Meet the 2003–04 SFSA board of directors
The 2003–04 Schreiner Former Students Association board of directors was named during Recall in April. The board officers are: John Wilton ’84, president, who lives in Austin and is the director for annual giving at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Donna Riojas Gay ’74, vice president, who lives in Kingwood and is the human resources manager for MMI products in Houston. Lea Nye ’91, secretary, who lives in San Antonio and is the senior consultant for executive compensation for SBC Communications. Lea is married to Kyle Nye ’94. Tiffany Whitworth ’01, treasurer, who lives in Kerrville and is the business manager for Triad Manufacturing.
New board of directors members are: Spencer Blocker ’52 of Midland, Rian Dill ’95 of Kerrville, Susan Morgan ’93 of Morrisville, Penn., Suzanne Schneider ’74 of Krum, Mark Talbot ’80 of Mission, and Bill Thompson ’51 of Baytown. Building membership is the primary goal of the new SFSA board, according to Wilton. “Membership is the key to where we need to go,” he said. “We also want to continue to expand the chapter groups, which give former students an opportunity to meet other alumni in their area for networking and camaraderie.”
SFSA exists to bring together alumni in fellowship, to inform them, to unite former students with each other and current students, and to support the university in the attainment of its objectives. SFSA works to maintain the Schreiner spirit through on-and off-campus activities such as alumni gatherings and Recall.
For information about joining SFSA, contact Allen Boatwright, associate director of alumni relations, at 830/792-7206 or e-mail him at caboatwright@schreiner.edu. Information also can be found on www.schreiner.edu—go to the alumni home page and then click on SFSA.
New features on alumni Web site
Visitors to Schreiner’s alumni Web site will notice two new features to the site. Former students can now update their contact information on the site. Simply click on “Update Your Info,” fill out the form and hit the “Submit Form” button. Your updated information is then sent to a database administrator in the Alumni House. An updated address ensures that you receive publications such as SCENE magazine and the Recall registration brochure.
Alumni who have moved frequently since they graduated often forget to update their contact information with Schreiner, therefore they become classified as “lost.” Former students can now help the university “find” these lost alumni by filling out the online form on the alumni Web site. All information is verified before the records are updated.
SFSA, alumni donate to soldier’s family
During Recall 2003, SFSA and two former students donated money and a basket of “baby items” to the family of Specialist James M. Kiehl, a soldier from Comfort who was killed in Iraq. Kiehl’s wife gave birth to their son in May.
Theo Blue ’51 bought the basket during the live auction and donated it to the Kiehl family. SFSA then donated the amount Blue paid for the basket to the baby’s education fund. James W. Vaden ’54 also donated half of his winnings from the Money Tree to the baby’s fund.Plans underway for reunions at Recall ’04
Plans are underway to have informal reunions for the classes of 1934, 1944, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1984 and 1994 during Recall 2004, scheduled for April 1–4. Any former student from the above classes who is intere s ted in helping organize a reunion, should contact Associate Director of Alumni Relations Allen Boatwright. Call him at 830/792-7206 or e-mail him at
caboatwright@schreiner.edu.
Information also will be posted on www.schreiner.edu.
J.R. Crocker ’64 has already signed up to help organize the 40-year reunion for the Class of 1964. For information about the 40-year reunion, e-mail Crocker at jardvark@cox-internet.com or call him at (512) 863-9507.
Schreiner scores student athletes through efforts of alumnus, his wife
Retirement hasn’t slowed down William G. “Bill” Collenback ’51 and his wife, Loyce. In fact, the San Antonio couple has a new hobby—scouting student athletes to play for Schreiner.
“They are our future leaders, and Schreiner is a good university for them. I am happy to be a part of their growth and advancement,” Bill says. Bill credits Schreiner President Emeritus Dr. Sam Junkin with getting the couple started with scouting.
“Schreiner started city get-togethers with former students. One of the main topics of these meetings was recruiting. I simply asked if I could become a recruiter for them. Put up or shut up time had come.”
Bill and Loyce attend high school games looking for “well-coordinated athletes with a lot of desire and certain skills,” he says. Once they “scout” a prospect, they talk to the athlete and ask about his or her plans after graduation. If the answer is college and he or she has good grades, the couple then “sells” Schreiner—which Bill says is the easy part.
“I have fond memories of my days at Schreiner, so it is easy to contact students, especially athletes who are honor students, and speak to them about Schreiner,” says Bill, who received his bachelor’s from UT-Austin. Bill then forwards information about the prospect to Schreiner’s Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Sandy Speed, who notifies the appropriate head coach.
Since the Collenbacks started scouting, several of their prospectives have attended Schreiner—such as Leigh Anne Owens ’02. Owens was a standout basketball player at Schreiner, averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds per game during her final two seasons. She graduated with honors and was named to the Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.
“By attending Schreiner, I grew as a person, learned a lot about myself and met some lifelong friends,” said Owens, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. “Without the Collenbacks introducing me to Schreiner, I don’t know if those things would of ever happened.”
Bill says seeing one of his prospects attend Schreiner, have a successful college career and then graduate is very rewarding. For more information about scouting for Schreiner University, call Speed at 830/792-7223 or e-mail her at skspeed@schreiner.edu.
Alumni gatherings are coming to a city near you
< Left, Liquita (Lewis) Thompson ’92, Dr. Lawrence Thompson ’94 and Darcee Grice ’82 are shown. Dr. Thompson is the chapter’s vice president.
Right> Billie Thompson, wife of Bill Thompson ’51, and Kari Weeks Short ’83 visit during the Houston Area Alumni Gathering on Jan. 30. Weeks is the president of the Houston Area Alumni Chapter.
An Austin Area Alumni Gathering will be held at 6 p.m. May 29 at the Headliners Club. For more information on the Austin event or on hosting a gathering in your city, contact Allen Boatwright at 830/792-7206.
