dual program with IDT and a Chinese university. Though he loves to travel, Childress’ main focus is the IDT department and his colleagues.

“The faculty in the department are really amazing. They are dedicated and nurturing. They make my job easy,” Childress said.

The variety of knowledge the IDT faculty has stems from their diverse backgrounds, and the students themselves have something to offer because they come from all over the world.

“I enjoy the students that are motivated and willing to go the extra mile. Graduate students tend to be more motivated,” Childress said.

Childress said he loves the IDT department, the outstanding faculty and the tremendous students.

“He’s a good guy to work with. He has a willingness to help anybody out… he has the team player mentality and treats us all the same,” said Janet Schneider, administrative assistant for the IDT department.

Beth Edmonds

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