Hillstock will feature a day full of exciting activities for all attendees to enjoy. Guests can expect live performances from talented local musicians, delicious food offerings from a variety of local vendors, and a variety of fun yard games. It鈥檚 the perfect opportunity for students and staff alike to unwind, socialize, and reflect on a year well spent.

In addition to the many activities and entertainment, 91直播 is inviting local vendors and artisans to participate in this year’s Hillstock event. The college is seeking creative and passionate individuals and businesses to showcase their unique products and creations during the festivities. There is no cost for vendors to participate, and this is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and connect with the local community.

Interested vendors can find the participation form online and are encouraged to apply soon as space is limited.

The show, adapted for the stage by the University of Northwestern, St. Paul Theatre professor Jennifer Hunter, features Alice (Zoey Kiser) as she faces her fears and moves through this strange world. Along the way, she meets the characters from the tale: White Rabbit (Kalista VanDerAa), the French Mouse (Morgan Zavoral), the Mad Hatter (Baylee Northington), the Cheshire Cat (Cassie Williams), the Caterpillar (Celeste Frogge), Tweedle Dee (Kenzie Coleman) and Tweedle Dum (Brad Collins), and the Queen of Hearts (Megan Eaton). She also confronts the Jabberwocky creature from the story鈥檚 sequel.

Other cast members include:

Eaton as Matilda
Addison Wetzel as Duck, Mushroom, White Knight
Rowdy Jackson as Dodo, Mushroom, White Knight
Demi Brown as Lory, Mushroom, White Knight
Cheyenne Moyer as Fish Footman
Kyla Grose as Tiger Lily, Mushroom, Card 5
Micah Peterson as Peony, Mushroom, Card 7
Randi Green as Rose, Mushroom, Card 9
Faith Myers as Poppy, Mushroom, Card 3
Christian Stewart as Executioner
Hadyn Roberts as Knave
Anna Gable as White Queen
Spencer Shively as Humpty Dumpty

Crew members for the production include:

Kaitlyn Beth, stage manager
Charlotte Hansert, assistant stage manager
Madi Pruitt, assistant stage manager
Williams, costume design
Eaton, lighting design
Stewart, master electrician
Arrow Andrews, make-up design
Collins, sound design
Coleman, props design
VanDerAa, props design
Alexis Mallon, Jabberwocky design

David Lane, senior lecturer in speech/theatre education, is directing the show. Michael York, assistant technical director for the C-SC theatre department, is the scenic design and technical director.

Admission to the show is free to C-SC students, faculty, and staff. Tickets for the public are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. For reservations or more information, contact Lane at聽dlane@culver.edu聽or call 573-288-6398.

鈥淚 am honored to receive this scholarship award from Sigma Beta Delta,鈥� Morris said. 鈥淚 am so grateful to have been recognized for my achievements at Culver-Stockton, and I look forward to a great future in the field, knowing that I have been well prepared by both the college and Sigma Beta Delta.鈥�

In addition to his membership with Sigma Beta Delta, Morris is active at C-SC by holding leadership roles in various student organizations. He is the President of Lambda Chi Alpha, Treasurer of the Red Cross Club, a Senator within the Student Government Association, and a member of the Mental Health Awareness Club. Morris is a student-athlete and a varsity player with the Wildcat men鈥檚 soccer team. He also completed an internship with Northwestern Mutual this past summer.

As his horizons expanded, he began to leave his mark all around the campus. He created banners that hang at the welcome of the Carl Johann Memorial Library and the Herrick Foundation Center.聽 And now, as of late October 2023, a more than 36-foot mural, his biggest design to date, graces a wall in the Gladys Crown Student Center located in the heart of the campus.

鈥淚t鈥檚 quite amazing. I鈥檓 still quite speechless standing here looking at it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is in a really high-traffic area, and I think almost every student at the college will come through this building once a day. It really fits well in the space. I鈥檓 still at a loss for words.鈥�

Moore鈥檚 opportunity to create the mural came from a request over the summer to several graphic design students for a mural that represented the college. Moore said he immediately started to brainstorm a design that would encompass the feel of 鈥渢he Hill.鈥� After some feedback and critiques, Moore鈥檚 design was selected, and his art was brought to life.

