Alumnaessay And the Emmy goes to… Katharin Czink ’91, medical producer at WGN News in Chicago, interviews a source for a medical story (photo courtesy of Northwestern Memorial Hospital). Not only does Katharin Czink ’91 love her job, she’s pretty good at it. Czink has earned two coveted Emmy Awards for medical segments she produced at WGN News in Chicago, one of the largest and most competitive television markets in the country. “I work closely with the medical reporter to put these stories together,” Czink says, “but as the producer, I’m responsible for the bulk of the research, interviews and field work. It’s a great gig.” Each day I have the opportunity to continue learning — about medicine and research and life and death. “The Heart Goes On” 2003 Emmy Award winner Just before Christmas, a drunk driver kills Anthony, a vibrant, athletic and giving 18-year-old. His mother, Elisa, donates many of her son’s organs. But for months after Anthony’s death, Elisa is haunted by not knowing who received her son’s heart. After seeing WGN’s story on the progress of a heart The perfect blend of writing and science by Katharin Czink ’91 I came to Augustana in 1987 knowing I would major in English and go on to be a journalist. Over the course of four years that conviction did not change except during a brief and misguided period when I fantasized about law school. So I went about my business, filling fall, winter and spring terms with the appropriate credits — Modern Fiction, Shakespeare and as many writing tutorials and journalism courses as I could squeeze into my schedule. Then, during my junior year, I discovered an entirely new world (and building) — science. That’s when I began combining Parkander’s Chaucer with Tallitsch’s Human Anatomy and Tweet’s TwentiethCentury Literature with Turnquist’s Principles of Physiology. Certainly I wasn’t organic chem-worthy or even 400-level biology material like my premed friends, but basic science had struck a chord with me. And at the time I had absolutely no idea that the coursework would become so valuable. 30 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Fast forward several years later. Today my work is a reflection of my undergrad combination, but not by design. In no way did I ever imagine writing and science could blend together so well and unearth an interest I didn’t even know I possessed. I truly credit my professors at Augie. I believe the combination of English and science fostered my love of writing about medicine. From my first job after graduation to my work today as medical producer at WGN News in Chicago, science has become my beat. One of the best perks of my work is the access. I have access to medical institutions, laboratories, surgeons and scientists — people I find completely fascinating. My job is to interview them and learn about the research they are conducting or the latest techniques they are using in the operating room. Then I write about their work and help put their stories on television each night. My job has led me to places and people I’ve never imagined. I’ve traveled to a remote village in Alaska where I spent three days with teen-age paramedics, 14- and 15-year-old girls who fight fires and deliver medical care in a tiny town with no doctor. I’ve interviewed Iraqi physicians who came to Chicago to learn reconstructive surgery techniques so they could return home and mend patients severely injured from the war. I’ve visited the laboratory where the very first embryonic stem cells were isolated. There I interviewed scientists who are implanting newly formed neural cells into the brains of primates bred with Parkinson’s disease. I’ve covered internet-fueled drug abuse, spinal cord injury (in dogs!) and pediatric skin cancer. And then there are the patients who have allowed our cameras to capture their most private moments — at their bedsides before they are wheeled into heart surgery or in the labor-and-delivery room during childbirth. To be a part of it all is such an honor. I wish I could say I meticulously plotted my career path. But the truth is I’m just lucky. Each day I get to do something I love and that I find fascinating. Each day I have the opportunity to continue learning — about medicine and research and life and death. And now that I think about it, maybe that’s the best part of the job. transplant patient named Brian, her intuition tells her this young man is the one. “Elisa calls us and we put her in touch with the regional organ bank,” Czink says. “It turns out she is right.” Weeks later with the help of WGN, the two meet each other. Czink’s crew captures the emotional visit on camera. To this day Elisa and Brian remain close friends. “The story turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime situation, and hopefully we were able to raise awareness of organ donation as well,” Czink adds. “Addicted.com” 2004 Emmy Award winner How easy, and how safe, is it to buy strong, addictive medications on the Web? With her mother’s credit card and her permission, a 12-year-old girl is asked to buy Vicodin, Valium and Darvon over the internet. Even without a prescription, her order is filled with no questions. “Websites promise online doctors will fill your prescription, but in many cases the drugs are coming from overseas and the medication may not be what you bargained for,” Czink explains. The series also showed how U.S. Customs agents screen tiny packages believed to be narcotics coming into the country. “The DEA is trying to fight the internet drug war, but officials admit the vast ring of dealers on the Web are eluding authorities,” Czink says. 31 Alumnaessay And the Emmy goes to… Katharin Czink ’91, medical producer at WGN News in Chicago, interviews a source for a medical story (photo courtesy of Northwestern Memorial Hospital). Not only does Katharin Czink ’91 love her job, she’s pretty good at it. Czink has earned two coveted Emmy Awards for medical segments she produced at WGN News in Chicago, one of the largest and most competitive television markets in the country. “I work closely with the medical reporter to put these stories together,” Czink says, “but as the producer, I’m responsible for the bulk of the research, interviews and field work. It’s a great gig.” Each day I have the opportunity to continue learning — about medicine and research and life and death. “The Heart Goes On” 2003 Emmy Award winner Just before Christmas, a drunk driver kills Anthony, a vibrant, athletic and giving 18-year-old. His mother, Elisa, donates many of her son’s organs. But for months after Anthony’s death, Elisa is haunted by not knowing who received her son’s heart. After seeing WGN’s story on the progress of a heart The perfect blend of writing and science by Katharin Czink ’91 I came to Augustana in 1987 knowing I would major in English and go on to be a journalist. Over the course of four years that conviction did not change except during a brief and misguided period when I fantasized about law school. So I went about my business, filling fall, winter and spring terms with the appropriate credits — Modern Fiction, Shakespeare and as many writing tutorials and journalism courses as I could squeeze into my schedule. Then, during my junior year, I discovered an entirely new world (and building) — science. That’s when I began combining Parkander’s Chaucer with Tallitsch’s Human Anatomy and Tweet’s TwentiethCentury Literature with Turnquist’s Principles of Physiology. Certainly I wasn’t organic chem-worthy or even 400-level biology material like my premed friends, but basic science had struck a chord with me. And at the time I had absolutely no idea that the coursework would become so valuable. 30 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Fast forward several years later. Today my work is a reflection of my undergrad combination, but not by design. In no way did I ever imagine writing and science could blend together so well and unearth an interest I didn’t even know I possessed. I truly credit my professors at Augie. I believe the combination of English and science fostered my love of writing about medicine. From my first job after graduation to my work today as medical producer at WGN News in Chicago, science has become my beat. One of the best perks of my work is the access. I have access to medical institutions, laboratories, surgeons and scientists — people I find completely fascinating. My job is to interview them and learn about the research they are conducting or the latest techniques they are using in the operating room. Then I write about their work and help put their stories on television each night. My job has led me to places and people I’ve never imagined. I’ve traveled to a remote village in Alaska where I spent three days with teen-age paramedics, 14- and 15-year-old girls who fight fires and deliver medical care in a tiny town with no doctor. I’ve interviewed Iraqi physicians who came to Chicago to learn reconstructive surgery techniques so they could return home and mend patients severely injured from the war. I’ve visited the laboratory where the very first embryonic stem cells were isolated. There I interviewed scientists who are implanting newly formed neural cells into the brains of primates bred with Parkinson’s disease. I’ve covered internet-fueled drug abuse, spinal cord injury (in dogs!) and pediatric skin cancer. And then there are the patients who have allowed our cameras to capture their most private moments — at their bedsides before they are wheeled into heart surgery or in the labor-and-delivery room during childbirth. To be a part of it all is such an honor. I wish I could say I meticulously plotted my career path. But the truth is I’m just lucky. Each day I get to do something I love and that I find fascinating. Each day I have the opportunity to continue learning — about medicine and research and life and death. And now that I think about it, maybe that’s the best part of the job. transplant patient named Brian, her intuition tells her this young man is the one. “Elisa calls us and we put her in touch with the regional organ bank,” Czink says. “It turns out she is right.” Weeks later with the help of WGN, the two meet each other. Czink’s crew captures the emotional visit on camera. To this day Elisa and Brian remain close friends. “The story turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime situation, and hopefully we were able to raise awareness of organ donation as well,” Czink adds. “Addicted.com” 2004 Emmy Award winner How easy, and how safe, is it to buy strong, addictive medications on the Web? With her mother’s credit card and her permission, a 12-year-old girl is asked to buy Vicodin, Valium and Darvon over the internet. Even without a prescription, her order is filled with no questions. “Websites promise online doctors will fill your prescription, but in many cases the drugs are coming from overseas and the medication may not be what you bargained for,” Czink explains. The series also showed how U.S. Customs agents screen tiny packages believed to be narcotics coming into the country. “The DEA is trying to fight the internet drug war, but officials admit the vast ring of dealers on the Web are eluding authorities,” Czink says. 31 Alumniupdate Billie Lee is chairman of the board of directors for the Miss Iowa Scholarship Program. Judy Schadt Belan is the author of East Moline: A Centennial History 1903-2003. 1945 1959 Art Puotinen has been installed as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Elgin, Ill. David Rhea has retired from Bakersfield (Calif.) Community College. 