Administration

Communications

Students honor Professor Tripp with memorial garden; dedication scheduled October 16
Friday, October 09, 2009

CANTON, Mo. - For the past several months, Culver-Stockton students, faculty, staff and alumni have been working together to create a memorial garden to honor the late Professor John Tripp,
who passed away in May.

Tripp, 58, was a senior lecturer in business at the time of his death. Previously, he was a C-SC student and staff member and served on the C-SC Board of Trustees.

“All of the students who had known Professor Tripp were so shocked and saddened when we learned of his death that we knew we wanted to create something to honor his memory,” said Emily Johnston, president of IMA.

Amanda Gibbs of SIFE added, “I felt that it was important to give back to the family and to the memory of John Tripp because I have so many memories of him. It was something that I had to do because of all that he did for me. The garden is something that will be here for a really long time, as will all my memories of him.”

Student leaders in the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) began planning and preparing for the memorial garden soon after the loss of Professor Tripp. Shrubs were provided through Bergman’s Nurseries in Quincy, Ill., at cost. Funds were donated by alumni and others. Hours of work were contributed by students, Johnston; Gibbs; Samantha Brown, president of SIFE; Amanda Bienhoff , junior accounting major from Golden, Ill.; Dalton Bohan, junior accounting and finance major from Mendon, Ill.; Josh Seiler, senior accounting major from Canton, Mo.; Leanne Cary, a sophomore accounting and finance major from Canton, Mo.; Kelsey Camp, a junior accounting and finance major from Canton, Mo.; Neil Gau, a senior accounting and finance major from Irondale, Mo.; Brad Baker, a senior business administration major from Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Ryan Burns, a senior accounting major from Brookfield, Mo.; and Eugene Carter a sophomore accounting major from Troy Mo.; alumni, Dell Ann Janney, business division chair; Marjorie Ellison, director of advancement services; Barb Tripp, class of 1970; Jeff Janney, class of 1986; Dave Gaither, 1979; and staff, Mark Baker, physical plant.

Work began on Sunday, September 13, when a tree was removed, ground was broken and volunteers began landscaping the garden in front of the Herrick Foundation Center, which houses the Business Division. A bench inscribed in Tripp’s memory has been placed in the south garden, and a plaque bearing a poem in his honor has been placed in the north garden.

The garden will be formally dedicated at 5 p.m. Friday, October 16, to allow members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, students, friends and family to attend. C-SC President Richard Valentine will introduce the speakers: Charles (Chuck) W. Scholz, C-SC trustee since 2005 and former mayor of Quincy; Dell Ann Janney, chair of the business division; Emily Johnston senior accounting and finance major; and Sara (Tripp) Betz, daughter of Professor Tripp. The dedication ceremony is open to the public. A reception will follow.