The mural incorporates several aspects of the college, including detailed depictions of two of the most recognizable buildings on campus 鈥� the iconic dome of Henderson Hall and Johnson Hall, which is the oldest building on campus. The well-known Wildcat mascot, 鈥淲ildcat Willie,鈥� is represented in the design at the iconic Tomlinson Fountain, where so many new students over the years have marked their first day by throwing a coin and making a wish during matriculation. The images are pulled together in bright hues of the college鈥檚 colors.

鈥淪eeing it in person, my favorite is the color. The amount of blue just really pops out and adds a bit of energy to what was once quite a boring space,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淚 love seeing that when I walk past.鈥�

Moore said the style behind his design was to create something that would resonate with visitors and have something to take away from their visit to C-SC. He noted the use of the arch in the design was an important aspect to include because the real arch at the entrance on campus is iconic but hard to represent in photographs during a visit.

鈥淢y hope is that visitors and prospective students can come along and stand under here and take photos,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 also hope it brings a smile to people鈥檚 faces when they pass by it.鈥�

Moore said a big part of his inspiration to capture the essence of C-SC in a mural stems from the experiences he has had over the last nearly four years. As an international student, he said, coming to college as a freshman at the height of the COVID pandemic and knowing no one was made easier because of the people he met. He cherishes the chance he has had to form lasting friendships and connections that he will take with him into the future. He said that, combined with C-SC鈥檚 experiential learning thought process, contributed to the success of the mural.

Alyssa Hummel, Director of Communication and Marketing, said this mural has been a much-anticipated project for the college. 鈥淔or nearly a year, we have been working to identify areas on campus that could serve as interactive photo walls,鈥� Hummel said. 鈥淧lacing Ryan鈥檚 mural outside the dining center was a great place because it is in a high-traffic area and allows us to spotlight the works of our talented students for visitors and current聽 students while sharing components of the C-SC story.鈥�

鈥淚t shows they have trust in their students, and the professors are teaching these students. It shows that what they are doing works, and it gives real-world experience to students,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful for the opportunity and trust that was put in me by the school to create something that can be long-lasting.鈥�

Brown-DeClue is an artist living and working in Quincy, Illinois. Her preferred mediums are painting and drawing, and she said she enjoys pushing herself to grow as an artist. The featured work for the show will include pieces that showcase landscapes using soft pastels. She said these pieces highlight known locations and are tied to a memory.

The exhibit will also feature non-objective mixed media pieces that Brown-DeClue has created. During the event, students and other attendees will have an opportunity to speak with Brown-DeClue to ask questions and talk about the artist鈥檚 work and passion for the industry.

On Oct. 27, the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center will transform into C-SC鈥檚 鈥淏uilt on the Hill鈥� homecoming headquarters from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. During that time, attendees can register for homecoming and meet for campus tours, scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. The C-SC classes of 1963 and 1973 will be inducted into the Top of the Hill Society during a luncheon slated for 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Meaders Lounge in the Gladys Crown Student Center. The event is free for inductees and previous inductees. The cost for non-members for the luncheon is $20.

Continuing the Friday events, a women鈥檚 soccer game will take place at 5 p.m. at Ellison Poulton Stadium, where the Wildcats will take on Grandview University. An alumni honors banquet will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. at Meaders Lounge. Cost is $35.聽 The day will wrap up with the annual Blue and White Mixer from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Mabee Center, a men鈥檚 soccer game against Grandview University at 7 p.m. at the stadium, and a Black Student Union Yard Show at 8 p.m. at The Alumni Plaza. The show will feature the National Pan-Hellenic Counsel鈥檚 and multicultural Greek letter organizations鈥� steps and strolls.

Off-campus, a golf outing will be held for alumni and friends beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 27 at the River Valley Community Golf Course, 33566 220th聽Street, Canton, Missouri. The fee is $40 and includes green fees, a golf cart, and lunch. Players can pay at the course at the time of the event.

Festivities continue on Oct. 28 when several events open to the public are scheduled.

