McKendree Legacies
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More Legacies...
Renee Amann
Sister of Bekki
Amann ’08
Elizabeth Barrow
Cousin of Sarah
Miller-Rakers ’99
Tracey Coble
Sister of Erin Coble
’08
Bradley Copelin
Son of Debbie
(Burger) Copelin
’80
Emily Eilermann
Niece of Michael
Jansen ’96
Jennifer Howell
Daughter of Mark
Howell ’85
Ryan Jahn
Brother of Kyle Jahn
’08
Daniel Kupferer
Son of Dr. Thomas
Kupferer Sr. ’76,
Brother of Thomas
Kupferer ’03 and
Matt Kupferer ’06
Richard Melton
Cousin of Sarah
Weiss ’05
Chris Mondy
Son of Terry Mondy
’71
Steven O’Donnell
Son of Carol
O’Donnell ’78,
Brother of Brian
O’Donnell ’08
Eric Polka
Nephew of Bobby
Polka ’79
Amy Reed
Sister of Molly Reed
’08
Rory Scher
Sister of Sara Scher
’05
Andrew Schmidt
Son of Thomas
Schmidt ’81
Jake Smith
Nephew of Carmen
Conci ’80
Catherine Webb
Cousin of Jason
Davis ’97
Bridget Wilhelm
Cousin of Nicole
Wilhelm ’10
Duncan Zinck
Son of Paul Zinck
’08
Whitney Baillie,
daughter of William
Baillie ’00;
Jenna Baker,
cousin of Jeremy;
Ellis ’01;
Rebecca Brand,
Daughter of Kathy
(Large) Brand ’74;
Sarah Brede,
Niece of Amy
Baldridge ’99;
Ryan Donahue,
Brother of Chris
Donahue ’05;
Brittany Field,
Niece of Rev. Robert
F. Field ’69;
Kasie Frazier,
Cousin of Kayla
Thornton ’07;
Melissa Funk,
Cousin of Mark
Heuring ’95;
Jessica Haas,
Niece of Ann (Haas)
Arterburn ’90;
Timothy Hanke,
Cousin of Erica
Weihe ’97;
Stephanie Hitchcock,
Daughter of Becky
Hitchcock, MAED ’09;
Ashley Hunter,
Sister of Megan
Hunter ’07;
Michelle Jens,
Sister of Laura
Jens ’09;
Brent Kalmer,
Cousin of Scott
Becker ’06;
Justin Kruep,
Cousin of Brian
Holtgrave ’05;
Robert Kupferer,
Son of Dr. Thomas
Kupferer Sr. ’76;
Courtney Liening,
Sister of Candace (Detmer)
Liening ’05;
Donald Murray,
Son of Donald
Murray Sr. ’07;
Jaci Pullum,
Cousin of Ginger
Reeves ’05;
Gregory Schulte,
Nephew of Jeffrey
Mourlam ’78;
Ryan Spicer,
Nephew of Jay
Goble ’92;
Jordan Stutsman,
Daughter of Jenny
Stutsman ’96;
Brooke Ulrich,
Sister of Brian
Ulrich ’02;
Evan VanScoyk,
Brother of Richard
VanScoyk ’09;
Thomas Young,
Brother of Richard
Young ’06.
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by Jeff Campbell ’87
When you believe in something, you want to tell others about it and pass it on to your children. That is the case with Mike Dunnigan ’82 and Verna (Jones) Dunnigan ’82—proud parents of Brad Dunnigan '11 and McKendree family legacy.
Mike came to McKendree in the fall of 1978 with one
thing on his mind— playing baseball.
“Van Smith recruited me. There were quite a few guys from Belleville (Ill.) who came to McKendree to play for Van. Growing up in Belleville, I played with many of those guys, so it was an easy decision,” Mike said.
Mike now holds a spot in the McKendree University Sports Hall of Fame.
Verna’s sister, Nancy (Jones) Nix ’81 played softball at McKendree. “Because of Nancy, I came to McKendree just to fill in for a little bit because I was going to go into a nursing program,” Verna said.
Verna Jones and Mike Dunnigan met their first week of
school at the “Back to School Dance” in Pearsons Hall. The
classmates have shared a love affair with each other and
with McKendree ever since.
As students, Verna and Mike were inseparable. Today,
the couple stays together day and night; Mike, a
successful, self-employed investment broker, works
alongside Verna, his compliance assistant.
The couple’s relationship has transcended a generation as their youngest son, Brad, continued the Dunnigan legacy by matriculating to McKendree for the 2007 fall semester.
The qualities that attracted Mike and Verna back in
1978 are the same qualities that drew Brad.
“It’s nice to know that I’ll have some of the same instructors that my parents had, but that wasn’t the reason I chose McKendree. I chose McKendree because it’s the right place for me,” Brad said.
The Dunnigans are proud that their son Brad, an outstanding
baseball player in his own right, became a Bearcat.
“We know that with what we have instilled in Brad, along
with the Lord’s help, and what our son puts in himself, McKendree will complete that,” Verna said.
McKendree’s close-knit atmosphere is one of the trademarks many alumni, the Dunnigans included, name as a deciding factor in choosing to attend McKendree.
Mike and Verna brought Brad to visit McKendree and discuss his future plans during Brad’s senior year. The alumni, who served as Brad’s personal tour guides through campus, said they were amazed at how much had changed, and how much
had remained the same.
Mike fondly recalled that “every spring we converted Hypes Field from a soccer field to a baseball field.” Today Hypes field is at the north end of campus and the Russel E. and Fern M. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts sits on the land where
Mike used to overpower opposing batters with an arsenal of pitches.
A catcher and first-baseman, Brad is eagerly anticipating baseball season. He also looks forward to exploring the numerous opportunities that McKendree provides through public service and campus ministries.
Although a second generation Bearcat, Brad does not feel pressured to live up to his parents’ academic and athletic accomplishments.
“My parents want me to be the best that I can be,” Brad said.
“For me, McKendree is the place to do that.”
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