1965 1960 Bruce Brunsvold is chief financial officer of Idea International, Anchorage, Alaska. Philip Johnson is a consulting geophysicist in New Orleans, La. 1966 1961 Nancy Seiler Bartels is senior editor at Reed Business Information, Oak Brook, Ill. (received as of June 30, 2005) 1950 Ralph Brodd served as co-chair of the second International Conference on Polymer Batteries and Fuel Cells in Las Vegas, Nev. 1964 George Olson’s novel, Sexual Divide, A Journey of Hope to Bridge the Chasm, has been published. Class Notes 1958 %$° 7*3(*/ *4-"/%4° Ray Jacobson has been inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches’ Hall of Fame. He spent 24 years in football at Bowen, Steinmetz and Lake View high schools. 1954 Viking territory Ever wonder where Augustana Vikings land after graduation? Not surprisingly, most alumni do not wander far with 52 percent claiming an Illinois address. The state of Iowa comes in at No. 2, albeit a quite distant second place at 7.6 percent. The upper Midwest, namely Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, attracts its fair share of graduates, but obviously many of our alumni also feel right at home in warmer locales. California, Florida, Texas and Arizona harbor a significant share of Vikings within their borders. (The 10 states with the most alumni are shaded in blue.) There isn’t a state without a single graduate, but it might take a little time to find fellow alumni in such places as West Virginia and New England. Too much snow, perhaps. Of the nearly 200 alumni living outside the States, the majority have settled in Sweden (29) and Canada (24). Curious about fellow graduates in your corner of the world? Call the Alumni Office at (800) 798-8100 x7202 to begin your search. source Augustana’s current database of 17,576 alumni Harriet Smith Olson has been named outstanding philanthropist by the Quad Cities chapter of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals. 1956 Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa, honored R. Keith Allen, emeritus professor of theater and speech, by naming part of the new DeWitt Theatre Arts Center the R. Keith Allen Black Box Theatre. James Johannsen is a multimedia technician at Brevard Community College, Melbourne, Fla. 1962 John Califf has been appointed development director of the ELCA Northern Illinois Synod. He recently traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, with a delegation from the Synod. Rod Joslin is chief executive officer of alseT Capital, LLC, Chicago. 1967 John Beacon is provost and vice president of academic affairs at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Charles Kurth is working for the Moline (Ill.) Gospel Temple. Karl Espelie, professor of entomology at the University of Georgia, received the outstanding advising certificate of merit from the National Academic Advising Association. 1963 Paul Holmer is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Clinton, Iowa. Carol Stoj Tempel is a learning specialist for the Charleston County (S.C.) School District. Marcia Koffron Mackenbrock’s book, Postmark Naperville, An A-Z History, has been published. Markki Nelson is a teacher for American Educare, Chicago. John Puotinen has been appointed senior vice president for advancement at the University of Dubuque (Iowa). 1968 John Bell was the 2004 recipient of the E.B. Burwell, Jr. Award of the engineering division of the Geological Society of America. He was also elected as a fellow in the Society. Raymond Kleinhaus is outreach coordinator for Carroll County Senior Services, Savanna, Ill. 1969 Larry Johnson is a technology consultant at Tetagers End, Clearwater, Fla. Craig Kuriger has written a book, Organizational Change: Case Studies in the Real World. Dan Reynolds, a sales executive for Xerox Corp., has been granted a year-long leave to assist Prevent Child Abuse Illinois with resource development. He is president of the Moline Public Library. Roger Thomas has been named the commissioner of the North Central Conference, which comprises seven institutions in four states. He also serves on the NCAA Division II Management Council. President George W. Bush appointed David Fleming as a trustee of the James Madison Foundation, Washington, D.C. 1957 Glenn Bergmark retired after almost 40 years as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Lemont, Ill. He has also served the community through the Lemont Christian Clergy Association, the Fire Protection Commission, the Fire Department (chaplain) and the public schools (volunteer music teacher). Andrew Prinz received the prestigious Founders Medal from Elmhurst (Ill.) College, where he has been a faculty member since 1969. Capturing the prairie’s wonder A 1958 Augustana graduate continues to draw attention to the vanishing American prairie. The University of Iowa Press has published two decades of George Olson’s drawings and watercolors in the book The Elemental Prairie: Sixty Tallgrass Plants. The book, which also features “The Running Country,” an essay by John Madsen, presents 60 images of tallgrass plants, from the familiar purple coneflower to the less common rattlesnake master. “George Olson and John Madsen are the artist laureate and poet laureate of the prairie,” says Robert McCracken Peck, senior fellow and librarian, Academy of Natural Sciences. “They capture its beauty, complexity and magic in ways that allow us to really see and feel and understand this uniquely American habitat and all that it represents.” Don Sundquist is a consultant with Sundquist Anthony LLC, Washington, D.C. 32 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 33 Alumniupdate Billie Lee is chairman of the board of directors for the Miss Iowa Scholarship Program. Judy Schadt Belan is the author of East Moline: A Centennial History 1903-2003. 1945 1959 Art Puotinen has been installed as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Elgin, Ill. David Rhea has retired from Bakersfield (Calif.) Community College. 1965 1960 Bruce Brunsvold is chief financial officer of Idea International, Anchorage, Alaska. Philip Johnson is a consulting geophysicist in New Orleans, La. 1966 1961 Nancy Seiler Bartels is senior editor at Reed Business Information, Oak Brook, Ill. (received as of June 30, 2005) 1950 Ralph Brodd served as co-chair of the second International Conference on Polymer Batteries and Fuel Cells in Las Vegas, Nev. 1964 George Olson’s novel, Sexual Divide, A Journey of Hope to Bridge the Chasm, has been published. Class Notes 1958 %$° 7*3(*/ *4-"/%4° Ray Jacobson has been inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches’ Hall of Fame. He spent 24 years in football at Bowen, Steinmetz and Lake View high schools. 1954 Viking territory Ever wonder where Augustana Vikings land after graduation? Not surprisingly, most alumni do not wander far with 52 percent claiming an Illinois address. The state of Iowa comes in at No. 2, albeit a quite distant second place at 7.6 percent. The upper Midwest, namely Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, attracts its fair share of graduates, but obviously many of our alumni also feel right at home in warmer locales. California, Florida, Texas and Arizona harbor a significant share of Vikings within their borders. (The 10 states with the most alumni are shaded in blue.) There isn’t a state without a single graduate, but it might take a little time to find fellow alumni in such places as West Virginia and New England. Too much snow, perhaps. Of the nearly 200 alumni living outside the States, the majority have settled in Sweden (29) and Canada (24). Curious about fellow graduates in your corner of the world? Call the Alumni Office at (800) 798-8100 x7202 to begin your search. source Augustana’s current database of 17,576 alumni Harriet Smith Olson has been named outstanding philanthropist by the Quad Cities chapter of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals. 1956 Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa, honored R. Keith Allen, emeritus professor of theater and speech, by naming part of the new DeWitt Theatre Arts Center the R. Keith Allen Black Box Theatre. James Johannsen is a multimedia technician at Brevard Community College, Melbourne, Fla. 1962 John Califf has been appointed development director of the ELCA Northern Illinois Synod. He recently traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, with a delegation from the Synod. Rod Joslin is chief executive officer of alseT Capital, LLC, Chicago. 1967 John Beacon is provost and vice president of academic affairs at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Charles Kurth is working for the Moline (Ill.) Gospel Temple. Karl Espelie, professor of entomology at the University of Georgia, received the outstanding advising certificate of merit from the National Academic Advising Association. 1963 Paul Holmer is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Clinton, Iowa. Carol Stoj Tempel is a learning specialist for the Charleston County (S.C.) School District. Marcia Koffron Mackenbrock’s book, Postmark Naperville, An A-Z History, has been published. Markki Nelson is a teacher for American Educare, Chicago. John Puotinen has been appointed senior vice president for advancement at the University of Dubuque (Iowa). 1968 John Bell was the 2004 recipient of the E.B. Burwell, Jr. Award of the engineering division of the Geological Society of America. He was also elected as a fellow in the Society. Raymond Kleinhaus is outreach coordinator for Carroll County Senior Services, Savanna, Ill. 1969 Larry Johnson is a technology consultant at Tetagers End, Clearwater, Fla. Craig Kuriger has written a book, Organizational Change: Case Studies in the Real World. Dan Reynolds, a sales executive for Xerox Corp., has been granted a year-long leave to assist Prevent Child Abuse Illinois with resource development. He is president of the Moline Public Library. Roger Thomas has been named the commissioner of the North Central Conference, which comprises seven institutions in four states. He also serves on the NCAA Division II Management Council. President George W. Bush appointed David Fleming as a trustee of the James Madison Foundation, Washington, D.C. 1957 Glenn Bergmark retired after almost 40 years as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Lemont, Ill. He has also served the community through the Lemont Christian Clergy Association, the Fire Protection Commission, the Fire Department (chaplain) and the public schools (volunteer music teacher). Andrew Prinz received the prestigious Founders Medal from Elmhurst (Ill.) College, where he has been a faculty member since 1969. Capturing the prairie’s wonder A 1958 Augustana graduate continues to draw attention to the vanishing American prairie. The University of Iowa Press has published two decades of George Olson’s drawings and watercolors in the book The Elemental Prairie: Sixty Tallgrass Plants. The book, which also features “The Running Country,” an essay by John Madsen, presents 60 images of tallgrass plants, from the familiar purple coneflower to the less common rattlesnake master. “George Olson and John Madsen are the artist laureate and poet laureate of the prairie,” says Robert McCracken Peck, senior fellow and librarian, Academy of Natural Sciences. “They capture its beauty, complexity and magic in ways that allow us to really see and feel and understand this uniquely American habitat and all that it represents.” Don Sundquist is a consultant with Sundquist Anthony LLC, Washington, D.C. 32 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 33 1970 1975 Janet Heick Burch is president of the Central Iowa Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. Paul Bloom is a firefighter with the City of Madison (Wis.) Fire Department. Judy Swanson Lounsberry is office administrator for Denver (Colo.) Urban Ministries. Jan Bowman ’62 �What I’d Like to Tell Dorothy’ Dr. Dorothy Parkander —first person to be appointed to the first fully endowed academic chair in the history of the college, first