Singing in the New Year

SHU Vatican Choir Has Memorable Visit to Italy

Most people consider New York City’s Times Square to be the ultimate place to ring in the new year.

Beth Tibbs may disagree. She and a small group of Siena Heights University students, faculty, staff and alumni and friends spent New Year’s Eve in Italy as part of the Vatican Choir. The group performed before Pope Benedict XVI as well as at several other holy sites during the 11-day trip, which Tibbs called “amazing.”

In fact, she said her group was so excited they often broke into song during the trip.

“We would stop periodically and just start singing,” said Tibbs, associate professor of music and choir director at SHU. “People would jump in front of us and want to get their pictures taken with us.”

This was the second time Tibbs took a choir to perform at the Vatican. In 2010 she led a youth choir from Arizona. During that trip, she befriended the Vatican’s head of music.

“He invited us back whenever I wanted to bring a group,” Tibbs said. “When I got the job at Siena (in August 2011), I thought it would be a perfect fit for us to go to Italy and perform. I thought it would be really important for us to include all the different things that are connected to Siena Heights.”

Class Notes—Spring 2013

From The Sites:

SHU—Battle Creek

Rob Viland ’97 was recently named executive vice president of Business Development for Post Community Credit Union. He has more than 20 years of financial institution experience. He lives
in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Timothy Bourgeois ’98 will represent local law enforcement after being appointed to a four-year term on the 14-member Mental Health Diversion Council by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. The council will operate within the Michigan Department of Community Health. His term will expire Jan. 30, 2017. With more than 35 years of law enforcement experience, he currently is the chief of police for the Charter Township of Kalamazoo.

SHU—Lansing

Tom Cochran ’10 was elected to the Michigan state legislature during the November 2012 elections. He will serve as state representative for the 67th District. He resides in Mason, Mich

Misozi Houston ’12 and her husband, Anthony, announced the birth of a daughter, Lily, who was born July 4, 2012. The family recently relocated to Pennsylvania.

SHU—Southfield

Suzy Manning ’91, ’95/MA is a radio talk show personality on the Military Mom Talk Radio network. She is also the creator of Sizzzl, a motivational counseling program for women, and also the author of “Wise Women-Circle of Wisdom” and “You Were Born Magnificent.” The transitional coach and speaker also has the web site www.sizzzl.com.

Steven Aggas ’95 has carved out an impressive career in the engineering field. He currently owns 22 patents, and designed and built Arizona’s largest, privately owned telescope. He also is founder/director of Apache-Sitgreaves Astrophysics, and astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey named an asteroid after him that is recognized by the International Astronomical Union. The name of the asteroid is 152533 Aggas (2007 AL26). He said completing his Siena Heights degree “made all the difference.” He currently lives in Gold Canyon, Ariz.

Donna Cole ’97 recently received her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Michigan. While attending Michigan she received the Margaret Dow Towsley Scholarship from the Center for the Education of Women. She currently resides in Highland, Mich.

Saints Athletics Highlights—Spring 2013

Football

Sophomore tight end Donovan Campbell (above) was named to the All-Mid-States Football Association Mideast first team after a vote of league coaches. Campbell caught 41 passes for 514 yards and six touchdowns this season. Sophomore receiver/back Raphael Dunson was named to the second team, with junior defensive back Sederick Dunbar, junior punter Kyle Timmis, sophomore defensive lineman Kyle Connors, sophomore defensive back Derek Head, sophomore linebackers Trent Bragg and Tyler Karcher and freshman defensive lineman Joey Mravec earning honorable mention. Five Saints were named to the Capital One Academic All-District Team by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Junior Sederick Dunbar (criminal justice) and sophomores Jake Helsel (biology), Paul Jacobs (education), Drew Milligan (accounting) and Lyle VanFleteren (biology/chemistry/math) each made the team. Dunbar and fullback Spencer Revenberg, both juniors, were named Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes. They are the first Saints to receive the honor in football. The Saints finished their first varsity season 4-6 overall, 2-3 in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association.