Doane alumni share success stories, memories

Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 1

As the semester winds down, seniors are looking for jobs, undeclared students are searching for a major and the summer is beginning to seem more like a job search than a break.
It is hard to see how four years spent in various classrooms will prepare you to spend eight hours a day in the same office week after week.
If the prospects of getting a job make students want to stay in college forever, fear not. Hope for the future comes from the past.
A long list of Doane alumni have made themselves successful in interesting careers.
Meet Steve Schulz. Schulz had decided to go to another college until a chance meeting with Mark Alderman, a former Doane football standout, while on campus for the Nebraska Shrine Bowl game changed his mind.
Schulz earned his physical education degree in 1977. He taught in a public school and played semi-professional football for two years then went back to school. He attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln, serving as graduate assistant strength coach.
In 1980, Schulz got a job at Stanford University, where he formed the college’s first strength and conditioning program.
After 15 years at Stanford, Schulz resigned to start his own company.
He currently contracts work with Santa Clara University, Menlo College, and Saint Francis High School, as well as owning and operating a small facility in Mountain View, Calif., where he trains athletes for their particular sport.
“Over the years in my career, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the finest coaches and athletes in the nation,” Schulz said.
Another Doane graduate who boasts an interesting career is Andrew Clark. Clark owns Black Hawk Productions, a video production company.
After earning his communication degree in 1991, Clark went to Middlesex University in London, where he earned a master’s degree in film and television.
He returned to the United States to work for former Doane professor Timothy Cane at his company, Timothy Cane Productions.
Clark now lives in Nottingham, England.
He started Black Hawk Productions about three years ago, and has worked on several interesting projects.
Clark said that he travels a lot for his job, and has worked with high profile people such as Oprah and Margaret Thatcher.
“We went to Rwanda and Burundi during the civil war.” Clark said. “That was scary, getting shot at.”
Clark works mostly for television and does a lot for advertising agencies. He said that he does just about anything that involves moving image production.
“My company was basically formed because of Doane and my experience with Tim,” Clark said.
Doane’s list of alumni also includes Ralph Tyler, the father of the American College Testing (ACT) test.
In the sports world, Samuel Bell is track coach at Indiana University, Bloomington, Roger Hughes is head football coach at Princeton University and Edward Hubbs is tennis coordinator for the Omaha Tennis Association.
Daniel Jackman, the chief financial officer for waste management in Siam, Bangkok, Thailand, is one of several Doane alumni that now work overseas.
Sharon Wilch is now the associate commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association.
William Johnson works for Nebraska Pulmonary Critical Care, and Tom Tonniges is director/pediatrician at the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sean McArdle works as the props master for the Public Theater of New York.
Terry Michael was elected to a position as a Federal bankruptcy judge.
Tom Songster lives in Washington D.C. and works as senior vice president of sports policy for the Special Olympics.
This is just a small cross-section from an extensive list. Doane’s legacy of successful alumni presents an optimistic outlook.
The future may seem blurry now, but it will clear up.