woman to have an academic chair named after her when her former students raised the money to do so — pause for breath — celebrated her 80th birthday last March. Parkander, a member of the Class of 1946, taught in Augustana’s English Department from 1947 to 1996. Close to 150 former students and Augustana associates sent birthday wishes to her, including Dr. Jan Bowman ’62, who even What I’d Like to Tell Dorothy wrote a poem to celebrate Parkander’s birthday. Bowman is professor emerita of English if I could at California Lutheran University. is that she made me sit up and pay attention, stretch my spine and open my mind as if I were riding on the crest of an extended simile, battered by allusions and ideas I rarely understood but determined to hang on until washed ashore by wave upon wave of words meted out like lifesaving veils and rugged rafts to a traveler who in that damp Old Main classroom began to witness a rosy-fingered dawn unlike any either she—or Homer—had ever seen. Jan Bowman ’62 “I’m honored and grateful, and very proud of Jan’s achievements,” Parkander says. A few months after Parkander’s birthday, Bowman visited campus to read from her new collection of poetry entitled Carved Like Runes. Karen Herseth Wee wrote the book’s foreword, so it was only fitting that her daughter, Rebecca Wee, former Quad Cities Poet Laureate and an assistant professor of English at Augustana, introduce Bowman. At the reading, Bowman asked the audience’s permission to read a poem not included in her newly published book. Much to the delight of those gathered at the library, Bowman read the piece she wrote for her former professor entitled “What I’d Like to Tell Dorothy.” The allusions are to The Odyssey, which Parkander taught with great love and success for many years. 1971 Roland Filippi has been named regional general counsel (western hemisphere) for BP, PLC. James Bailor is a judge for the State of Virginia. Marguerite Dybicz Folkers is assistant manager at Tweeter, Naperville, Ill. Connie Edlefson Frankenfeld serves on the Continuing Professional Development Advisory Group for the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Recently, at the request of the Library of Congress, she served on the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program Advisory Committee. Michael Weindruch is vice president of sales and marketing for The Swing of the Quad Cities baseball team. David Livingston, with pianist Gregory Theisen, released a new CD entitled Water of Life. Former Missouri Governor Bob Holden reappointed Karl Zobrist in 2004 to another four-year term on the Kansas City (Mo.) Board of Police Commissioners. 1972 Wayne Miller, senior pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Aurora, Ill., is teaching Christianity at Aurora University. 1973 David Carlson directs the International Polar Year from an office at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, England. Mark Johnson is senior chemist at Sun Chemical, Goose Creek, S.C. Judy Brana Neergaard, accupressurist and holistic practitioner, owns Creative Balance Accupressure and Holistic Massage, Maple Grove, Minn. William Szydlowski is a Vernon Sales Promotion sales executive in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area. Willie Van is a treatment specialist for Sangamon County, Springfield, Ill. Ralph Zanck is director of membership accounting at Pacific Care, Phoenix, Ariz. 1974 Denise Guyer is an editor/writer at GSP Marketing, Inc., Chicago. George Kapetanakis works in the Office of Beautification for the North Carolina State Department of Transportation, Raleigh. 34 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Dana Dufield is test lab manager for G & W Electric Co., Blue Island, Ill. Jon Zemke is a clinical massage therapist at Joliet (Ill.) Pain Care Center. 1976 Nancy Bohlander Bloom is an accountant and controller for Walgreen’s, Janesville, Wis. Karla Close serves as president of the Kentuckiana Corporate Volunteer Council. She is a volunteer development specialist with Metro United Way, Louisville, Ky. Mark Johnson is director of the Region 5 office of the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry/Centers for Disease Control. The office is based in Chicago and includes the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Bill Simpkins has been promoted to professor of hydrogeology in the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences at Iowa State University, Ames. He is a fellow in the Geological Society of America, having recently chaired the hydrogeology division, and he received a Master Teacher award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State. 1977 Rocco Carbone received the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers award for the past two years. He teaches at Kepner Middle School, Denver, Colo. Carl Hubbard retired from Lockheed Martin Corp. as senior staff system engineer and from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel. Patty Besch Huff is coordinator of special projects in the Development Office at Augustana College. Daniel Johnson is director of business development at Knowlysis, Downers Grove, Ill. Denise Hogbin Novak has been elected vice president/president-elect of the North American Serials Interest Group. She is head of acquisitions, University Libraries, at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. 1979 David Evans is president of The George Evans Corp., Moline, Ill. Michael Sturek is professor and chair of cellular and integrative physiology at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. Eunice Happ Taylor is senior developer at Nationwide Insurance, Freeport, Ill. Maryfaith Greenhalgh Weiss is national talent acquisition manager for Avon Products. 1980 Wayne Benson is executive vice president of EPL, Inc., Shoal Creek, Ala. Vicki Basiletti Dapolito is a veterinarian at Merrimac (N.H.) Veterinary Hospital. John Hildner is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Clarendon Hills, Ill. Steve Hollingsworth is director of CARE India, an international humanitarian organization. Scott Lockard is senior vice president at U.S. Bank, Madison, Wis. Gene Pavinato is vice president and chief financial officer of Murphy Brothers, East Moline, Ill. 1981 Karin Simpson Oehlwein teaches kindergarten for the Morris (Ill.) School District. Ken Paulus is president and CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Boston, Mass. Robert Rosen is coordinator of youth transition services in the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office. Diane Uddenberg Sturek is adjunct professor at Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Indianapolis. 1982 Karen Bartenfelder Allingham is a registered nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md. Sandra Sandstrom Dasso is a language class teacher at Enterprise (Fla.) Elementary School. Daniel DeWitte is an accountant for Iowa East Central Train, Bettendorf. Dan Diller is majority deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is a staff member for Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana. Ross Heath received recognition from the U.S. State Department for “contributing immeasurably to the Department’s success in meeting wide area network connectivity goals for the embassies and consulates overseas.” Mark Larson has been installed as senior pastor of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Ill. Julie Lundt Nord is bookkeeper for Limestone Christian Stores, Rockford, Ill. John Paul is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Karen Erickson Redlinger has been promoted to corporate travel accounts representative with International Travel Associates, West Des Moines, Iowa. Marty Sauer is dean of admissions and financial aid at North Central College, Naperville, Ill. Charlie Schlenker received the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio and Television News Directors Association. He is assistant news director at WGLT Public Radio. Rick Scott had a son, Colin Alexander, on November 9, 2004 (Teresita). 1985 Sarah Laros Clatanoff is a physical therapist at Rush Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago. Ramona Schabel Kitching is a certified physician assistant in the Family Practice Department at the Oswego Dreyer Medical Clinic, Oswego, Ill. Donald Helgeson has been promoted to senior national field service manager at New Edge Networks, Vancouver, Wash. Jeff Scarpinato opened Employee Benefits Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois, a division of Holmes Murphy & Associates. Robert Holmen is an animator at Global Knowledge, Richardson, Texas. Michael Wall is a professor at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Lorri Mezger Lorenzen is a human resources clerk at Time-Warner Book Group. Joy Prowell West has been named medical director of the Department of Obstetrics/ Gynecology at Roseland Community Hospital, Chicago. Thomas Losby is proprietor of Chameleon Solutions, Bryan, Ohio. Andrew Wind is senior account executive with Zurich, Nashville, Tenn. 1983 Mary Frazell married Richard Wilkie on September 18, 2004. Laura Winton received the master’s degree in performance studies at New York University. John Isbell has been promoted to full professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Gary Neal is managing member of Neal & Uhl, PLLC, Eagle, Idaho. Marilyn Jackson received the Ph.D. degree in higher education and social change from the Western Institute for Social Research, Berkeley, Calif. She works at the Western Institute as assistant to the president, and also at the Ecumenical Peace Institute. Catherine Kries Wind has been promoted to vice president commercial lending at AmSouth Bancorporation, Nashville, Tenn. Linda Prinz Hoffman had a son, Connor, in August 2004 (Greg). Linda is chief financial officer at William N. Joy, Aspen, Colo. 1984 Lois Peterson Kent had a son, Wyatt Owen Saburo, on March 30, 2005 (Craig). Thomas Mokry is the western area director of sales for Silkroad Technology. Jeanne Elliott Enright had a son, Joseph Kole, on May 18, 2004 (William; Grace, 4). Julia Allen is senior claims specialist at PIC Wisconsin, Madison. Kirk and Julie Setchell Bednar had a daughter, Emily Gwinn, on January 18, 2005 (Ryan, Kyle). Marybeth Grant Beuttler received the Ph.D. degree in movement sciences from Hahnemann Programs of Rehabilitation, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa. She has been granted tenure in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Scranton. Jean Ferguson is a reference librarian at Duke University, Durham, N.C. Jeffrey Georlett is lead grant writer for The Night Ministry, Chicago. Chris Jensen is audit manager at McDonald’s Corp., Oak Brook, Ill. Thorsten Johnson is finance assistant for the City of Coralville, Iowa. Todd Obmascik is chief operating officer/chief financial officer for Global Development and Environmental Resources. Stephen Rader is information technology manager at Landon Stark, Falls Church, Va. Lanette Skow Rasmussen had a daughter, Maren Sandra, on June 12, 2004 (Kurt; Sanna, 10, Karl, 7). Heather Krans Schlichter is human resources manager of cooking.com. Diane Holke Sweeney had a son, Daniel John, in March 2005 ( Jack; Becca, 4, Brian, 2). Mary Parker Cipolle is a diabetes nurse educator at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, Pa. Ken Hodel married Sandra Fuller on November 27, 2004. 1987 Lynne Garrett Cornett had a son, Daniel James, on April 4, 2005 (Ralph; Benjamin, 3, Joshua, 1). Jeffrey Frick has been appointed acting registrar at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, where he is associate professor and chair of chemistry. Donna Baker Hodel is assistant plant manager at Kenworth Truck Co., Renton, Ill. Barbara Wuchte has been promoted to manager-support at Veritas Software, Oak Brook, Ill. Beth Repay Swanson is assistant director of annual giving at Augustana College. Joan Frank is an optometrist with Downtown Eye Care, Indianapolis, Ind. 1978 Kathleen Maloney Stelzer married Fred Berglund on December 18, 2004. 