It wasn’t much of a surprise to her family when Macy Harsch chose Ottawa University. After all, Harsch’s mom, Wendy Wawrzewski, ran cross country at OU and her grandfather, Mike Wawrzewski, was on the men’s soccer team in the 60s. And Harsch knows how they both feel about their alma mater. “I visited the campus and I thought it was really awesome,” says Harsch, who is from Chanute. “I met with the coaches and they are really great. That was a big deal for me – great campus, grea

The first time Kelli Munsterman and Mary Melton graduated together, they were 14. It was eighth grade graduation at East Middle School in Leavenworth, Kansas, and the pair had met just the year before. Mary was new at school, transferring from a private school in town to the local public school system. “We met in the gym and she took me around to introduce me to other students,” says Mary. “We became fast friends and also lifetime friends from that moment on.” The duo would go

Ottawa University has hired Shayla Jacob as the new spirit squad coordinator. Jacob succeeds Regina Smith, who led the Braves for the last two seasons. Jacob has more than 15 years of cheerleading, dance and gymnastics coaching experience. She has spent the last two years as Pratt Community College’s head cheer coach, where she helped the squad to a second place finish in the small co-ed division at the NCA 2010 summer camp and a National Championship title in the Elite Co-ed Division at th

Like the opera star who has performed in public many times, the Faculty Marshal dons his academic apparel, checks to see if his cap is on correctly, checks last-minute notes before motioning to the flagbearers to assemble - all the while feeling the adrenalin surfacing like so many commencements before. I realize, though, that today’s OU commencement stands alone, unique, different, as each of the 20 commencements I have marshalled has been. It is the gratifying realization that family, fri