The day begins with C-SC鈥檚 annual homecoming parade at 9 a.m. in downtown Canton. The event will feature the musical talent of several area marching bands and current campus organizations鈥� parade participants celebrating the college and alumni. An alumni baseball game is set for 10:30 a.m. at Nichols Field, and an Alpha Xi Delta gathering will be held at 11 a.m. at Alpha Xi Delta Plaza. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Greek houses will be open for tours.

Saturday events also include a high school band awards ceremony at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Alexander Campbell Auditorium in the Performing Arts Center. Those attending campus events can enjoy concessions at the athletic fields. Activities for school-age children will include the Big Cat-Little Cat Legacy Land from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Himsl Field. The event is sponsored by CSTO.

At 12:30 p.m., The Wildcats football team will take on William Penn at the Ellison-Poulton Stadium. Homecoming court activities will take place at halftime during the game.

Other community events slated for the day include an art gallery exhibit 3-5 p.m. featuring the work of Amanda Brown-DeClue (鈥�18) in the Mabee Art Gallery located in the Herrick Foundation Center. Brown-DeClue will discuss the exhibit at 3:30 p.m. A women鈥檚 volleyball game against Mt. Mercy University is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Charles Field House.

Off-campus, Tau Kappa Epsilon members will gather at 6:30 p.m. at the Tower of Pizza in Quincy, Illinois, and An Evening of Celebrations will be held at 6 p.m. in the Caldwell Building Event Center, 30200 MO Highway 16, Canton. The event will feature the alumni choir and various reunions, music, dinner, and dancing.

The weekend wraps up with a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29 in Merillat Chapel.

Those attending are asked to bring canned food or non-perishable items for donation to the local food pantry. Those items can be dropped off at the registration table.

For questions or more information about the event, contact CSTO sponsor Lacy Harrison at聽lharrison@culver.edu.

The Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly (DEWEY) Award is given to higher learning institutions that are working to increase the number of teacher candidates and strengthen retention in teacher preparation programs. The DEWEY awards provide $70,000 grants to 15 education preparation programs and $45,000 to five two-year higher learning education programs annually. Those who receive the one-year grants move through a competitive selection process based on a detailed proposal that meets the required criteria.
Recognizing the opportunity with the DEWEY funding for C-SC鈥檚 education candidate recruiting and retaining efforts, Dr. Cindy Whiston, associate professor of education, outlined a plan for the use of the funding for education majors during the 2023-24 academic year. Part of the focus will include scholarships that assist with items such as textbooks, course expenses, mileage, meals, tutoring, and certification expenses.

鈥淚t is extremely important to support our students who may experience financial shortfalls as they try to complete their degrees because these are the individuals with a passion for education who are working hard to achieve their goals,鈥� Whiston wrote in the proposal application.

The funding will also be used to enhance social media recruitment campaigns as well as recreational activities, service events, and professional development for students in the education program. C-SC will use part of the funding to host a mini-conference in the spring to connect professional mentors with students, especially those in underrepresented populations, including male students and students of color.

鈥淎s a result of our efforts to support underrepresented populations in the past four years, we have seen our numbers of male elementary education candidates nearly double, and we would like to see that trend continue,鈥� Whiston wrote.

Through the support of previous grant funding, C-SC has increased recruitment and retention efforts of education majors. The education program at the college saw an increased retention rate. Retention was 85% from the 2023 spring semester to the fall semester of that year.

Undergraduate enrollment also increased in that time, according to Whiston. She noted a 20% enrollment increase between the 2022 and the 2023 fall semesters. The program grew from 43 new students in the fall of 2022 to 52 new students in the education program in the fall of 2023. The previous grant funding also helped the college increase enrollment in the Master of Education program, up 37% from 2022 to 2023.

鈥淥ur goal is to assist in ending the critical teacher shortage within a 60-mile radius of our college by supporting those educators,鈥� Whiston wrote.

C-SC鈥檚 Critical Response Simulation Lab (CRSL) is a live, virtual, and responsive simulation using advanced technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to train in scenarios tailored to diverse needs.