1986 Todd Gustafson is a nature and wildlife photographer working for Nicon and National Geographic. He is also a freelance trumpet player. John Glimco has been named principal of West Aurora High School, Aurora, Ill. Steve Petersen is human resources manager at Coulter Companies, Peoria, Ill. Steve Penny has been promoted to senior vice president, chief information officer, and member of the management committee at Trustmark Insurance Co., Lake Forest, Ill. 1988 Melissa Becker married Kurt Francis on April 16, 2005. She is chief investigator for the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Jay Hatch won the Illinois girls basketball state championship as head coach at Alleman High School, Rock Island. Laura Johnson is a veterinarian with Cascade Veterinary Clinic and Mohawk Veterinary Hospital, Springfield, Ore. 35 1970 1975 Janet Heick Burch is president of the Central Iowa Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. Paul Bloom is a firefighter with the City of Madison (Wis.) Fire Department. Judy Swanson Lounsberry is office administrator for Denver (Colo.) Urban Ministries. Jan Bowman ’62 �What I’d Like to Tell Dorothy’ Dr. Dorothy Parkander —first person to be appointed to the first fully endowed academic chair in the history of the college, first woman to have an academic chair named after her when her former students raised the money to do so — pause for breath — celebrated her 80th birthday last March. Parkander, a member of the Class of 1946, taught in Augustana’s English Department from 1947 to 1996. Close to 150 former students and Augustana associates sent birthday wishes to her, including Dr. Jan Bowman ’62, who even What I’d Like to Tell Dorothy wrote a poem to celebrate Parkander’s birthday. Bowman is professor emerita of English if I could at California Lutheran University. is that she made me sit up and pay attention, stretch my spine and open my mind as if I were riding on the crest of an extended simile, battered by allusions and ideas I rarely understood but determined to hang on until washed ashore by wave upon wave of words meted out like lifesaving veils and rugged rafts to a traveler who in that damp Old Main classroom began to witness a rosy-fingered dawn unlike any either she—or Homer—had ever seen. Jan Bowman ’62 “I’m honored and grateful, and very proud of Jan’s achievements,” Parkander says. A few months after Parkander’s birthday, Bowman visited campus to read from her new collection of poetry entitled Carved Like Runes. Karen Herseth Wee wrote the book’s foreword, so it was only fitting that her daughter, Rebecca Wee, former Quad Cities Poet Laureate and an assistant professor of English at Augustana, introduce Bowman. At the reading, Bowman asked the audience’s permission to read a poem not included in her newly published book. Much to the delight of those gathered at the library, Bowman read the piece she wrote for her former professor entitled “What I’d Like to Tell Dorothy.” The allusions are to The Odyssey, which Parkander taught with great love and success for many years. 1971 Roland Filippi has been named regional general counsel (western hemisphere) for BP, PLC. James Bailor is a judge for the State of Virginia. Marguerite Dybicz Folkers is assistant manager at Tweeter, Naperville, Ill. Connie Edlefson Frankenfeld serves on the Continuing Professional Development Advisory Group for the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Recently, at the request of the Library of Congress, she served on the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program Advisory Committee. Michael Weindruch is vice president of sales and marketing for The Swing of the Quad Cities baseball team. David Livingston, with pianist Gregory Theisen, released a new CD entitled Water of Life. Former Missouri Governor Bob Holden reappointed Karl Zobrist in 2004 to another four-year term on the Kansas City (Mo.) Board of Police Commissioners. 1972 Wayne Miller, senior pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Aurora, Ill., is teaching Christianity at Aurora University. 1973 David Carlson directs the International Polar Year from an office at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, England. Mark Johnson is senior chemist at Sun Chemical, Goose Creek, S.C. Judy Brana Neergaard, accupressurist and holistic practitioner, owns Creative Balance Accupressure and Holistic Massage, Maple Grove, Minn. William Szydlowski is a Vernon Sales Promotion sales executive in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area. Willie Van is a treatment specialist for Sangamon County, Springfield, Ill. Ralph Zanck is director of membership accounting at Pacific Care, Phoenix, Ariz. 1974 Denise Guyer is an editor/writer at GSP Marketing, Inc., Chicago. George Kapetanakis works in the Office of Beautification for the North Carolina State Department of Transportation, Raleigh. 34 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Dana Dufield is test lab manager for G & W Electric Co., Blue Island, Ill. Jon Zemke is a clinical massage therapist at Joliet (Ill.) Pain Care Center. 1976 Nancy Bohlander Bloom is an accountant and controller for Walgreen’s, Janesville, Wis. Karla Close serves as president of the Kentuckiana Corporate Volunteer Council. She is a volunteer development specialist with Metro United Way, Louisville, Ky. Mark Johnson is director of the Region 5 office of the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry/Centers for Disease Control. The office is based in Chicago and includes the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Bill Simpkins has been promoted to professor of hydrogeology in the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences at Iowa State University, Ames. He is a fellow in the Geological Society of America, having recently chaired the hydrogeology division, and he received a Master Teacher award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State. 1977 Rocco Carbone received the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers award for the past two years. He teaches at Kepner Middle School, Denver, Colo. Carl Hubbard retired from Lockheed Martin Corp. as senior staff system engineer and from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel. Patty Besch Huff is coordinator of special projects in the Development Office at Augustana College. Daniel Johnson is director of business development at Knowlysis, Downers Grove, Ill. Denise Hogbin Novak has been elected vice president/president-elect of the North American Serials Interest Group. She is head of acquisitions, University Libraries, at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. 1979 David Evans is president of The George Evans Corp., Moline, Ill. Michael Sturek is professor and chair of cellular and integrative physiology at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. Eunice Happ Taylor is senior developer at Nationwide Insurance, Freeport, Ill. Maryfaith Greenhalgh Weiss is national talent acquisition manager for Avon Products. 1980 Wayne Benson is executive vice president of EPL, Inc., Shoal Creek, Ala. Vicki Basiletti Dapolito is a veterinarian at Merrimac (N.H.) Veterinary Hospital. John Hildner is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Clarendon Hills, Ill. Steve Hollingsworth is director of CARE India, an international humanitarian organization. Scott Lockard is senior vice president at U.S. Bank, Madison, Wis. Gene Pavinato is vice president and chief financial officer of Murphy Brothers, East Moline, Ill. 1981 Karin Simpson Oehlwein teaches kindergarten for the Morris (Ill.) School District. Ken Paulus is president and CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Boston, Mass. Robert Rosen is coordinator of youth transition services in the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office. Diane Uddenberg Sturek is adjunct professor at Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Indianapolis. 1982 Karen Bartenfelder Allingham is a registered nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md. Sandra Sandstrom Dasso is a language class teacher at Enterprise (Fla.) Elementary School. Daniel DeWitte is an accountant for Iowa East Central Train, Bettendorf. Dan Diller is majority deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is a staff member for Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana. Ross Heath received recognition from the U.S. State Department for “contributing immeasurably to the Department’s success in meeting wide area network connectivity goals for the embassies and consulates overseas.” Mark Larson has been installed as senior pastor of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Ill. Julie Lundt Nord is bookkeeper for Limestone Christian Stores, Rockford, Ill. John Paul is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Karen Erickson Redlinger has been promoted to corporate travel accounts representative with International Travel Associates, West Des Moines, Iowa. Marty Sauer is dean of admissions and financial aid at North Central College, Naperville, Ill. Charlie Schlenker received the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio and Television News Directors Association. He is assistant news director at WGLT Public Radio. Rick Scott had a son, Colin Alexander, on November 9, 2004 (Teresita). 1985 Sarah Laros Clatanoff is a physical therapist at Rush Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago. Ramona Schabel Kitching is a certified physician assistant in the Family Practice Department at the Oswego Dreyer Medical Clinic, Oswego, Ill. Donald Helgeson has been promoted to senior national field service manager at New Edge Networks, Vancouver, Wash. Jeff Scarpinato opened Employee Benefits Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois, a division of Holmes Murphy & Associates. Robert Holmen is an animator at Global Knowledge, Richardson, Texas. Michael Wall is a professor at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Lorri Mezger Lorenzen is a human resources clerk at Time-Warner Book Group. Joy Prowell West has been named medical director of the Department of Obstetrics/ Gynecology at Roseland Community Hospital, Chicago. Thomas Losby is proprietor of Chameleon Solutions, Bryan, Ohio. Andrew Wind is senior account executive with Zurich, Nashville, Tenn. 1983 Mary Frazell married Richard Wilkie on September 18, 2004. Laura Winton received the master’s degree in performance studies at New York University. John Isbell has been promoted to full professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Gary Neal is managing member of Neal & Uhl, PLLC, Eagle, Idaho. Marilyn Jackson received the Ph.D. degree in higher education and social change from the Western Institute for Social Research, Berkeley, Calif. She works at the Western Institute as assistant to the president, and also at the Ecumenical Peace Institute. Catherine Kries Wind has been promoted to vice president commercial lending at AmSouth Bancorporation, Nashville, Tenn. Linda Prinz Hoffman had a son, Connor, in August 2004 (Greg). Linda is chief financial officer at William N. Joy, Aspen, Colo. 1984 Lois Peterson Kent had a son, Wyatt Owen Saburo, on March 30, 2005 (Craig). Thomas Mokry is the western area director of sales for Silkroad Technology. Jeanne Elliott Enright had a son, Joseph Kole, on May 18, 2004 (William; Grace, 4). Julia Allen is senior claims specialist at PIC Wisconsin, Madison. Kirk and Julie Setchell Bednar had a daughter, Emily Gwinn, on January 18, 2005 (Ryan, Kyle). Marybeth Grant Beuttler received the Ph.D. degree in movement sciences from Hahnemann Programs of Rehabilitation, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa. She has been granted tenure in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Scranton. Jean Ferguson is a reference librarian at Duke University, Durham, N.C. Jeffrey Georlett is lead grant writer for The Night Ministry, Chicago. Chris Jensen is audit manager at McDonald’s Corp., Oak Brook, Ill. Thorsten Johnson is finance assistant for the City of Coralville, Iowa. Todd Obmascik is chief operating officer/chief financial officer for Global Development and Environmental Resources. Stephen Rader is information technology manager at Landon Stark, Falls Church, Va. Lanette Skow Rasmussen had a daughter, Maren Sandra, on June 12, 2004 (Kurt; Sanna, 10, Karl, 7). Heather Krans Schlichter is human resources manager of cooking.com. Diane Holke Sweeney had a son, Daniel John, in March 2005 ( Jack; Becca, 4, Brian, 2). Mary Parker Cipolle is a diabetes nurse educator at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, Pa. Ken Hodel married Sandra Fuller on November 27, 2004. 