FADE IN INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - NIGHT (1986) MRS. CLAUS (Sarah Lemp) is on stage, anxiously waiting to say her two lines. At the cue, she blurts out something resembling her first line but immediately realizes she’s flubbed her debut performance. The second grader keeps her composure, however, collects her thoughts and delivers the second line flawlessly. CUT TO: INT. PETERS AUDITORIUM - DAY (2000) Lemp is a senior at Ottawa University and ready to present and perform in her Senior Comp

When you’re in the fight of your life, for your life, you will do anything to win. Some would describe John Rhode ’06 AZ as a tenacious competitor on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, and Rhode himself would agree. “I was fierce,” he said. “I thought my competitive juices were long gone. I thought I had given up on myself and everything else, but when I got to the show, I realized I still had fire in my belly.” That fire led Rhode to go on and win the show’s $250,000 grand prize by

Ottawa University played an integral part in the EMHE building project for the Hills.   A slideshow of photos from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's trip to Ottawa. Not only did OU have many student, staff and faculty volunteers who helped with the build, but OU also provided lodging for the builders, provided an interview recording room on campus, hosted the VIP tent throughout the week, and gathered a number of track and field student athletes to assist in a video shoot on the

While the average person would call 911 to diffuse the type of situation recounted here, Gina knows that most first response teams have not been adequately trained to answer the call to a PTSD scene. Often, the response further escalates the situation and puts the veteran and his family at greater risk because responders are utilizing regular protocol for arriving on the scene and subduing a potentially volatile conflict. Always her husband’s advocate and voice, Gina sought a solution to

The Angell Snyder School of Business continues to lead the University in enrollments and is being bolstered by a number of initiatives. “Guided by principles of continuous improvement and reinvention, The Angell Snyder School of Business is progressing on multiple fronts,” says Dean Dr. Kirk Wessell. “Our initiatives include building increased rigor in our existing majors, developing majors in important disciplines that integrate the liberal arts (e.g. business economics), exploring inn

Every office and home seems to collect outdated and broken technology and many people resort to the dumpster to solve the problem. But Jason McAninch ’09 is in a perfect position to provide an alternative solution so that he can help the environment, his clients and raise money for his favorite charity at the same time. His company, J-TEK, sponsors technology recycling drives and donates all of the proceeds to KidsTLC, an organization out of Olathe, Kansas, that helps area youth in crisi

Like many growing boys, Scott Turner grew up raiding the kitchen at every opportunity, especially when his parents were away. But unlike his peers, Scott wasn’t looking for pizza and chips; he was looking for flour and sugar. And eggs and butter and chocolate and vanilla. Several hours later, his parents would return to find a beautiful made-from-scratch dessert. “I liked to surprise my parents,” Scott remembers. As time went on, his kitchen adventures fed not only his parents, but his cul

A new student organization aimed at combating local, regional and world hunger issues was established in April 2011. Hungry for Change is a chapter of Universities Fighting World Hunger. “The mission of the organization is to encourage students, faculty and the community to join the fight against domestic and global hunger through service and programming,” said Sandra Marlatte, faculty sponsor of Hungry for Change. Hungry for Change hit the ground running, participating and winning a c

Ottawa University’s annual Christmas Vespers at The College took place Sunday, December 4, and featured a unique combination of orchestral and choral music. The OU Orchestra performed pieces by Holst, Victoria, Rachmaninoff, Strauss, Vaughnan, Williams, Leroy Anderson, and carols arranged by David Willcocks. The Concert Choir, under direction of Dr. Jeff Anderson, also performed. “OU’s annual Vespers concert is a highlight for the music department because of the opportunity for us

When Shyla Shank first heard the band Aiden playing, she never imagined the places she would go or the people she would meet as a result. Shank heard the heavy metal band play for the first time in the summer of 2006. She became good friends with the members, keeping in touch with them and attending many of their concerts. In the summer of 2010, when band lead William Francis asked, she went out to Seattle to see them produce a CD. “That’s when I realized I’m not cut out for t

The forensics team traveled to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in September for the 49th annual Forensics Classic. Junior Michael Matos, Fort Worth, Texas, and Senior Lee Nave, St. Louis, Missouri, received first place in Dramatic Duo interpretation. Freshman Audrey Laughlin, Haven, Kansas, received third place in Novice Prose and third place in Varsity Poetry. The team competed against large schools like the University of Houston, the University of Utah, the Univer

Three Ottawa University Online courses piloted an e-textbook program in October. Every student enrolled in three courses – Business Communications, Introduction to Human Services and Theories of Personality – were given e-textbooks through Vital Source and Cengage Publishing. Students enrolled in the courses received training at the start of the term and were able to read their digital textbooks in three different ways: online via a website, downloaded onto their computer or laptop, and t

Lance Lysaught was hired in early fall to resurrect the Ottawa University men’s tennis team after more than 20 years of dormancy. The men’s tennis team was in existence from the fall of 1889 to 1944, but was cut in 1944 because of World War II. The program resumed in 1947, but was terminated in 1993. In October, Lysaught successfully signed the first men’s tennis player since that time. He was also hired to create the first women’s tennis program in OU history, signing the insti