Seth McBride, who serves as Chair of the Criminal Justice Department, as well as a former corporate investigator with Boeing, Co. and former detective with the Hannibal Police Department, said the simulation lab is used to train students, law enforcement, public servants, church workers, business professionals, and community leaders. He noted the software is customizable for each group of trainees.

“The simulator embedded in the Critical Response Simulation Lab is MILO. MILO stands for Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives. The software uses more than 950 different scenarios in the areas of de-escalation, conflict resolution, and use of force decision-making. MILO is used by police agencies across the country for continuous training in these same areas,鈥� said McBride. 鈥淚 am proud that 91直播 is one of few private liberal arts colleges to have a simulator lab with this technology in the United States.鈥�

The lab, where training is facilitated by McBride and Sgt. Devon Willis of the Lewis County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, is housed in the lower level of the Johann Library on the campus and was made possible by a generous lead donation from C-SC alumna and trustee emerita Leslie Kelsay 鈥�73, along with other gifts from alumni and friends.

C-SC officials will hold the Kelsay Criminal Justice Lab dedication ceremony at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, for campus officials, trustees, students, and media personnel. Speakers for the event include McBride, Willis, and Kelsay, as well as David Parrish, Lewis County sheriff; Dr. Lauren B. Schellenberger, C-SC president; and Tara Mackey 鈥�21, an officer with the Hannibal Police Department.

Mackey, a graduate of C-SC鈥檚 criminal justice program, said the simulation lab is a valuable resource to all who experience the training.

鈥淭here are so many聽different aspects of policing that training on MILO can cover. Human interaction and communication are at the top of that list. The experiences I got from the simulation have been extremely helpful in my overall law enforcement training. The simulation provides the closest possible thing to real-world experiences,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is one thing to simply be exposed to these simulations, but I believe the true value of the MILO lab is the educational conversations and learning points that it creates for students and professors to explore.鈥�

The banquet is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27 in Meaders Lounge in the Gladys Crown Student Center on campus. Steve Oslica (鈥�80), president of the C-SC Alumni Board, will present awards to the following:

Don Tolly 鈥� Leadership & Service Award

Tolly earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1987 from C-SC, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He has worked in the insurance industry for 36 years, including 34 years with American Family Insurance. A certified member of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, Tolly operates three offices with locations in St. Joseph, Kansas City, and Columbia. He was awarded the 鈥淐ommunity Impact Award鈥� for the state of Missouri for American Family Insurance in 2022 and was also named one of the 鈥�50 Missourians You Should Know鈥� by Ingram鈥檚 Magazine in 2021. Outside of work, Tolly enjoys fishing, bow hunting, and traveling. He is married to Kerry and has two children, Matthew and Katlyn, and two stepchildren, Maddie and Katie.

Terry Traeder 鈥� Leadership & Service Award

Traeder is a 1974 graduate of Colorado State University, where he earned a degree in marketing. His wife, Glori, earned her degree in nursing in 1998 from 91直播 and works as a nurse practitioner. Traeder has served on the C-SC Board of Trustees since 2012. Since his college graduation, he has owned a number of businesses in retail, wholesale distribution, manufacturing, finance, and real estate. He is currently president of TNT Golf Car & Motorsports. Outside of work, Traeder enjoys golf, tennis, racing, and travel. He became a national and professional karting champion, having raced karts throughout the United States for 36 years. Elected to the Racing Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2021, Traeder is still active in the sport, promoting karting close to home at the track in West Quincy, Missouri. He and Glori reside in Quincy, Illinois. They have three children, Jason, Tara, and Paige, and three grandchildren, Calvin, Ben, and Silas.

Phyllis Hofmeister 鈥� Honorary Wildcat Award

Hofmeister has a passion for her community and believes one must be personally involved and actively engaged. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from C-SC in 2006. She has been active with several local nonprofit organizations, including Cheerful Home, where she was instrumental in developing an Infant Care Center. Hofmeister鈥檚 other community involvement includes serving on the boards of First Bankers Trust Company, N.A., First Bankers Trust Share, Inc., TI Trust, Inc., and the Blessing Hospital Foundation. She served as a C-SC trustee board member for 13 years. She has been married for 63 years to her husband, Bob, who is also active in the community. The couple enjoys traveling and spending time with their son, Kurt, and his family.