1987 Lynne Garrett Cornett had a son, Daniel James, on April 4, 2005 (Ralph; Benjamin, 3, Joshua, 1). Jeffrey Frick has been appointed acting registrar at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, where he is associate professor and chair of chemistry. Donna Baker Hodel is assistant plant manager at Kenworth Truck Co., Renton, Ill. Barbara Wuchte has been promoted to manager-support at Veritas Software, Oak Brook, Ill. Beth Repay Swanson is assistant director of annual giving at Augustana College. Joan Frank is an optometrist with Downtown Eye Care, Indianapolis, Ind. 1978 Kathleen Maloney Stelzer married Fred Berglund on December 18, 2004. 1986 Todd Gustafson is a nature and wildlife photographer working for Nicon and National Geographic. He is also a freelance trumpet player. John Glimco has been named principal of West Aurora High School, Aurora, Ill. Steve Petersen is human resources manager at Coulter Companies, Peoria, Ill. Steve Penny has been promoted to senior vice president, chief information officer, and member of the management committee at Trustmark Insurance Co., Lake Forest, Ill. 1988 Melissa Becker married Kurt Francis on April 16, 2005. She is chief investigator for the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Jay Hatch won the Illinois girls basketball state championship as head coach at Alleman High School, Rock Island. Laura Johnson is a veterinarian with Cascade Veterinary Clinic and Mohawk Veterinary Hospital, Springfield, Ore. 35 Brenda upsets Oprah A few months after Brenda Czajka ’75 Barnes was featured on the front page of USA Today, Forbes.com selected her as the eighth most powerful woman in the world—more powerful than Oprah Winfrey, who came in ninth. Barnes is the chief executive officer of Sara Lee, with a global workforce of 150,400 and $19.6 billion in sales in 2004. According to Forbes.com: “Barnes, 51, became chief executive earlier this year after Sara Lee announced a major restructuring that included the planned sale of product lines totaling $8.2 billion in revenue. At the same time, she is tackling corporate inefficiencies by encouraging shared purchasing between divisions and less bureaucracy. Brenda Czajka ’75 Barnes “Barnes raised eyebrows when she left PepsiCo in 1998 to spend more time with her family. Ever since Barnes got back on the �on-ramp’ into the corporate world, she has been the most oft-cited example in the business press of a woman who ditched her corporate career to spend time with her family, only to regain corporate power.” Anne Williams Sawin had a daughter, Abigail Rose, on July 19, 2004 (Michael; Emily, 6, Joshua, 3). Tiffany Lyden is the statewide extension lake specialist for the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Daniel and Juliana Mead Nielsen had a daughter, Violet Leigh, on October 19, 2004 (Louie, 1). Steven Olk is tax manager, U.S. tax compliance, for Borders Group, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich. Peter and Tiffany Thies ’94 Karas had a daughter, Olivia Grace, on December 14, 2003. Peter is sales director for Hospira. Marni Teramana is an emergency medicine physician in Dayton, Ohio. Brendan Maher has been elected partner in the law firm of Williams & McCarthy, Rockford, Ill. Gilbert Olander is new business director for icrossing, Chicago. Eric Parthen had a son, Kale Josef, on January 3, 2005 (Kelly). Tola Khin is a teacher at TeachLondon, London, U.K. Michael Ricaurte is a consultant and registered representative with the Principal Financial Group, Oak Brook, Ill. Jason Powell has opened a Sound Realty office in Chicago. Karla Loveall is an assistant director for the Program for Teaching East Asia at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Kevin ’93 and Chris Reich Waden had a daughter, Allison Grace, on March 31, 2005 (Rebecca, 3). Susan Olson Wassel had twin daughters, Caitlin and McKenna, on December 7, 2004. John ’90 and Kimberley Fulton Wendel had a son, John Fulton, on November 16, 2004 (Olivia, 1). Kevin Zielke had a son, Adam David, on February 17, 2005. Kathryn Paisley Kennedy is a behavioral specialist and a gifted education specialist for the Chapel Hill (N.C.) City Schools. Elizabeth Wight Kerscher is a substitute teacher for the Winthrop Harbor (Ill.) School District. Steve McAtee is supply chain manager/consultant at Brown Shoe, St. Louis, Mo. Louis Schlickman started a solo practice, Meridian (Idaho) Adult Medicine, PLLC. Melinda Swanson is a massage therapist in Berkeley, Calif. 1989 Christopher Butler is chief software engineer at Vista Clara, Inc., Westminster, Colo. David and Jacquelyn Relitz ’91 Knoeppel had a daughter, Margot Faith, on November 11, 2004. David is a chemical advisor at Total Petrochemicals, LaPorte, Texas. Kevin Nellis received the master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Lisa Roos Rusnak is financial manager at Pasulka & White, Chicago. 1990 Andrea Arduini is in the fire claims department at State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill. Laju Balani received the Ph.D. degree in world religions from Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Deanna Strang Grivetti had a daughter, Sarah Reagan, on June 2, 2004 ( John; Elizabeth, 2). Roxanne Watt Head received the master’s degree in information systems management from Loyola University, Chicago. 36 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Darlene Skow Johnson is associated with Advanced Dermatology, Aurora, Colo. Whitney Gagnon Kim had a daughter, Madeline Ann, on March 13, 2005 ( John; Benjamin, 3). Dawn Jensen Klasmann had a daughter, Megan, on March 16, 2004 (Erik; Sydney, 4). Dawn is a business analyst at Dave & Buster’s, Addison, Ill. David Kozbiel is an account executive at Yellow Transportation, Crest Hill, Ill. John and Kimberley Fulton ’91 Wendel had a son, John Fulton, on November 16, 2004 (Olivia, 1). Chuck Witt teaches math and physics at Lyons Township High School, LaGrange, Ill. 1991 Amit Bhatia received the M. Div. degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill. He is assistant pastor at North Shore Assembly of God, Skokie, Ill. Erik Kramme is senior equipment specialist at Advanced Medical Optics, Chicago. Jodi Urban Breen had a son, Charlie Robert, on June 6, 2004 (Rob; Jack, 2). Laura Chitwood Lee had a daughter, Samantha Aerin, on December 17, 2004 (Martin). James Garwood is senior vice president, India Country Manager, at IRMC in India. Lisa Collins McComb is director of corporate communications for Pampered Chef. Henry Hall won the Illinois girls basketball state championship as assistant coach at Alleman High School, Rock Island. David ’89 and Jacquelyn Relitz Knoeppel had a daughter, Margot Faith, on November 11, 2004. 1992 Jeffrey Benson is a physician with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Michael and Christina Anderson Bloeser had a daughter, Sonja Waverley, on August 4, 2004. Shane Brown writes a weekly humor/life column for the Dispatch/Rock Island Argus/ Leader newspapers and is co-founder and administrator of excellentonline.com. Jeff Carmichael is an attorney in the business and tax sections of Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, Indianapolis, Ind. Scott Christiansen is executive producer of First Business. Tara Roberts Nieves teaches at Richmond Berton High School, Lindenhurst, Ill. Jeffrey and Nobuko Nakata Kollmeyer had a son, Alexander, on March 15, 2005. Harrietta Kapsalis Christodoulos had a child, Zephaniah, on October 7, 2004 (Branden). Katherine Brown Rothermel had a daughter, Sarah Katherine, on September 3, 2004 (Brad). Katherine is the owner of Muscle Therapy Clinic, Durand, Ill. Steven Korsan has his own practice, City Central Physical Therapy, LaSalle, Ill. Brent Dahl had twins, Colleen Carolyn and Justin Joseph, on February 10, 2005 ( Joy; Alex, 3). Brent is controller for Brunswick Corporation’s New Technologies division, Lake Forest, Ill. Lori Larsen is reporting compliance coordinator at Palmer College, Davenport, Iowa. Eleanor Eusebio Sangalang is an occupational therapist at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Joliet, Ill. Lynn Lauer is accounting supervisor for Corn Belt Energy, Leroy, Ill. Joyce Kornacki Sawin had a son, Jake Alexander, on February 8, 2005 (Clint). Keith and Tracey Atwell ’93 Manbeck had a son, Jackson Riley, on December 28, 2004 (Kelley, 8, Tommy, 5). Jon Sjolund is editor for The IR Corp., Tokyo, Japan. Amy Sunderlage has been promoted to director of customer operations at Educational Resources, Elgin, Ill. Lisa Traut has been named president of the Chicagoland Television Educators Council. She is a television production instructor at Neuqua Valley High School, Naperville, Ill. Melissa Middleton, a teacher at Roscoe (Ill.) Middle School, is a Golden Apple Award nominee. Jeff Palzer had a son, Augustine Genovesi, on May 28, 2005 (Julia). James and Anne Marie Jezierski Patrick had a son, James Michael, on May 19, 2004. John Doonan has been named manager, motorsports team development, at Mazda North American Operations, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Lisa LaRosa Fiorenza is an associate with Plante & Moran, Elgin, Ill. Kim Fox is assistant director of the Magis Initiative at Loyola University, Chicago. Wendy Wolf Howell is a director for the Riverside (Ill.) School District. Margaret White Hulligan had a son, Mason, on March 14, 2005 (Bill; Will, 4). Steve Kerno is an analyst with Deere & Co., Moline, Ill. Jeanne Johnston Meier is a hospitalist nurse practitioner at St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay, Wis. Eric Rowell had a son, Jude Elias, on April 4, 2005 (Amy; Anna, 3). John and Laura Murray ’95 Schmidt had a daughter, Cameryn Nicole, on August 13, 2004. Jennifer Rakstad had a son, Henry Michael Wallace, on November 9, 2003 (Michael Wallace). Tania Snyder Stori had a daughter, Maya Marie, on February 6, 2005 ( James). Tania is senior underwriting attorney with Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Champaign, Ill. Chad ’95 and Tami Droegmiller Secor had triplets, Jessica Elise, Andrew John and Benjamin Peter, on February 28, 2005 (Daniel, 2). Tami is an internal medicine physician. Kathleen Elder Schipper is the high school principal for the Thomson (Ill.) Community School District. Kevin and Chris Reich ’91 Waden had a daughter, Allison Grace, on March 31, 2005 (Rebecca, 3). Cristina Vital has been promoted to district manager for the Social Security Administration, Gallup, N.M. Ander Smith is an attorney with Agnew Law Office, Rockford, Ill. Cathy Groth White had a daughter, Annie Jo, on February 22, 2005 (David; Zachary, 2). 