Aaron Burns | News Co-Editor
Kaitlyn Christensen | News Co-Editor
Kimberly Nelson | Co-Editor-in-Chief

The Tack wishes to celebrate those who are retiring from their career at Buena Vista University (BVU). Check out the Q&A section below to see what each retiree had to say about their experiences at BVU.

BOB FERGUSON

How many years have you worked at BVU?
I started in the fall of 1985

How many positions have you held?
Professor of Psychology and Director of Academic Assessment

What will you miss most about BVU?
The personal connections with students and colleagues. BVU is truly composed of really interesting people and I’ll miss daily interactions with all those students and colleagues.

What is a memorable event that you remember while here?
Most memorable came shortly after I arrived and I was still a very junior faculty member. A student doing research in one of my courses decided, without telling me, to substitute 190 proof Everclear for beer in an experiment, leading to some very “interesting” behavior by the participants in the study. Thank goodness I had an understanding boss and no IRB or I never would have made it to the next year!

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
There are two, both involving BVU’s Wythe Award. The first came in 1991, when I had the pleasure of presenting that year’s award to Dr. Marilyn Wikstrom, a professor of education and published poet. Marilyn was the first woman recipient and, tragically, passed away from cancer a few years later. Though I never talked directly with her about it, I’ve always thought the recognition by her colleagues represented by the award must have been of some comfort to Marilyn. The second memory is much more recent, coming in 2011 when I had the chance to watch a colleague and former student, Dr. Wind Goodfriend, receive her Wythe Award. Although she was a student of mine, I can claim no credit for her accomplishments. Instead, it was clear from the moment she first set foot on campus before her freshman year that Dr. Goodfriend was on a fast track to success, declaring that henceforth she wanted to be known as Wind. I recall her explaining that she liked the word because it evokes a sense of freedom and energy, traits that are undoubtedly part of the reason she received the Wythe Award.

PHYLLIS CARADINE

How many years have you worked at BVU?
13 1/2 years

How many positions have you held?
Three—Institutional Advancement Office Manager, Alumni Director Pro Team, and Assistant to Vice President for Institutional Advancement

What will you miss most about BVU?
My co-workers and the BVU community

What is a memorable event that you remember while here?
Being involved with all the American Heritage Lecture events—-especially Colin Powell

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
I enjoyed coming to work each day, so it’s all a favorite memory.

LANNY GRIGSBY

How many years have you worked at BVU?
53 years

How many positions have you held?
I coached football, basketball, and baseball. Also, I taught mathematics at Buena Vista.

What will you miss most about BVU?
The interaction with students. They have bright ideas, and some foolish ones also.

What is a memorable event that you remember while here?
Listening to Margaret Thatcher in Schaller Chapel

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
Winning the first NCAA overtime football game at Carroll College, Wis.

PATSY DONOVAN

How many years have you worked at BVU?
I have worked for BVU for 19 years.

How many positions have you held?
I held three positions: Office Manager, Site Director, Regional Director.

What will you miss most about BVU?
I retired on March 31 and I miss the amazing staff that I worked with, the faculty members, and especially the students.

What is a memorable event that you remember while here?
The most important day of the year for most of us is graduation. That day is filled with amazement and joy to watch our students, with the challenges many of them had in life, process across that stage to greet President Moore.

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
I had an opportunity to deliver a diploma to a student in a ceremony in her home as she requested. Her father was ill and near death and would not be able to attend the graduation ceremonies in Storm Lake. I was honored to have that day with her and her family.

CAROL LYTLE

How many years have you worked at BVU?
I have worked at BVU for 12 years. I came in June 2001.

How many positions have you held?
I have had just one position: Director of Career Services.

What will you miss most about BVU?
I will miss so many wonderful, talented students I’ve had the privilege of working with. I will miss those one-on-one meetings with students where I’ve not only guided them through the nuts and bolts of a resume or a cover letter, but also helped them believe that they have the “right stuff” to succeed. I’ll miss seeing many of them when they return as alums for events like the Career Symposium. I’ll miss the people I work with obviously, both in my office and all across campus, and I’ll miss being part of the Student Affairs family. I’ve always been proud to represent BVU in my meetings with other Career Services professionals, and I’ll miss that. I’ll miss the intellectually stimulating nature of my day-to-day work environment, which I try not to take for granted.

What is a memorable event that you remember while here?
As was written in the BVU News recently, my very first presentation for a group of students was “Senior Meeting” – an hour presentation for all seniors where I talked to graduating seniors about how our office can assist them in their job search. The meeting was at 10:00 a.m. on September 11, 2001, just one hour after the planes hit the World Trade Center. Some students came to the meeting knowing about it and some didn’t. I made an announcement at the beginning of the meeting, hurried through a few things and dismissed everyone. Related to that, I was looking forward to having Madeleine Albright on campus a few days later for the American Heritage Lecture, but she had to speak to us via satellite because she wasn’t allowed to travel.