Chris Huebotter 鈥� Dome Award

Huebotter earned her associate degree in science in 1982 and her Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1997 from C-SC. While a student at C-SC, Huebotter worked as a student employee in the registrar鈥檚 office, where she began a full-time position in 1982 and has since worked there for more than 40 years. Throughout her employment, she has developed a reputation of respect and loyalty. She is credited with implementing two different administrative computer systems, including online registration for students and online advising programs. She volunteers with Hadlee鈥檚 Hope, which provides snack bags for school kids, and serves as a board member of the Lewistown Senior Housing Corp. and the Lewis County Industrial Development Association. She has been married to her husband, Jack, for 40 years. They have a daughter, Sarah Setzer, and her husband, Nick. They also have three grandchildren, twins Ryann and Rylee, and grandson Rowdy. Outside of work, she enjoys sewing, crafting, gardening, and watching sports.

Dr. C. Patrick Hotle 鈥� Dome Award

Dr. Patrick Hotle, the John A. Sperry Jr. Endowed Chair of Humanities, taught at C-SC for 30 years before retiring in 2023 and was then named faculty emeritus. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Iowa, his Master of Philosophy in international relations, and his PhD in history from Cambridge University in England. Hotle was a Fulbright Scholar in Turkey and a Schusterman Fellow at Brandeis University. He began his career teaching high school at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He then taught at the American-Nicaraguan School in Nicaragua, the Cairo-American College in Egypt, St. John鈥檚 International School in Belgium, the American School of the Hague in the Netherlands before joining the faculty at 91直播. Hotle has received the Governor鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Teaching and the President鈥檚 Award for Exemplary Service. He has authored books on the Renaissance, Egypt and the Middle East, and Russia. He enjoys traveling, horses, and music. He is married to Mary Oatman, a 1979 graduate of C-SC.

Kathleen (Arnsman) Helsabeck 鈥� Outstanding Young Alumna

Helsabeck graduated C-SC in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science. She earned her master鈥檚 degree in library and information science from the University of Urbana Champaign in 2008. She is a member of the Chi Omega sorority. Helsabeck was employed as a librarian and dean of education at Vatterott College before serving as the executive director of the Quincy Public Library in Quincy, Illinois. The library, with 30 employees and a $4-million budget, operates in both government and nonprofit capacities, allowing Helsabeck to apply her knowledge in political science. She is married to her husband, Chris, and they have two children, Nathanial and Adeline. She is an organist and active member of the First Christian Church in Quincy.

Trent Platz 鈥� Outstanding Young Alumnus

Platz is a 2006 graduate of C-SC where he earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology. He received his master鈥檚 degree in medical science at Emory University and is a certified anesthesiologist at St. Joseph Center for Outpatient Surgery. He is also an adjunct professor of anesthesiology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He paddled 340 miles with friends on the Missouri River for the MR340 race. Platz then established the Rat Pack Endowed Scholarship at C-SC in 2018 to celebrate the friendship of the group, which joins together annually to honor Sergeant Matt Lewellen by rucking 26 miles in his memory. Outside of work, Platz, who resides in Kansas City, enjoys traveling, fishing, mushroom hunting, and cryptozoology.

Dan Dickinson 鈥� Distinguished Alumnus

Dan Dickinson attended C-SC from 1968-1971. He received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Western Illinois University. His career was in the aviation industry, where he became a partner at the age of 26 with General Aviation Services, Inc., a company responsible for purchasing and selling corporate and jet business aircraft globally. The company developed groundbreaking systems, founding three separate companies in the commercial aircraft sector and going on to develop a total of seven companies. Three of those were merged and four companies were sold. His community involvement includes serving as a chair and founding member of the National Aircraft Resale Association and chair and founder of Transplant Village, NFP. He served as the external board chair of Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Organ Transplant Center and on the board of St. Norbert College from 1999-2021. Dickinson was the Konneker Leader-In-Resident at C-SC in 2018. He enjoys business start-up projects, boating and outdoor activities, and spending time with his wife, Nancy, and daughters, Laurie and Ann.