Alumni Profiles Vigorously Academic, Beautifully Diverse, Thoroughly Christian Rehoboth Christian School P.O. Box 41, Rehoboth, NM 87322-0041 505.863.4412 or 1.800.657.9345 Fax: 505.863.2185 www.rcsnm.org
In the past century, God has given Rehoboth the tools and opportunities to flourish in the land (Gen. 26:22). Graduates serve in professional fields ranging from medicine, education, and engineering to tribal government and the church. With one of the most diverse student bodies of any Christian school in the country, Rehoboth consistently prepares students to be leaders in their communities and churches. Native American, Anglo, and Hispanic young people graduate from Rehoboth with the perspective, skills, and discipline to fully engage their work and culture. In addition to the first high school graduating class in 1949, there have been over 1,000 Rehoboth graduates and countless others who have benefited from the school. The following are profiles of just a few of the men and women who have used the education they received at Rehoboth Christian School as a springboard to powerfully and positively affect their world. Rehoboth has one of the most diverse student communities of any Christian school in the country in terms of ethnic, economic, religious, and academic diversity. Students from richly diverse backgrounds learn together from their teachers and each other to live in a 21st century that will need their thoughtful, caring, and transforming influence. We believe that Christ transforms individuals, communities, and cultures the story of Rehoboth Christian School gives abundant evidence of it. Ron Polinder, Executive Director Mechem Slim Class of 1997 There are many students who come to Rehoboth for a quality education they cannot receive anywhere else in the area. This was true for Mechem Slim, a graduate of Georgetown University Nursing School, who is back in Gallup working for the Indian Health Services at the Gallup Indian Medical Center. Growing up fifty miles from Rehoboth in a single parent home on the Navajo reservation never kept Mechem from pursuing a career in medicine. Her mother s teaching salary provides the main income for the family, including Mechem s uncles and grandparents, and at times this was challenging for the Slims. Mechem, however, continued to work towards her goals. She looks back fondly on her time at Rehoboth. The standards of excellence and education are high compared to everywhere else the teachers had higher expectations and they pushed us to our potential, says Mechem. Not only do teachers have these high expectations for students in the classroom, but they also have hope for the students futures. They were sure we made [education] a part of our lives, rather than merely something we learned to get a grade. By the time she was at Georgetown, Mechem was already accustomed to working hard to reach her full potential. This practice in academic excellence carried Mechem through her four years in college and into her work in the hospital s Intensive Care Unit. Today, she knows that Rehoboth started her on a path that gives her the opportunity to serve the native peoples of this area.
Scott Diddams Class of 1985 Anthony Emerson Class of 1980 Scott Diddams first experienced physics as a Rehoboth student when he estimated the mass of a school bus by measuring the contact surface area of the tire touching the cement while accounting for tire pressure. My first class in Physics was at Rehoboth with Mr. Jim DeKorne, says Diddams, he and other Rehoboth faculty prepared me well. Today, Dr. Scott Diddams together with a group of researchers, have developed the world s most stable timepiece, utilizing a single atom of mercury. This clock has the promise of being accurate to within a second every few billion years. This astronomical accomplishment received coverage by National Geographic, Science Journal, Nature, ABC News, The New York Times, and other media from across the world. Employed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Scott s work is shaping the future of communications and probing some of the fundamental theories of physics. Behind every phone, global positioning system, and data transfer tool is a clock. The accuracy of that clock impacts the effectiveness of that tool. Although changes in consumer products are many years away, his work directly affects other scientific discoveries. We are now able to probe the fundamental laws of physics and look at the inner workings of atoms and molecules at a finer scale than has been possible in the past, remarked Scott. Growing up in New Mexico and being educated at a richly diverse place like Rehoboth has put its mark on Scott s view of the world. The Navajo see beauty all around and have songs and sayings about walking in that beauty. Although I miss the rich diversity of New Mexico, my work allows me to unveil the beautiful aspects of the universe and better understand the wonders around us. And for that I am grateful. Anthony Chee Emerson tells a story about how, after quitting the 8th grade basketball team because he didn t want to get up for early morning practices, his dorm parent at Rehoboth assigned him chores at that same early hour to teach him a lesson about the value of dedication to the work God gives us. This was an important lesson, he says. I now have a drive to succeed and know, with hard work, while keeping Christ first, there are not any limitations on what I can accomplish. Now Anthony is an award-winning artist and owner of the Emerson Gallery in Farmington, NM. He has received the prestigious Patrick Swazo-Hinds Memorial award for excellence and innovation in painting from the Indian Arts and Crafts Association at the world-renowned Santa Fe Indian Market. He was also selected as the poster artist for the 75th Diamond Anniversary Celebration Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Emerson truly enjoyed his time at Rehoboth. I have many fond memories of dorm life, hiking up the Hogbacks behind RCS, dorm-wide hide and seek, and even working in the kitchen washing pots and pans, scraping trays, and scrubbing potatoes. His talents and interest in art were encouraged by his high school art instructor, Elmer Yazzie. During this time he became familiar with the basics and the stage was set for his future career. Anthony is successful, but humble. You have to remember who you are, where you came from, and how you got there, he says.
