Fall 2010 Letters

Wrestling great

I really enjoyed reading the latest Cornell Report with its focus on the college’s nationally known wrestling program. Wrestling at Cornell was one of the most character building and memorable experiences of my life. I had the privilege of wrestling at 145 pounds for Cornell my sophomore and junior years, 1965–66 and 1966–67, under Barron Bremner, a truly inspirational coach, and in fact the best coach I had in eight years of athletic competition. It was great to see Coach Bremner’s picture in the recent Cornell Report and to see how fit and healthy he looks.

Joseph D. Gebhardt ’68
Bethesda, Md.

Kinesiology prep

As a doctoral student in physical therapy at the University of Iowa, I am glad I had the privilege of taking classes with professors Steve DeVries and Jennifer Fagenbaum. They were essential in influencing my career choice and helped develop my passion for exercise science and kinesiology through their roles as enthusiastic and excellent educators. Their true focus on education allowed for one-on-one time to discuss the latest material and research, and I felt very prepared for graduate study. I am so thankful for their guidance and know they are great assets for Cornell’s students and the college. As the program continues to grow, I can only hope other students will appreciate similar outstanding experiences as I had.

Becky Birkhofer ’08
Iowa City, Iowa

Appealing Mock Trial team

Thank you so much for running the article on the Cornell Mock Trial Team in the summer issue. The Cornell Mock Trial program is truly remarkable. The students involved are serious, talented, hard working individuals with both a sense of perspective and a sense of humor. Cornell and the participating students are very fortunate to have the talent of Abbe Stensland as coach and the energetic support and planning of RJ Holmes-Leopold ’99 as staff coordinator. This program, which finished sixth in the nation, deserves all the support we alums are able to provide. It is a source of pride for all involved.

Craig Shives ’67
Clive, Iowa

Cornell Fellows stand out

I was impressed to read in the Cornell Report that we have placed our 150th Cornell Fellow. My Cornell Fellowship sponsored by Steve Anderson ’75 afforded me a multi-faceted educational experience and was invaluable in setting me apart from other college graduates. As Fellows, students have an opportunity to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to real-world situations. In addition, the Fellows Program capitalizes on the network of alumni and friends of Cornell to give today’s Cornell students internship opportunities they could not otherwise secure.

Leslie Tweeton Behaunek ’09
Indianola, Iowa