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Three ATO Alumni Recognized
at Simpson.
(Left to Right): Terry Lillis, Matt Woods, Sam
Carrell
Three ATO alumni, Terry Lillis, Sam
Carrell and Matt Woods received alumni awards at the college's
Alumni Weekend, June 25-26, 2010. Following are the awards and the
bios prepared by the college. We are very proud!
Alumni Loyalty Award
Terry
Lillis
Lillis is senior vice president and
chief financial officer of the The Principal Group, where he has
worked since 1982. For three years prior to starting at The
Principal, he was a math teacher and coach at Twin Rivers Community
Schools. Lillis has held leadership roles in the Society of
Actuaries, Peace Officers Retirement System, Mercy Hospital and
Southwest Catholic Diocese. He has assisted Simpson math majors in
exploring career opportunities, and participated in Career Day and
Alumni in Residence. He recently hosted an event for alumni employed
at The Principal and has issued an annual fund challenge to that
group. Lillis was elected to the Simpson Board of Trustees in 2009
and serves on the Alumni Association Board.
Humanitarian Service Award
Sam Carrell
Carrell was executive
director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa from 2005-2010.
During 2001-2005 Carrell was executive director for the Number One
Question: "Is it Good for the Kids?" He has served as vice president
of membership services, marketing and education at the Iowa
Association of Business and Industry. Carrell has worked with ATO
National Fraternity education programs and the Hugh O'Brien Youth
Foundation. He has tutored children, worked with food banks and soup
kitchens and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Carell was
named 2003 Non-Profit Leader of the Year by the Business Record. He
was a member of the Simpson Alumni Association Board from 1999-2005
and served as an alumni representative for the Lilly Service Hub
committee, as well as Alumni in Residence.
Recent Alumni Achievement
Award
Matt Woods
Woods is a biochemist at Pioneer
Hi-Bred International, where he has worked since 2002. He is also a
blues musician and the leader of the band, "Matt Woods and the
Thunderbolts," winners of the 2007 Iowa Blues Challenge and Iowa
representative to the International Blues Competition in 2008. Woods
is a seasoned performer with more than 150 shows per year at local,
regional and national venues. Whether as a solo act or with a
band, Woods brings a firm understanding of the styles of the great
masters to each performance. His music has been featured on
KUNI Public Radio and also can be heard in the Des Moines area on
FM95 KGGO.
From
the Simpson News Service:
Wilson resigns as head coach; Zanders to lead program
INDIANOLA, Iowa (April 9, 2010) – After a career that spanned 25
years in which he compiled
the most victories in program history, Bruce Wilson resigned as the
Simpson head men’s basketball coach, athletic director John Sirianni
announced Friday. Storm assistant coach Charles Zanders will take
over the head coaching position.
“Bruce has had a very successful career both on and off the court
and is a well-respected member of the community,” Sirianni said.
“Aside from his achievements as a basketball coach, Bruce helped
hundreds of student-athletes graduate and move on to successful
careers after basketball. He will be missed at Simpson College.”
Wilson began his coaching career at Simpson in 1985, compiling a
record of 341-305 in his 25 years at the helm. Wilson’s teams won
the Iowa Conference Championship three times (1992, 1995, 1998) and
made three appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship (1992,
1995, 1996). He earned Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honors
three times (1992, 1995, 1998) and was named NCAA Division III West
Region Coach of the Year in 1992.
“It has been a great journey to coach and teach at my alma mater,”
Wilson said. “Simpson has been a special part of my family’s life.
We have had the opportunity to work with great people. Coaching and
mentoring quality student-athletes has been very rewarding. I am
pleased to have Charles Zanders become the next basketball coach. He
is an excellent coach and will be a great role model for Simpson and
the men’s basketball program. I want to thank the Simpson community
for the support they have shown me throughout my career.”
A 1976 Simpson graduate, Wilson ends his career as the winningest
coach in program history, passing the mark set by Frank Casey
(1935-54) when he won his 241st game Nov. 27, 2001. As a
student-athlete at Simpson, Wilson was a two-time all-conference
selection, earning all-region honors once. He was inducted into
Simpson’s Hall of Fame in 1986.
Under Wilson’s direction, Simpson student-athletes earned All-Iowa
Conference honors 32 times, including two Iowa Conference MVPs. He
coached four All-Americans, three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, two
NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Winners, and 2003-04 Iowa Conference
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, Jesse Harris. Nine of Simpson’s 17
career 1,000-point scorers played under Wilson.
Wilson served as the college representative on the Iowa Basketball
Coaches Association board of directors and received the Paul Maaske
Memorial College of the year award from the IBCA in 1991.
Outside of basketball, Wilson served as a faculty member in the
department of Sports Science and Health Education. Wilson and his
family are also actively involved in the Special Olympics. He was
presented with the Special Olympics Iowa Outstanding Family of the
Year Award during the opening ceremonies of the 2005 Iowa Special
Olympics Summer Games.
