Alumni Honored

Three alumni awards given at Homecoming 2009

The office of Alumni Relations presented this year’s alumni award winners during Homecoming chapel.

Servant Leader Award

Dr. Dorris “Dottie” Schulz, Class of 1972, is the recipient of the Servant Leader Award.  Dottie grew up “unchurched,” but became a Christian at age 17.  Following high school graduation she worked for the U.S. Government in Dallas, Texas, saved money so she could attend Abilene Christian College.  There she met Tom.  Dottie said, “Saying yes to marriage for both of us meant missions was to be a part of our lives together.”    

Tom and Dottie were married by Dale Larsen in Middlebrook Parlor on the YC campus on October 19th, 1956, and the reception was held in the cafeteria. They were the first students married following the reopening of York College. Stephen was born in York the following year, and their family quickly grew with the addition of Rebecca, Paul, and Rachel, whom they adopted in 1962 while living in the Netherlands.

From September, 1971 to May, 1972, Tom taught at York College as the Missionary in Residence.  He was elected Teacher of the Year by the student body that year.  Dottie then was able to finish her AA from York.  They returned to the Netherlands for another five years and returned to York College in the fall of 1977.  In 1980, Dottie began working on a doctorate at the University of Nebraska, and they both completed doctorates in the spring of 1986.  Dottie’s dissertation was on Church of Christ Missionary Reentry and Tom’s dissertation was on Missionary Kid Reentry. While they were pursuing their  doctorates, Paul was killed by a drunk driver in Lincoln, November 16th, 1982.

Dottie had been teaching part-time at York College while attending UNL, but because of finances, was laid off with the promise that she would be rehired as soon as feasible.  She began teaching in the fall of 1985 at Friends University, and after completing her doctorate, she was made the Coordinator of Family Studies/Family Therapy Graduate Program.

Tom was diagnosed with cancer and had surgery in December 1989.  Dottie resigned her full-time position at Friends University in 1990, teaching only in an adjunct position for them at an extension program at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas, just 90 miles south of York.  In the fall of 1991 she was re-hired by York College to put together an adult education program and to be the College Counselor.  This program lasted five years.  She was then asked to put together a Psychology degree and began teaching in this program in fall of 1994, and continued to be a part-time counselor for the college.

Tom died January 1,  2000.  Dottie continued to teach psychology at York College and to direct the Cornhusker Center for Human Development until the fall of 2004.  At that time she was granted a three year leave of absence to put together a Missionary Care Program for Missions Resource Network.  After working with MRN for 18 months, she decided that she could not leave this work and resigned from York College, moving permanently to Texas three years ago.  She is currently the Director for Missionary Care and has held that position for five years.

Dottie epitomizes the spirit of this award by stating, “I love my life.  I absolutely love my life.  I plan to work for as long as God allows.”

This is a new award that will be given each Homecoming honoring alumni that have devoted their lives to the service of God.  

Young Alumnus of the Year

Richard W. James, Class of 1997, was named Young Alumnus of the Year.  Richard is a native of Kingman, Kansas.  After receiving his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from York, he obtained his law degree at Washburn University in 2000.  In 2009, he was selected by the Wichita Business Journal to its annual “40 under 40” class selecting business leaders under the age of 40 who have exhibited excellence in their profession. 

Richard has successfully tried cases in the state and federal courts.  He practices in civil litigation with an emphasis in trial work.  In 2009, he was identified by SuperLawyers magazine in Kansas City as a “Rising Star” in litigation in Kansas.

While attending York College, Richard served as president of student government and captain of the Men’s Basketball Team.  While attending Washburn, he was a member of the Washburn Law Journal, and his case comment was published and recognized as the best comment in the 1999-2000 issues of the journal.

Richard and his wife Rachel have one daughter, Abbey, and one son, Jackson, and are very active in the Wichita community where he serves on the Board of Directors of the Carpenter Place (formerly Maud Carpenter Children’s Home).  Richard is very active at the East Point Church of Christ, serving as Chairman of the church finance committee and as a deacon. 

This also is a new award that will be given each Homecoming honoring alumni with Baccalaureate degrees from York College. 

Alumnus of the Year Award

Tim McNeese, Class of 1973, was named 2009 Alumnus of the Year.  Tim is a native of Springfield, Missouri.  After graduating from York College, Tim completed his undergraduate degree from Harding University, and Masters Degree from Missouri State University.  Tim is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, history honor society, Phi Delta Kappa professional educators society and Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. 

Tim began his teaching career in public school in 1976 where he taught English, journalism, and social studies for 16 years.  Tim came to York College in 1992 where he serves as Associate Professor of history, and chairman of the department.  In 1999 and 2000, he coordinated the “Old Main” archaeology project on campus, guiding students in the excavation of one of the college’s original buildings that had been destroyed by fire.  In 1999, Tim received York College’s “Second Miler” award, and in 2002, he received the Dale Larsen Teacher of Achievement Award. 

In 2006, Tim appeared on the History Channel program, Risk Takers, History Makers: John Wesley Powell and the Grand Canyon, as the program’s consulting historian.  That same year, he was a faculty member at the Tony Hillerman Writers Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Tim has published more than 110 books and educational materials with publishing houses in both the United States and Great Britain.  His writing has earned him a citation in the library reference work, Contemporary Authors, as well as multiple citations in Best Books for Young Teen Readers. 

Tim’s wife Beverly is also a graduate of York College and serves as Assistant Professor of English.  They have two married children, Noah and Summer, both graduates of York College, and three grandchildren, Ethan, Adrianna, and Finn William.