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
Wow, I have a lot of favorite memories. One of them has to be my AWOL trip to Puerto Rico with Ken Meissner and President Moore and seven students in 2002. We helped at an orphanage and cleaned up a Presbyterian campground; I had my first rice and red beans and plantains. It was a week of fun and service that I’ll never forget.

STEVE HERRON

How many years have you worked at BVU?
Started in summer 2001, so almost 12 years

How many positions have you held?
Two. First job was Manager of Advancement Communications, then Assistant Director of University Marketing and Communications (my current position)

What will you miss most about BVU?
Working with students, alumni, and faculty to learn about their success stories, and then getting that good news to area news media. My wife has worked at BV for 37 1/2 years. Over that period of time we have regularly attended campus events (ACES, athletic events, etc) and I have gotten to know many current and retired faculty and coaches, as well as alumni who worked in her office when they were students. After starting to work at BVU, I soon discovered why she found it so enjoyable to be part of the campus community.

What is a memorable event that you experienced while here?
Working behind the scenes on program scripts for the William W. Siebens American Heritage Lecture Series has always been an enjoyable part of my job. The 2001 American Heritage program in which former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was the speaker is among the most memorable because the terrorist attacks on 9/11 forced her to cancel her trip to Storm Lake and instead give her Sept. 14 lecture from Washington, D.C. via an interactive satellite link.

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
As a writer for BVU, I have done a lot of interviews with students and alumni and have always been impressed by the goals that students set for themselves and how they go on to achieve them not only during their time on campus, but as they have success in their chosen careers. So my favorite memories are actually a collage of all of those student/alumni success stories.

DONNA SCHONEBOOM

How many years have you worked at BVU?
23 years

How many positions have you held?
I have essentially held two positions, both in the President’s Office. I was hired as Executive Assistant to the President and later became “Assistant to the President.”

What will you miss most about BVU?
I will miss the people with whom I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with: students, faculty, staff, trustees, and some high profile people who’ve been to campus such as the William W. Siebens American Heritage lecturers.

What is a memorable event that you experienced while here?
Probably one of the most memorable events was 1994 when Margaret Thatcher was the American Heritage lecturer. Justice Harry Blackmun and his wife came for that event and I was able to spend time with them in the President’s Office.

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
I have a lot of memories, but my overall memory will be the wonderful opportunity I’ve had to work for a great president and first lady and to interact with such dedicated trustees and their spouses.

JANET MCCLURE

How many years have you worked at BVU and how many positions have you held?
I started at a part-time position, 30 hours a week, in accounts payable in April of 1990. I worked part time for about two weeks and then I became the “Cashier” in the Business Office. I have stayed cashier for the last 23 years. My last day at BVU was May 3rd.

What will you miss most about BVU?
I will miss being a part of the BVU community. We were like one big family. I loved being a part of our students’ lives. I felt like I was their mom and I enjoyed hearing what was happening in their lives. I truly cared about them and their success. The Business Office staff will always be dear to me, too. We all worked and cared about each other and made a great team. This is the reason I stayed in the position as the cashier. I got to know all the employees and students and be a part of everyone’s life.

What is a memorable event that you remember while here?
There are so many to mention. I will always remember the fun our office had decorating for birthdays. You never knew what you would find. I had a Bob the Builder cake one year because my husband and I remodel homes. I had a Hawaiian themed party when I went with the jazz band in 2004 to Hawaii, and look out for those big birthdays (like turning 50). That is when the wheel chair and walkers came out. On my last day of work, my desk was decorated again with streamers, balloons, and clever signs and those crazy swimming suits from the Hawaiian theme party surfaced again. You never wanted to get your picture taken because it they would always pop up when you least expected it.

Another great memory was helping to serve the Christmas Dinners. It was so fun to see all the students dress up that night and enjoy the Christmas spirit. I loved the school plays and concerts too.

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
I think my favorite memory is just seeing students come in as freshman and mature into responsible citizens. BVU is such a great institution where our students learn so much and go out and get great jobs. Having alumni keep in touch and stop by after several years really meant a lot to me. I will always look back with fond memories and feel so fortunate to have been part of this great place.

LAVONDA HERRON

How many years have you worked at BVU?
37 1/2 years

How many positions have you held?
One, but I have been located in four different places.

What will you miss most about BVU?
The students

What is a memorable event that you remember while here?
Spending time at pizza parties with work-study students

What is your favorite memory from your time here?
The opening of Siebens Forum

Pictures of Donna Schoneboom, Bob Ferguson, Lavonda Herron, and Steve Herron by Tyson Domingo
Picture of Lanny Grigsby courtesy of the BVU website
Picture of Carol Lytle courtesy of Carol Lytle
Picture of Janet McClure courtesy of Janet McClure