Zanders, who joined the staff for the 2009-10 season as the
assistant varsity and
head junior varsity coach, becomes the 22nd head coach in the
program’s 110-year history. He came to Simpson from Des Moines
Hoover, where he compiled a record of 100-39 in six seasons,
including an undefeated run to the Iowa State Class 4A Championship
in 2006. Zanders played collegiately at Iowa Central Community
College and Grand View College before completing his bachelor’s
degree at Simpson. He earned a master’s degree from Graceland
University last year. Zanders also serves as an academic liaison for
the athletic department and a diversity recruiter for the admissions
department.
Sirianni said Zanders is an impressive leader who communicates well
with the players and is ready for the challenges of a collegiate
head coaching position.
“Charles relates well to student-athletes,” Sirianni said. “He
understands that success in the classroom is as important as success
on the court. His experience at the high school level and
involvement with the Iowa High School Basketball Coaches Association
has helped increase his visibility across the state, which will aid
in recruiting.”
Zanders also credited Wilson in preparing him for his new role as
head coach.
“Bruce is not only one of the best basketball minds I have had the
opportunity to work with, he is the best role model and mentor that
a young man could hope for,” Zanders said. “The student-athletes who
have played for coach Wilson are very fortunate young men. I wish my
sons could play for him; that’s how highly I think of him. It’s an
honor to take over a program that he built. I’m excited and ready
for the challenge.”
Our own Sam Carrell '80
accepts the Des Moines Register's 2009 Aurora Award on behalf
of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa. This is a very big achievement for Sam. Congratulations!!
2009 ATO "Old Farts"
Golf Weekend
September 2009
Lake Panorama, Iowa
Left to Right:
Front Row – Jon Chew, Jeff Cassat, Rich Collins, Paul Lounsberry
Back Row – Mike Henderson, Mac MacKenzie, Bruce Wilson, Tim Lehman
Not pictured: Steve Montague and Jymm Oplt.
Beta Alpha Brothers:
Last weekend, the Boards of Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Nu, and Kappa Alpha Order
met in Lexington, VA to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the dedication of
the Lexington Triad marker located on the dividing line between the Virginia
Military Institute and Washington and Lee University. Attached are some
pictures and below is the press release that I thought you might enjoy. The
town of Lexington and VMI really rolled out the red carpet for us. Also, it
was formally announced that the Fall 2010 ATO Board meeting will be held in
Des Moines/Indianola the weekend of October 15-17 in conjunction with the
125th Anniversary celebration of Beta Alpha. A special thanks to Spooner and
Mac for helping to make this happen. Have a great day!
L&R,
Jay
Click on image to view slide
show:
Lexington Triad Meeting
Brent Fellows | 3/9/2009
Registration information; Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Nu, Alpha Tau Omega
honored at VMI Parade and rededication of The Lexington Triad.
http://www.kappaalphaorder.org/nao/lexington_triad.asp
KAPPA ALPHA ORDER, SIGMA NU, ALPHA TAU OMEGA HONORED AT VMI PARADE AND
REDEDICATION OF THE LEXINGTON TRIAD
Lexington, Virginia - April 24-26, 2009 - Celebrating almost 150 years of
tradition and camaraderie, the national fraternities of Alpha Tau Omega,
Kappa Alpha Order, and Sigma Nu will be honored at the Virginia Military
Institute parade and rededication of the Lexington Triad.
April 9, 1983, Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Alpha Order, and Sigma Nu joined to
commemorate the common heritage of the Lexington Triad. This formal
dedication was highlighted by a granite marker unveiling that rests near the
line dividing Washington & Lee University and the Virginia Military
Institute; locations of where the three fraternities were founded. The Triad
thus appears as one brotherhood, working together in harmony towards a
common goal, the development of better men.
While the country was over-whelmed by the bitterness, destruction, and
tragedy of the Civil War, college life was profoundly affected. It was in
the South, however, that the first new fraternities were founded after
Appomattox. Both the Virginia Military Institute and Washington College
somehow managed to keep their doors open. Idealistic veterans at both
schools translated their post-war dreams of peace, unity and brotherhood
into purposeful action. During the years 1865-1869 appeared the first
chapters of Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Alpha Order, and Sigma Nu. Each of these
in one way or another expressed sentiments evoked by the years of strife;
keeping alive the spirit of chivalry, self-sacrifice, mutual helpfulness,
and comradeship born of their recent experiences.
The weekend will be filled with a variety of events commencing on Friday,
April 24.
· Friday Carriage tour of historic downtown Lexington, Stonewall Jackson
Cemetery, Washington & Lee University, and the Virginia Military Institute.
This will be followed by the rededication of the Lexington Triad marker.
Sigma Nu will host an outdoor reception and BBQ dinner that evening at their
national headquarters.
· Saturday All three organization presidents will be honored at the Virginia
Military Institute parade, followed by meetings and guest speakers at the
Hampton Inn Col Alto. The event will conclude with a formal reception at
Mulberry Hill, Kappa Alpha Order National Administrative Office, and banquet
at the Sheridan Livery hosted by Alpha Tau Omega.
Those interested in learning more about the Lexington Triad Meeting can
contact Chris Woods at cwoods@ka-order.org. |