1995 William Street had a daughter, Carley, on September 3, 2004 (Candace; India, 3). William is director of education at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Fla. Jennifer Beckmann Wong had a son, Mason, on March 10, 2005 (David; Alexandra, 8, Marissa, 7, Evan, 6). Doug Bickford is district director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Davenport, Iowa. Chad and Tami Droegmiller ’94 Secor had triplets, Jessica Elise, Andrew John and Benjamin Peter, on February 28, 2005 (Daniel, 2). Chad is an ear, nose and throat physician. Kris Yung is supervisor of occupational therapy at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, Ill. Rachel Brooks is director of Ombudsman Educational Services, Libertyville, Ill. Jason Shadle is a police officer with the Pepper Pike (Ohio) Police Department. Ryan Conway is an agent with Country Insurance & Financial Services, McHenry, Ill. Chris Simmons has been elected president for the Cascades Chapter (Alaska, Ore., and Wash.) of the Association of Commuter Transportation for a two-year term. Carolee Rabjohns is the office manager at Strategic Feedback, Woodridge, Ill. Bradd Westemeyer had twins, Owen and Charlie, on September 1, 2004. Bradd is the owner of Westy’s Ice Cream and Coffee, West Des Moines, Iowa. 1994 David and Leigh Ann Brown Westland had a daughter, Meg Catherine, on September 22, 2004. Nick Bennyhoff is a library cataloger at Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo. 1993 Jim Boyd had a son, Jack, on August 29, 2004 ( Jenny; Justin). Jim is a pharmacist with Caremark, Phoenix, Ariz. Jill Meyer Andersen owns Lonesome Cottage Furniture Co., Breezy Pointe, Minn. Christine Broadston received the M.Ed. degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston, Texas. Kelley Gerrans Budd had twins, Jacob and Corey, on March 14, 2005 (Greg). Tracey Farero Cardoso is assistant registrar at Trinity University, Washington, D.C. Yasmin Ali Conroy is lead teacher for the Children’s Home & Need Foundation, Carpentersville, Ill. Beth Crookham is casting director for Fincannon & Associates, Wilmington, N.C. Jodi Shields Dastur had a son, Owen, on April 7, 2004 (Sean; Cole, 2). Lisa Maricle Forney had a daughter, Samantha Angel, on February 11, 2005 (Clint). Ken Knoll had a son, Payton Knight, on January 6, 2005 (Debbie). Ken is in internet sales with Jack of All Games. Keith ’91 and Tracey Atwell Manbeck had a son, Jackson Riley, on December 28, 2004 (Kelley, 8, Tommy, 5). John and Jodi Ellis ’96 Christein had a son, Keith James, on February 17, 2005. John has a surgical fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Forrest and Gail Pearson Clingerman had a daughter, Sabina Grace, on February 25, 2005. Nicole Weinzierl Dawson is in human resources at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Elisa Guerrero married Andy Fliege on December 18, 2004. Amalia Parthenios Deligiannis had a son, Alexandros John, on June 24, 2004 ( John). Brad Diericx is vice president of finance for Insurance Corporation of Hanover, Itasca, Ill. Erik and Molly Williams ’97 Dubberke had a daughter, Jane Anneliese, on October 27, 2004. Vanessa Cici Fry had a son, Christopher James, on November 1, 2004 (Thomas). Vanessa has started her own law firm in Villa Park, Ill. Kimberly Nordstrom Goodley received the M.B.A. degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Christina Silvio Haggerty is marketing director at American Marketing Association, Chicago. Kathryn Harris is an environmental engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, Ore. Erika Cederberg Hamilton had a daughter, Trinity Blair, on September 1, 2004 (Charles). Erika is a program officer with the Nebraska Humanities Council, Lincoln. Peter ’95 and Tiffany Thies Karas had a daughter, Olivia Grace, on December 14, 2003. Daniel Henning is director of financial operations for Equity Residential’s Condominium Division, Aurora, Ill. Tracy Kopp married Michael Sharkey on June 19, 2004. Kristi Waters Hess had a daughter, Emma Rose, on February 26, 2005 (Steve). Jennifer Tucker McCutcheon had a son, Benjamin Wesley, on May 11, 2005 (Scott; Katie, 3). Kirk Horne is a software architect at Calamos Investments, Naperville, Ill. Necco McKinley is regional sales manager for Harcourt Achieve, Austin, Texas. Kevin Naylor is director of sales and marketing for Ignition Athletics Performance Group, Cincinnati, Ohio. Janelle Nettz married Andrew Riopell on September 5, 2004. John ’94 and Laura Murray Schmidt had a daughter, Cameryn Nicole, on August 13, 2004. Debra Toppert Smiddy had a son, Logan Dean, on September 14, 2004 (Michael). Gwendolyn Snyder is a fellow in international emergency medicine at the University of Rochester (Minn.) Medical Center. Jeffrey and Michelle Milner Stiglic had a daughter, Taylor Marie, on July 3, 2004. Daniel and Lisa Kasarsky ’01 Stirratt had a son, Jonah Matthew, on June 27, 2005. Jay Swanstrom teaches for the Downers Grove (Ill.) School District. Jeff Thomson is an organizational effectiveness analyst with Caremark, Chicago. Heather Traina is an accountant at Modern Metal Products Co., Loves Park, Ill. Elin Ulrich married Matthew Cook on September 4, 2004. Phil Vancil is store manager for Martin & Bailey, Bloomington, Ill. Andrew and Laura Menter ’97 Voress had a son, Logan Jon, on June 25, 2004. Tracy Vroman had a daughter, Ava Vroman Banaszak, on July 8, 2004 (John Banaszak). 37 Brenda upsets Oprah A few months after Brenda Czajka ’75 Barnes was featured on the front page of USA Today, Forbes.com selected her as the eighth most powerful woman in the world—more powerful than Oprah Winfrey, who came in ninth. Barnes is the chief executive officer of Sara Lee, with a global workforce of 150,400 and $19.6 billion in sales in 2004. According to Forbes.com: “Barnes, 51, became chief executive earlier this year after Sara Lee announced a major restructuring that included the planned sale of product lines totaling $8.2 billion in revenue. At the same time, she is tackling corporate inefficiencies by encouraging shared purchasing between divisions and less bureaucracy. Brenda Czajka ’75 Barnes “Barnes raised eyebrows when she left PepsiCo in 1998 to spend more time with her family. Ever since Barnes got back on the �on-ramp’ into the corporate world, she has been the most oft-cited example in the business press of a woman who ditched her corporate career to spend time with her family, only to regain corporate power.” Anne Williams Sawin had a daughter, Abigail Rose, on July 19, 2004 (Michael; Emily, 6, Joshua, 3). Tiffany Lyden is the statewide extension lake specialist for the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Daniel and Juliana Mead Nielsen had a daughter, Violet Leigh, on October 19, 2004 (Louie, 1). Steven Olk is tax manager, U.S. tax compliance, for Borders Group, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich. Peter and Tiffany Thies ’94 Karas had a daughter, Olivia Grace, on December 14, 2003. Peter is sales director for Hospira. Marni Teramana is an emergency medicine physician in Dayton, Ohio. Brendan Maher has been elected partner in the law firm of Williams & McCarthy, Rockford, Ill. Gilbert Olander is new business director for icrossing, Chicago. Eric Parthen had a son, Kale Josef, on January 3, 2005 (Kelly). Tola Khin is a teacher at TeachLondon, London, U.K. Michael Ricaurte is a consultant and registered representative with the Principal Financial Group, Oak Brook, Ill. Jason Powell has opened a Sound Realty office in Chicago. Karla Loveall is an assistant director for the Program for Teaching East Asia at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Kevin ’93 and Chris Reich Waden had a daughter, Allison Grace, on March 31, 2005 (Rebecca, 3). Susan Olson Wassel had twin daughters, Caitlin and McKenna, on December 7, 2004. John ’90 and Kimberley Fulton Wendel had a son, John Fulton, on November 16, 2004 (Olivia, 1). Kevin Zielke had a son, Adam David, on February 17, 2005. Kathryn Paisley Kennedy is a behavioral specialist and a gifted education specialist for the Chapel Hill (N.C.) City Schools. Elizabeth Wight Kerscher is a substitute teacher for the Winthrop Harbor (Ill.) School District. Steve McAtee is supply chain manager/consultant at Brown Shoe, St. Louis, Mo. Louis Schlickman started a solo practice, Meridian (Idaho) Adult Medicine, PLLC. Melinda Swanson is a massage therapist in Berkeley, Calif. 1989 Christopher Butler is chief software engineer at Vista Clara, Inc., Westminster, Colo. David and Jacquelyn Relitz ’91 Knoeppel had a daughter, Margot Faith, on November 11, 2004. David is a chemical advisor at Total Petrochemicals, LaPorte, Texas. Kevin Nellis received the master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Lisa Roos Rusnak is financial manager at Pasulka & White, Chicago. 1990 Andrea Arduini is in the fire claims department at State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill. Laju Balani received the Ph.D. degree in world religions from Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Deanna Strang Grivetti had a daughter, Sarah Reagan, on June 2, 2004 ( John; Elizabeth, 2). Roxanne Watt Head received the master’s degree in information systems management from Loyola University, Chicago. 36 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Darlene Skow Johnson is associated with Advanced Dermatology, Aurora, Colo. Whitney Gagnon Kim had a daughter, Madeline Ann, on March 13, 2005 ( John; Benjamin, 3). Dawn Jensen Klasmann had a daughter, Megan, on March 16, 2004 (Erik; Sydney, 4). Dawn is a business analyst at Dave & Buster’s, Addison, Ill. David Kozbiel is an account executive at Yellow Transportation, Crest Hill, Ill. John and Kimberley Fulton ’91 Wendel had a son, John Fulton, on November 16, 2004 (Olivia, 1). Chuck Witt teaches math and physics at Lyons Township High School, LaGrange, Ill. 1991 Amit Bhatia received the M. Div. degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill. He is assistant pastor at North Shore Assembly of God, Skokie, Ill. Erik Kramme is senior equipment specialist at Advanced Medical Optics, Chicago. Jodi Urban Breen had a son, Charlie Robert, on June 6, 2004 (Rob; Jack, 2). Laura Chitwood Lee had a daughter, Samantha Aerin, on December 17, 2004 (Martin). James Garwood is senior vice president, India Country Manager, at IRMC in India. Lisa Collins McComb is director of corporate communications for Pampered Chef. Henry Hall won the Illinois girls basketball state championship as assistant coach at Alleman High School, Rock Island. David ’89 and Jacquelyn Relitz Knoeppel had a daughter, Margot Faith, on November 11, 2004. 