Bryan Kamps Class of 1978 Viviene Fransisco Tallbull Alberta Bates Dr. Bryan Kamps has spent time in the places that most only see on CNN. In early 2004 he arrived back in Gallup, NM after a 3 month stint at a US Army Combat Support Hospital in Afghanistan. Kamps, an Orthopedic Surgeon in Gallup since 1995 and a member of the US Army Reserve since 1990, focused his talents on helping both American soldiers and the people of Afghanistan. Although we were primarily there to care for U.S. and Coalition troops, the fortunately small number of American and Coalition injuries allowed us to focus on Afghan civilians, Kamps says. Kamps recently returned to his practice at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital in Gallup, NM. While facilities, patients, and circumstances are much different than they were for the past three months, many challenges remain. Kamps works to serve the diverse population of the area, and he feels that his time at Rehoboth Christian School helped prepare him for these duties. The close Christian community that I grew up in and exposure to different cultures was formative for my Christian outlook and provided me with experiences I use in my practice today. After graduating from Rehoboth in 1978, Kamps went on to receive a Bachelor of Science from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI in Biology and Chemistry and graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in 1988. Following an internship at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI, he completed two years of General Surgery residency at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, and then four years of Orthopaedic Surgery residency at McLaren Hospital in Flint, MI. The Kamps family has a rich history in medicine and strong connection to Rehoboth Christian School. Bryan s grandparents, Jacob and Isabel Kamps, were missionaries to the Navajo, and his father, John, was born at Rehoboth. Bryan lived on campus while his father worked as a physician, and his mother as a nurse at the original Rehoboth Mission Hospital located on the campus grounds. The fun group atmosphere and the incredible diversity on the school s campus are things I will never forget, Kamps says. Viviene Francisco Tallbull and Alberta Bates are quick to note that the gifts that have brought them success come from God. It is an instinct that God puts into you, Tallbull says. Instincts, however, need to be accentuated with learned skills and values. That is where Rehoboth Christian School came in. Foundational spiritual values, discipline and accountability, and a measure of independence needed in a boarding school are qualities that continue to bless them in their life and work. In praise of her education in the basics, Viviene says, I learned to add, subtract, and write at Rehoboth when a resume comes in, I know if it is correct or not. In September of 2003, Viviene Francisco Tallbull and her sister Alberta Bates opened the Navajo Ace Hardware store. Viviene, a 1971 Rehoboth graduate, got into the business world when she formed a construction company with her husband, Russell Tallbull, in the late 1980 s. They also opened a Subway restaurant on the Navajo Nation. Younger sister Alberta, after attending Rehoboth, acquired a degree in Business Administration from The University of New Mexico and gained valuable retail experience from Ann Taylor and Nike. Tallbull and Bates see the importance of having business leaders on the Navajo Nation. They hope to help create a base of economic development and inspire future students to excel in business on the reservation. Rehoboth was an inspiration to them and they want to continue the pattern of change that began at the school.
