Wulf says inner-motivation keeps her going
Staff writer
Spending just a few minutes with Christy Wulf, makes a person feel fired up with a new zest for life.
Born in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Christy is one of three girls born to Linda Wood and the late Jerry Wood. She is the older of twin sisters by five minutes.
Christy's father served in the U.S. Air Force, so the family moved to various cities while she and her sisters were growing up.
"We moved about every four to six years," Christy said. "It was hard as a young girl growing up — to make friends and to move. Then I had to start the process of getting to know new friends all over again."
Her father retired from the Air Force and settled in Derby.
Christy attended Derby High School and graduated in 1987. After graduation, she attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
In 1989, she served an internship with Contrails, the newspaper on McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita.
In 1990, she served an internship with KAKE Channel 10 in Wichita.
"I was part of their July 4th, 'Celebrate,'" Christy said.
She helped with organizing the many volunteers that were needed to help the event be successful.
"It felt good, to be an integral part of such a huge event — you could see a good job well done," she said.
In 1991, Christy graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in journalism with a concentration on business communications from KU.
While at KU, she served an internship in 1991 for the KU Museum and public relations office.
Christy also worked as a lobbyist for the Kansas Taxpayers Networks for one year, which tries to lower property taxes for small businesses.
She met her husband-to-be Lincoln right after college, and the couple were married in 1993.
In 1994, her husband accepted a job as head men's soccer coach and dorm director at Allen County Community College in Iola.
While at Iola, Christy taught aerobics, served as the city pool manager, and worked at the fitness center.
In 1996, they had their first child, a son, Harrison.
In 1997, Lincoln accepted a job as head men and women's soccer coach at Sterling College in Sterling.
Christy began working in the communications department at the college and doing graphic designing.
"I finally was back to something that I liked to do," she said.
In 1999, Lincoln accepted a position as head men's and women's soccer coach at Neosha Community College in Chanute. While there, the couple's daughter, Madison, was born.
"When we moved back to that area, I was able to have the same doctor (OB/GYN), and the kids were born in the same hospital," Christy said. "We went all the way across Kansas and returned back to where we started."
The family lived between Chanute and Independence, so Christy worked in Independence with the Inge Theater Festival as assistant to the director.
"I did whatever was needed," Christy said, "from contacting celebrities, making flight arrangements and issuing press releases, as well as doing the day-to-day operations."
On Oct. 31, 2001, Lincoln was called to serve as a Navy reservist in Operation Noble Eagle in Bahrain, an island off the coast of Saudi Arabia. He had served as an Army Reservist for approximately 15 years before becoming a Naval reservist.
Lincoln had only served as a Navy reservist for four or five months before he was called to serve after 9-11. He was overseas for nearly 12 months.
When Lincoln returned home, his previous job had been filled, so the couple was now looking for work elsewhere.
In 2003, he was hired by Tabor College as head men's soccer coach and director of retention.
"God must have been looking out for us," Christy said. "We are very happy to have been led here."
Christy likes the people and the town. She likes the way the town supports local events, the schools, and other programs.
Moving around when she was young has enabled to her to meet all kinds of people and be able to adjust to new places.
"Hillsboro reminds me of Sabetha, an Amish town, where my mom grew up," Christy said.
"Also, an extra bonus is that my in-laws moved here from Wichita," she said. "We didn't live close to them earlier, and it's great to have them here."
Christy has been looking for a job since moving to Hillsboro this summer. She recently accepted the position as Arts and Crafts Fair director.
"I am still looking for something full-time or part-time to do," she said.
She also helps choose the Tabor Player of Week and is now serving on the Kansas Sampler Festival committee to help with the planning of the Hillsboro tent at the festival.
Christy's hobby is graphic designing.
"I love to play around with it on the computer," she said.
She also likes to do interior designing on the computer. She does some art work and likes to "dabble in pastels."
She especially enjoys "hanging out with her family."
When asked what keeps her going, Christy said, "It's inner-motivation. I make a list, and as I go through the day, I cross off the things I've done."
"The feeling of accomplishing something is what keeps me going, and it also makes me good at what I do."
