Sound Design by Emily Hennager ’06
As a preschooler growing up on Northwestern’s campus, Howard Heemstra ’46, ’48, son of then-president Jacob Heemstra, enjoyed sitting outside under an open window while Fern Smith taught music classes. “I’d listen and pretend to direct,” he says.
That early experience may have given him an award-winning ear for music. In 1963, Heemstra was again listening and directing—this time as the project architect for Iowa State University’s Stephens Auditorium in Ames. The world-class performance hall was named Iowa’s “Building of the Century” by the Iowa chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 2004, beating out works by notable architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright.
The auditorium’s exceptional acoustics are due to Heemstra’s dedication to detail. Using light and mirrors to simulate sound waves, Heemstra precisely calculated how sound would bounce off each surface, sometimes even calculating secondary and tertiary reflections.
“It was about maximizing sound power,” he says. “No sound is wasted.”
Upon completion of the building’s design, Heemstra was offered a teaching position at Iowa State, where he taught until retiring in 2003. Looking over his career, he says he is honored by the building’s award.
“The building performs well,” he says. “It does what it’s supposed to do, and it does it both functionally and aesthetically.”
Good job by Sherrie Barber Willson '98
Few people would want to disappoint Arnold Schwarzenegger—including Barbara Halsey '82, who calls him boss. Last year the governor appointed her the executive director of the California Workforce Investment Board, which brings local and state systems together to provide better customer service to job-seekers and businesses. The group works to ensure job-seekers have the right skills for employment and companies find the workers they need.
Halsey has 27 years of experience in workforce training, but her greatest qualification is a passion for finding people jobs—a passion she's had since she was a social work major at Northwestern and helped develop a supportive work program for people with disabilities in Sioux Falls.
"That really opened my eyes to what employment means to people—the phenomenal difference it can make in their lives," she says. Now that she's overseeing the job prospects of the entire population of California, Halsey no longer gets to interact with job-seekers one-onone, but, she says, "I never want to forget what this job is all about: the individual who is now able to support his family because he's found a job."
A Global Gym Class by Emily Hennager ’06
Visit one of the physical education classes that Kayla Clark ’96 teaches in Fairbanks, Alaska, and you may see her students rollerblading, learning lacrosse, orienteering, scaling the climbing wall, swing dancing or curling.
After a trip to Australia, she even designed a unit featuring a modified version of Australian rules football.
Such innovative approaches to teaching earned Clark Alaska’s Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year honors in November. The award is given annually by the Alaska Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. A longtime member of the organization, Clark is also serving as its president this year.
Clark’s non-traditional P.E. activities go hand-in-hand with classes on sports like basketball and soccer, as well as information about health and nutrition.
“I try to show them the possibilities and skills for lifelong fitness,” she says.
An avid traveler, Clark often brings back ideas for new activities from the places she visits.
“I’m learning right along with my students,” she says. “As I learn new activities, I like to bring them to my classes. Every year the list gets longer.”
Globe-trotter by Duane Beeson
Brandon Woudstra '03 knew he wasn't playing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference anymore when he listened to a 15-minute pregame pep talk in Icelandic, not understanding a thing.
Eager to hear the elaborate game plan, Woudstra was surprised when the coach turned to him and said just six words in English: "Go out there and play hard."
While language has occasionally been a barrier during Woudstra's overseas basketball career, it hasn't deterred him from success Northwestern's all-time leader in scoring and assists has been named an all-star in all but one of his five professional seasons.
After a year each in Iceland and the Netherlands, Woudstra is in his third season in Germany. In the first year of a two-year contract with ENBW Ludwigsburg, he plays among several former NCAA Div. I players and European stars.
"I've been really blessed to make a living out of basketball," says Woudstra. "It's a thrill everyday competing against players I watched on TV."
Woudstra and his wife, Kyndara (Hardersen '03), have taken advantage of opportunities to travel throughout Europe. This year alone, his team has played games in Estonia, France, Greece, Poland and Spain.
When the season's over, the Woudstras and daughter Jaelye (1) will return to their acreage near Orange City, while Brandon serves as an instructor for B.J. Mulder's B.E.S.T. basketball school.