Dr. Wilbur Tso Class of 1970 Larry & Kathryn (Toledo) Manuelito Dr. Wilbur Tso has a wide variety of memories from his time at Rehoboth. Buffing the hallway floors at the high school, peeling potatoes in the kitchen, and, of course, pulling the girl s pigtails at school instilled in him a sense of humor as well as a strong work ethic which has served him well to this day. He made lifelong friendships and was prepared for a future that would see great success. After attaining his undergraduate degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and his PhD from the University of Utah, he moved to Farmington, NM and started a family medical practice in 1986. Today, Dr. Tso serves the people of Northwestern New Mexico with a combination of Christian ethics and medical knowledge gained in nearly 20 years of experience. From annual picnics and fun with classmates to hard work in the kitchen, Tso is thankful for his Rehoboth experience. He was equipped with self-discipline, confidence, and a vision of what tomorrow could become. The school and the people he was in contact with started him down a path that would lead to service to his people. There is no doubt that Rehoboth holds a strong position in his history. I think the impact is self-evident. Anyone who has been a student here and has been a participant in RCS history is definitely a success to me, no matter what station in life they now occupy, Tso says. Active in the education of Navajo children since 1977, the Manuelitos, both graduates from the class of 1964, have long been teachers, educators, and builders. Larry has built over $100 million in educational facilities benefiting Native American communities and Kathryn pioneered bi-lingual curriculum for Navajos. The first people that really believed in me were my teachers Miss Rooze and Miss Bystervelt, said Kathryn. After completing a BA and a MA from the University of New Mexico, she turned down admission to medical school, deciding instead to raise her family. Later, she became one of few Navajos to receive her PhD, graduating from Arizona State University. Larry is one of few Navajos owning a multi-million dollar business, completing $60 million in construction projects last year with ChuskaSahara, one of the largest construction companies in the Southwest. I was not a star student; I realized I was behind academically because I moved from school to school before coming to Rehoboth in 8th grade, he stated. But Miss Stob took special interest in me, helped me after school, and by sophomore year I had caught up with my peers. Personalized teaching from high quality faculty members at Rehoboth lays the foundation upon which success is built. Today, Kathryn continues to devote her life to developing methods to incorporate local Native knowledge into state educational standards as a professor at Arizona State University. Rehoboth s high academic standards coupled with spiritual teachings have grounded our family, secured our marriage, and made our family strong, says Kathryn.
Ed, Sharlene & Sandra Begay Generations of leaders have been educated at Rehoboth. Few families have had an impact on the Navajo Nation like the family of Edward T. Begay and the late Cecelia Damon. Ed T., as he is known by many, graduated from Rehoboth in 1956 and went on to become one of the great leaders of Navajo Nation serving as a Council Delegate for 32 years and Speaker of the Navajo Nation legislative branch for 4 years. Additionally, he served as Vice-Chairman for the Tribe, or Vice-President as it is known now, from 1983 to 1987. Political service was part of the family as his wife Cecelia Damon s father was also Vice-Chairman of the Tribe. Cecelia s mother, Irene, finished Rehoboth s 8th grade, the highest grade offered at Rehoboth in the 1940 s. Cecelia, who later became a registered nurse, graduated from Rehoboth in 1956 with her high school sweetheart Ed T. The leadership as well as community and church involvement demonstrated through the years by the family continues to be passed down through the generations to sisters Sharlene Begay-Platero and Sandra Begay-Campbell. Older sister Sharlene 80, serves in the Navajo Division of Economic Development working to bring jobs to lower the nearly 60% unemployment level across the Navajo Nation. As former chair of the Rehoboth School Board, Sharlene has invested countless hours in the future of the school helping to prepare for the enrollment of her two preschool aged children. Sandra 81 is a leader in Sandia National Lab s Native American Renewable Energy Program. A Stanford trained structural engineer, Sandra is the official liaison between the Labs and the Nation on issues of renewable resources like wind and solar energy. She serves in many volunteer capacities, including the University of New Mexico Board of Regents. The family is a model for generations of Rehoboth graduates serving their community and working to improve the quality of life on the Navajo Nation.