1992 Jeffrey Benson is a physician with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Michael and Christina Anderson Bloeser had a daughter, Sonja Waverley, on August 4, 2004. Shane Brown writes a weekly humor/life column for the Dispatch/Rock Island Argus/ Leader newspapers and is co-founder and administrator of excellentonline.com. Jeff Carmichael is an attorney in the business and tax sections of Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, Indianapolis, Ind. Scott Christiansen is executive producer of First Business. Tara Roberts Nieves teaches at Richmond Berton High School, Lindenhurst, Ill. Jeffrey and Nobuko Nakata Kollmeyer had a son, Alexander, on March 15, 2005. Harrietta Kapsalis Christodoulos had a child, Zephaniah, on October 7, 2004 (Branden). Katherine Brown Rothermel had a daughter, Sarah Katherine, on September 3, 2004 (Brad). Katherine is the owner of Muscle Therapy Clinic, Durand, Ill. Steven Korsan has his own practice, City Central Physical Therapy, LaSalle, Ill. Brent Dahl had twins, Colleen Carolyn and Justin Joseph, on February 10, 2005 ( Joy; Alex, 3). Brent is controller for Brunswick Corporation’s New Technologies division, Lake Forest, Ill. Lori Larsen is reporting compliance coordinator at Palmer College, Davenport, Iowa. Eleanor Eusebio Sangalang is an occupational therapist at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Joliet, Ill. Lynn Lauer is accounting supervisor for Corn Belt Energy, Leroy, Ill. Joyce Kornacki Sawin had a son, Jake Alexander, on February 8, 2005 (Clint). Keith and Tracey Atwell ’93 Manbeck had a son, Jackson Riley, on December 28, 2004 (Kelley, 8, Tommy, 5). Jon Sjolund is editor for The IR Corp., Tokyo, Japan. Amy Sunderlage has been promoted to director of customer operations at Educational Resources, Elgin, Ill. Lisa Traut has been named president of the Chicagoland Television Educators Council. She is a television production instructor at Neuqua Valley High School, Naperville, Ill. Melissa Middleton, a teacher at Roscoe (Ill.) Middle School, is a Golden Apple Award nominee. Jeff Palzer had a son, Augustine Genovesi, on May 28, 2005 (Julia). James and Anne Marie Jezierski Patrick had a son, James Michael, on May 19, 2004. John Doonan has been named manager, motorsports team development, at Mazda North American Operations, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Lisa LaRosa Fiorenza is an associate with Plante & Moran, Elgin, Ill. Kim Fox is assistant director of the Magis Initiative at Loyola University, Chicago. Wendy Wolf Howell is a director for the Riverside (Ill.) School District. Margaret White Hulligan had a son, Mason, on March 14, 2005 (Bill; Will, 4). Steve Kerno is an analyst with Deere & Co., Moline, Ill. Jeanne Johnston Meier is a hospitalist nurse practitioner at St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay, Wis. Eric Rowell had a son, Jude Elias, on April 4, 2005 (Amy; Anna, 3). John and Laura Murray ’95 Schmidt had a daughter, Cameryn Nicole, on August 13, 2004. Jennifer Rakstad had a son, Henry Michael Wallace, on November 9, 2003 (Michael Wallace). Tania Snyder Stori had a daughter, Maya Marie, on February 6, 2005 ( James). Tania is senior underwriting attorney with Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Champaign, Ill. Chad ’95 and Tami Droegmiller Secor had triplets, Jessica Elise, Andrew John and Benjamin Peter, on February 28, 2005 (Daniel, 2). Tami is an internal medicine physician. Kathleen Elder Schipper is the high school principal for the Thomson (Ill.) Community School District. Kevin and Chris Reich ’91 Waden had a daughter, Allison Grace, on March 31, 2005 (Rebecca, 3). Cristina Vital has been promoted to district manager for the Social Security Administration, Gallup, N.M. Ander Smith is an attorney with Agnew Law Office, Rockford, Ill. Cathy Groth White had a daughter, Annie Jo, on February 22, 2005 (David; Zachary, 2). 1995 William Street had a daughter, Carley, on September 3, 2004 (Candace; India, 3). William is director of education at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Fla. Jennifer Beckmann Wong had a son, Mason, on March 10, 2005 (David; Alexandra, 8, Marissa, 7, Evan, 6). Doug Bickford is district director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Davenport, Iowa. Chad and Tami Droegmiller ’94 Secor had triplets, Jessica Elise, Andrew John and Benjamin Peter, on February 28, 2005 (Daniel, 2). Chad is an ear, nose and throat physician. Kris Yung is supervisor of occupational therapy at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, Ill. Rachel Brooks is director of Ombudsman Educational Services, Libertyville, Ill. Jason Shadle is a police officer with the Pepper Pike (Ohio) Police Department. Ryan Conway is an agent with Country Insurance & Financial Services, McHenry, Ill. Chris Simmons has been elected president for the Cascades Chapter (Alaska, Ore., and Wash.) of the Association of Commuter Transportation for a two-year term. Carolee Rabjohns is the office manager at Strategic Feedback, Woodridge, Ill. Bradd Westemeyer had twins, Owen and Charlie, on September 1, 2004. Bradd is the owner of Westy’s Ice Cream and Coffee, West Des Moines, Iowa. 1994 David and Leigh Ann Brown Westland had a daughter, Meg Catherine, on September 22, 2004. Nick Bennyhoff is a library cataloger at Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo. 1993 Jim Boyd had a son, Jack, on August 29, 2004 ( Jenny; Justin). Jim is a pharmacist with Caremark, Phoenix, Ariz. Jill Meyer Andersen owns Lonesome Cottage Furniture Co., Breezy Pointe, Minn. Christine Broadston received the M.Ed. degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston, Texas. Kelley Gerrans Budd had twins, Jacob and Corey, on March 14, 2005 (Greg). Tracey Farero Cardoso is assistant registrar at Trinity University, Washington, D.C. Yasmin Ali Conroy is lead teacher for the Children’s Home & Need Foundation, Carpentersville, Ill. Beth Crookham is casting director for Fincannon & Associates, Wilmington, N.C. Jodi Shields Dastur had a son, Owen, on April 7, 2004 (Sean; Cole, 2). Lisa Maricle Forney had a daughter, Samantha Angel, on February 11, 2005 (Clint). Ken Knoll had a son, Payton Knight, on January 6, 2005 (Debbie). Ken is in internet sales with Jack of All Games. Keith ’91 and Tracey Atwell Manbeck had a son, Jackson Riley, on December 28, 2004 (Kelley, 8, Tommy, 5). John and Jodi Ellis ’96 Christein had a son, Keith James, on February 17, 2005. John has a surgical fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Forrest and Gail Pearson Clingerman had a daughter, Sabina Grace, on February 25, 2005. Nicole Weinzierl Dawson is in human resources at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Elisa Guerrero married Andy Fliege on December 18, 2004. Amalia Parthenios Deligiannis had a son, Alexandros John, on June 24, 2004 ( John). Brad Diericx is vice president of finance for Insurance Corporation of Hanover, Itasca, Ill. Erik and Molly Williams ’97 Dubberke had a daughter, Jane Anneliese, on October 27, 2004. Vanessa Cici Fry had a son, Christopher James, on November 1, 2004 (Thomas). Vanessa has started her own law firm in Villa Park, Ill. Kimberly Nordstrom Goodley received the M.B.A. degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Christina Silvio Haggerty is marketing director at American Marketing Association, Chicago. Kathryn Harris is an environmental engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, Ore. Erika Cederberg Hamilton had a daughter, Trinity Blair, on September 1, 2004 (Charles). Erika is a program officer with the Nebraska Humanities Council, Lincoln. Peter ’95 and Tiffany Thies Karas had a daughter, Olivia Grace, on December 14, 2003. Daniel Henning is director of financial operations for Equity Residential’s Condominium Division, Aurora, Ill. Tracy Kopp married Michael Sharkey on June 19, 2004. Kristi Waters Hess had a daughter, Emma Rose, on February 26, 2005 (Steve). Jennifer Tucker McCutcheon had a son, Benjamin Wesley, on May 11, 2005 (Scott; Katie, 3). Kirk Horne is a software architect at Calamos Investments, Naperville, Ill. Necco McKinley is regional sales manager for Harcourt Achieve, Austin, Texas. Kevin Naylor is director of sales and marketing for Ignition Athletics Performance Group, Cincinnati, Ohio. Janelle Nettz married Andrew Riopell on September 5, 2004. John ’94 and Laura Murray Schmidt had a daughter, Cameryn Nicole, on August 13, 2004. Debra Toppert Smiddy had a son, Logan Dean, on September 14, 2004 (Michael). Gwendolyn Snyder is a fellow in international emergency medicine at the University of Rochester (Minn.) Medical Center. Jeffrey and Michelle Milner Stiglic had a daughter, Taylor Marie, on July 3, 2004. Daniel and Lisa Kasarsky ’01 Stirratt had a son, Jonah Matthew, on June 27, 2005. Jay Swanstrom teaches for the Downers Grove (Ill.) School District. Jeff Thomson is an organizational effectiveness analyst with Caremark, Chicago. Heather Traina is an accountant at Modern Metal Products Co., Loves Park, Ill. Elin Ulrich married Matthew Cook on September 4, 2004. Phil Vancil is store manager for Martin & Bailey, Bloomington, Ill. Andrew and Laura Menter ’97 Voress had a son, Logan Jon, on June 25, 2004. Tracy Vroman had a daughter, Ava Vroman Banaszak, on July 8, 2004 (John Banaszak). 37 1996 Andrew and Jennifer Voigts Bartlett had a son, Maxwell Henry, on September 3, 2004 (Christopher and Clayton, 4). Brian Baseggio is quality assurance analyst at Information Resources, Inc., Chicago. Nancy Spinelli Beffa works for Safeway Services, Waukesha, Wis. Michelle Hagg Brandt is assistant director of annual giving at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. Ed Brophy is business manager for the Winfield (Ill.) School District. John ’94 and Jodi Ellis Christein had a son, Keith James, on February 17, 2005. Jacquie Sticca ’05 Dream makers (continued from page 21) Education classes at Augustana prepared her well, Sticca says, but there’s nothing like standing in front of 23 first-graders in an actual classroom. When MacDonald eventually gave her full responsibility for the class, Sticca was slightly surprised but extremely grateful. “Suddenly I have this class but it worked out fine, and it gave me a lot of confidence,” she says. “Christine and I worked well together from the first day of school so it was a fairly seamless operation.” Sticca led the first-graders through a unit on plants by herself. “I enjoy hands-on science projects so this was especially fun for me,” she says. After the students completed the unit, she videotaped them as they pointed out the parts of a plant and explained how seeds grow. “That meant a lot to me because they really got it!” She always knew teaching was time-consuming, but her Augustana friends were shocked at how much time she spent preparing lessons. Students can tell if a teacher comes in unprepared, Sticca says. “If you want to be flexible and be able to respond to students’ interests, you have to be organized,” she adds. “Christine’s classroom is so organized, any teacher can walk in and begin teaching.” Today, Sticca has 23 first-graders of her own at Fiske Elementary School in Chicago, near the University of Chicago Medical Center. Her biggest challenge so far has been creating an organized classroom that works for her and her students. Her experience at Eugene Field gave her a resource to deal with the challenges she’s encountering. Whether it’s moving students’ desks into small groups rather than rows or sending a newsletter home to parents every Monday, Sticca can build on ideas she has seen in action. “I tried to share with her the knowledge I’ve gained over the course of my career, both positive and negative,” MacDonald says. “Most of all, I wanted her to realize that all kids can learn…a good teacher has to find out how to help them.” Jera Hull Deal had a daughter, Lillianne Annaliese, on April 13, 2005 (Brad; Allie, 5, Julianna, 3). Jera is executive vice president for BR Deal Group, Peoria, Ill. Joel and Patricia Blackburn Geisz had a daughter, Darby Gabrielle, on June 9, 2005. Tom “Stymie” Skawski II married Rebecca Flowers on May 8, 2005. Susan Monahan Gervase had a son, Owen, on November 15, 2004 (Tessa, 1). Andrea Cerekwicki Szwabowski had a daughter, Ava Katharine, on July 16, 2004 ( James). She is a part-time speech pathologist with Therapy Care, Batavia, Ill. Jason Hall had a daughter, Allison, on October 8, 2004 (Carrie). Vito and Stephanie Esparza ’97 Tamburello had a son, Nicholas Samuel, on March 23, 2005. Deborah Fredericks Thoennes had a daughter, Mariska, on April 12, 2005 ( Joe). Todd ’97 and Lesley Frenell Willems had a son, Samuel Robert, on December 18, 2003 (Gabriel, 2). 