The Ottawa University Braves baseball team has welcomed several new coaches to the roster. Cory Blaine ’88 was hired as the new head baseball coach in December, and Freddie Adamson and Joe Malin were enlisted as assistant coaches at the start of the new year. Blaine was a four-year letter winner and key member of the Ottawa University baseball team from 1995-98 under Coach Jarrod Titus. He was also a key player on three KCAC Championship teams, made three Great Plains Region Tournament a

Clarence Anderson always dreamed of playing professional football. It was just a dream. A dream that started looking more like a reality his senior season on the Ottawa Braves football team. During his senior season, scouts from 16 National Football League (NFL) teams visited campus to watch Anderson, who is from Wichita, Kansas, practice and play, including the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Ottawa University volleyball team had just lost their final game of the season and Shannon (Holmes) Donley’s career as a Brave was over. It was a bittersweet realization – one that Donley says she’ll never forget. “After the match, we sat in the locker room for a long time and just talked about everything,” says Donley, who is from Dexter, Kansas. They talked about their season, their dreams, their futures, knowing they would soon leave college behind to go into the “real�

Corey Smith- Basketball Max Brown- Men’s track and field Courtney Harris- Women’s track and field Lauren Peil- Women’s soccer Elaine “Mom” Pyle Award Morgan Boore- Women’s basketball Chris White-Ready- Men’s basketball Dudley Geise Champions of Character Award Amber Ramsey- Women’s basketball Boucek, Frear and Peters Scholarships Paige Gibson- Women’s basketball Chase Dippel- Men’s basketball Rashad Tucker- Men’s football Austin Cov

Former Ottawa University football players visited campus in November to celebrate the Braves 1,000th football game. The Braves became the first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football team to ever play 1,000 games on November 12, when the team defeated the Bethel College Threshers 72-6. “Celebrating the 1,000th football game was a powerful way to reunite our Braves football alumni around a common endeavor,” said Nori Hale, director of alumni programs. All football alumni and

Lucas Straub knew he’d be able to overcome the sickness and injuries he sustained during his time on the Ottawa University cross-country team. But he also knew those injuries would impact his career. “My greatest accomplishment in crosscountry was overcoming a severe injury and sickness my senior year and still being able to compete,” says Straub. Straub, a senior mathematics major, caught mononucleosis his freshman year and suffered a bone bruise his senior year. But he kept pushing

Donations to the Franklin County Campaign have tripled during the last three years – this year raising more than $100,000. Which is fitting, considering there are more than 55 Franklin County students enrolled at Ottawa University this academic school year. “Support from the local community continues to grow and the University is proud of the mutual relationship being built,” says Brooke Riffel, director of annual giving at Ottawa University. “This relationship opens up many opport

Distinguished Service Award Awarded for the demonstration of exceptional service in the church and/or community over a span of time. “I am very honored and very humbled. When I looked back at the people who have won this award, they are all people who I admire and people who have inspired me.” Wynndee (Shipp) Lee ’89 currently serves as director of planning and codes administration for the City of Ottawa, Kansas, overseeing planning, zoning, subdivision, codes administration and s

The Braves softball and baseball teams team will be sporting pink socks and pink shirts on March 31 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The games, which are set for 1 p.m. and to which alumni are invited, are against the University of Saint Mary (Lady Braves) and Sterling College (Braves). Before the games, Coach Jay Kahnt said players will read a message about breast cancer and how many lives it effects. Attendees also will participate in a free tailgate, with all donations going toward

The Ottawa University community mixed football, food and Ford in October during Ford Night at Peoples Bank Field. The night aimed to recognize Advantage Ford for their continued support of the University. Ford representatives were on site to show off several new vehicles, which were on display around the football complex throughout the night. A free tailgate was held before kickoff, where the Braves took on Tabor College. More than 250 guests received free barbecue catered by Moose’s Bac

Four-year starter on the Braves football team, Jeff Hull (1984-88), and long-time Braves Basketball Coach Andy Carrier were both inducted into the Ottawa University Braves Athletic Hall of Fame on October 20 during Homecoming weekend. Jeff Hull ’88 Jeff Hull ’88, co-managing partner at Highlander Partners L.P., was a four-year starter on the Braves football team and was selected as the College Football Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete of the Year (1988), one of only three NAIA players at t

The Braves Athletic Council, BAC, is a group established during the 2010-2011 school year to help increase interest in student athletics. Courtney Harris, who is involved with cross country and track and field, is president of the organization. “The main idea is to increase the number of students who support each other in athletics and overall,” Harris said. “It’s to help make OU feel more like a family that backs up each other.” The BAC is comprised of athletes from each Otta

The Ottawa University Braves defeated the Sterling College Warriors 27-6, October 22 during the annual Homecoming football game at Peoples Bank Field. The Braves had 360 yards of total offense, 207 rushing and 153 passing. Sterling had 73 yards rushing and 114 passing for a total of 187 yards of offense. OU was led in passing by senior quarterback Bobby Adamson, with 124 yards and one touchdown. Junior running back Michael Baer rushed for 90 yards and senior receiver Clarence Anderson led OU

To read tributes to Dr. Wayne Angell, click Wayne Angel Tributes To read tributes to Dr. Sherwin Snyder, click Sherwin Snyder Tributes