1997 Scott Bashaar is regional vice president for Countrywide Full Spectrum Lending Division, Rolling Meadows, Ill. Beth Petersen Gylling had a daughter, Annika Eleanore Maria, on November 18, 2004 (Bjorn). Scott Bauersfeld was elected Rock Island Township supervisor. Shannon Vater Hackett is a laboratory technician for BD Biosciences, San Jose, Calif. Andrew Bertelsen had a son, Evan Kai, on June 1, 2005 (Erin). Andrew is planning and budget manager for Coconino County, Ariz. RuthAnne Kunke Hall is a management analyst for the City of Elgin, Ill. Peggy Imbus married David Brady on August 21, 2004. She is an audit manager with McGladrey & Pullen, Schaumburg, Ill. Megan Kennedy married John Farrell on December 18, 2004. She is director, peacebuilders initiative, for Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. Jonathan Kern is senior research scientist at Merck & Co., West Point, Pa. Dawn Heidemann Kraus had a daughter, Alyssa Evelyn, on June 10, 2004 (Brett). Jill Rietveld Krysinski had a son, Jackson Tillman, on June 26, 2004 (Scott). Jill teaches biology and chemistry at Bloom High School, Chicago Heights, Ill. Chad Lewis is vice president, private client group, at USBank, Davenport, Iowa. James Marturano is an account manager at Assurance Agency, Rolling Meadows, Ill. Jennifer Heidenreich McCabe has her own speech therapy business, Excel Pediatric Therapy Services, Eldridge, Iowa. Cherie McGuire is an account executive for Clear Channel Radio, KYLD 94.9 FM, San Francisco, Calif. Ann Robertson is a physical therapist at Athletico, Chicago. 38 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Kara Peterson Sand teaches for the Skokie (Ill.) School District. Jim Bond is a watershed planner with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Helena. Lynn Molitor Brock had a son, Campbell Joseph, on October 8, 2004 (Derek). Anne Schnack Bousselot had a daughter, Laila Anne, on October 15, 2004 (Matthew; Tyler, 2). Magda Zemaitaitis Cilella had a daughter, Helena Victoria, on September 25, 2004 (Sal). Amy Conner received the Ph.D. degree in psychology from Kansas State University, Manhattan. Katie Danek married Todd Harfst on October 2, 2004. Kirra Lemke Denten had twins, Joshua Isaak and Grace Noelle, on December 1, 2004 (Rocky). Christopher Hawkins married Renee Keith on June 11, 2005. He received the M.Div. degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. Jesse Heath received the M.B.A. degree from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. He is now a senior consultant with Central States Mortgage, Milwaukee, Wis. Julia Dyson Woessner had a son, Luke, on September 16, 2004 (Daniel). 1998 Cynthia Mader is assistant head science librarian at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. 1999 J.J. and Kristin Hegi Manning had a daughter, Lauren Alicia, on February 13, 2005. Kevin ’00 and Cynthia Heisler Behrens had a son, Kyle, on February 15, 2005. Sarah Cruse Matkovich received the doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. She is a dentist with DeWitt (Iowa) Family Dentistry. Amy Wilner Beno had a son, John Charles, on May 23, 2005 (Charles). Randy and Michelle Pierson Micheletti had a son, Tobias, on October 23, 2004. Randy is product manager, education, at Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, Pa. Amanda Benson Cooley had a son, Kade Michael, on December 6, 2004 (Phil). She teaches sophomore English at Marcus High School, Flower Mound, Texas. Calley Boultinghouse Barnes had a son, Cade Michael, on February 23, 2005 ( Jeff ). Calista Montag married George Hospodarsky in December 2004. Dimy Doresca had a daughter, Alice Eva, on April 11, 2005 (Pascale). Erin Hill is the health services coordinator at Life Line Screening, Peoria, Ill. Ryan Brosseau is a firefighter/paramedic with the Frankfort (Ill.) Fire Department. Rochelle Monteith teaches at Rock Falls (Ill.) High School. Melissa Stagg Haak had a son, August William, on May 6, 2005 (Gregory). Chris Kutsunis married Amy Borgo on July 26, 2003. Chris is a clothing buyer at Four Seasons, Geneseo, Ill. David Brown had a son, Noah Johnston, on March 23, 2005 (Katie). David teaches at Fremont (Neb.) Public Schools. Ken Neumann married Thea Needham ’99 on September 25, 2004. Christine Carlson Hanson is a chemist with Agraenergy Resources, Princeton, Ill. Erika Mark spent four months working for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Kabul, Afghanistan. She is a biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md. Kari Forest Broz is senior accountant at Synovate, Chicago. Colleen Nolan married Kevin Clark on February 26, 2005. She is a controller at Zurich American Insurance, Schaumburg, Ill. David Hanson is a biology/chemistry teacher and football coach at Warrensburg-Latham (Ill.) High School. Michelle Burke is a speech-language pathologist for the Schaumburg (Ill.) School District. Jonathan ’00 and Danielle DeCillo Pugh had twin sons, Nicholas John and Nathan Paul, on June 6, 2004. Karen Sullivan James had a son, Cameron Bantoft, on January 7, 2005 (Tony). Jodie Corey married Jeffrey Behrens ’00 on April 30, 2005. Robert and Jennifer Livingston ’00 Roth had a son, Macnamara Henry, on November 8, 2004. Rob received the M.B.A. degree from DePaul University, Chicago. Paige Satkowski Hendricks is director of education for Sylvan Learning Centers, Newport News, Va. Amy Norris Miller had a son, Andrew Mark, on September 24, 2004 (Chris). Stephanie Sottos Moen had a son, Luke Joseph, on March 28, 2005 (Tim; Lily, 5, Mark, 3). Deanna Dyer Mumford had a daughter, Maverick, on August 30, 2004 (Michael). Jaci Pinnell received the J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. Lea Anne Guettler Stoughton had a son, Andrew Edward John, on April 4, 2005 (Michael; Phoebe, 2). Marcy Sylvester is chair of the information technology department at Rockford (Ill.) Business College. Erik ’95 and Molly Williams Dubberke had a daughter, Jane Anneliese, on October 27, 2004. Anthony and Jonelle Truax ’98 Valladares had a daughter, Angelita, on May 13, 2004. Cathie Quast Gans had a son, Jackson Timothy, on August 16, 2004 (Tim). Todd and Lesley Frenell ’96 Willems had a son, Samuel Robert, on December 18, 2003 (Gabriel, 2). Jerzy Wojcik is manager, global regulatory affairs, at Baxter Healthcare. Theresa Harlan Monson teaches for the Muslim Association of Rockford (Ill.). Vito ’96 and Stephanie Esparza Tamburello had a son, Nicholas Samuel, on March 23, 2005. Doug Ferrier had a son, David Ken, on September 9, 2004 (Sanae; Daniel, 2). Saskia Walter Kewley is a business sales executive at MCI, Denver, Colo. senior analyst with Trinity Medical Center, Rock Island, Ill. Joy Crowther received the Ph.D. degree in immunology from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Ryan Hebard teaches at Knoxville (Ill.) High School. Jill Little DiMartino had a daughter, Jessica Nicole, on August 16, 2004 ( Jim). Jill Moline Eccher had a son, Braden Anthony, on March 1, 2005 (Marc). Andrew ’95 and Laura Menter Voress had a son, Logan Jon, on June 25, 2004. Laura received the master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois, Chicago. Russell VanWetzinga had a son, Russell IV, on April 19, 2004 (Julie). Amy Serandos Vitale had a daughter, Isabella, on October 11, 2004 (Andy; Gianna, 1). Ryan Voigts married Jaimy Beatty ’01 on March 4, 2005. Antoinette Tortorello Allaway received the master’s degree in education administration from North Central College, Naperville, Ill. Kim Craig and Troy Swanson were married on June 18, 2005. Kelley Johnsen Doty had a son, Trent Alan, on March 6, 2005 (Ted; Kelsey, 3). Leslie Tennis Garay teaches sixth grade at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, West Dundee, Ill. She also attends National-Louis University, Evanston, Ill. Tiffani Tremble Greenfield is a clinical research associate at Oncology Hematology Associates, Peoria, Ill. Shadia Haddad received the J.D. degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She is assistant state’s attorney in Winnebago County, Rockford, Ill. Kira Ballak Hansen teaches science for Carmel/Clay Schools, Carmel, Ind. Tiffany Meyer Hildebrand had a son, Lucas, on June 7, 2004 (Mark). Carie Baughman Kreiner had a son, Bennett Bradley, on February 16, 2005 (Brad). Amy LaChance married Ryan Carey on July 31, 2004. Amy Bushong Lee had a daughter, Reagan Elizabeth, on March 3, 2005 ( Jon). She is a Jennifer Wrzesinski Rytina had a son, Colin John, on September 15, 2004 (Charles). Jamie Sanders is Siebel CRM software trainer with AT&T Business, Boston, Mass. Brian Sebastian is territory sales manager for Mine Safety Appliances, Pittsburgh, Pa. Kimberly Smetana married James Laubinger on November 6, 2004. Holly Richardson Smith had a daughter, Haley Ann, on April 14, 2005 (Buddy). Angie Bardoel Spaulding is a speechlanguage pathologist at Hammond-Henry Hospital, Geneseo, Ill. Shelley Franzen Johnson had a son, Kevin Matthew, on May 25, 2005 (Matthew; Ashley, 2). Nadine Johns Langston had a son, Thomas James, on March 4, 2005 (Justin). Craig ’00 and Kari Sanderson Legel had a son, Jeremiah Matthew, on November 2, 2004. Craig ’00 and Shaunna Kinroth Lyon had a son, Bradley Clarke, on March 30, 2005. Karolyn Martin married Philip Tincher on September 25, 2004. Patrick McCreight is national account manager at Sage Software, Chicago. Thea Needham married Ken Neumann ’98 on September 25, 2004. Anne Wehrman Stoefen is a registered nurse at the Minneapolis (Minn.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Aaron Newman is director of student activities at Aurora (Ill.) University. He also has been appointed to the National Intramural & Recreational Sports Administration Board of Ethics. Anthony ’97 and Jonelle Truax Valladares had a daughter, Angelita, on May 13, 2004. Steven Oh is lead CRA at ICON Clinical Research, Deerfield, Ill. Megan Tappendorf Welch had a son, Grant, on March 2, 2005 (Michael; Thomas, 3). Carrie Henrickson Pauly had a son, Samiel James, on October 13, 2004 (Brian). Martha McCall Whitmer received the J.D. degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and now has her own practice in Davenport, Iowa. Nick and Kate Robertson Polyak had a son, John Nicholas, on January 24, 2005 (Chase, 2). 39 Once upon a time… Augustana graduates are always doing interesting things, but how many can say they’ve renovated a house with a member of royalty? Elizabeth Burke ’01 may be in a class by herself after teaming up with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, for a special episode of the home design show While You Were Out on The Learning Channel (TLC). At the time, Burke was a development associate with the Illinois division of SOS Children’s Villages, an international non-profit child welfare agency that builds villages for children who have been removed from their biological families due to abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. Unlike traditional foster care, SOS reunites children with their siblings to live together with a trained SOS foster parent until they reach adulthood, Burke says. SOS Children’s Villages Illinois consists of two sites, one in Lockport and a relatively new one on the south side of Chicago, which is the first urban foster care village in the world. “Fergie is SOS’s national spokesperson, and she joined forces with TLC’s While You Were Out to redecorate an entire house in Lockport Village,” Burke says. The surprise makeover was in the home of an extraordinary SOS mother who took in a group of eight siblings at Lockport Village Elizabeth Burke ’01 and Sarah Ferguson in 1995. After the two oldest siblings were grown and moved out on their own, she legally adopted the six youngest and accepted another 10-year-old child into her family. Burke says everyone was inspired by this woman’s commitment to children in need, prompting SOS-USA, TLC and Ferguson to coordinate the home makeover. This is the first time the program has taken on such an extensive renovation, as well as the first time the show has been hosted by a royal celebrity. “Fergie was so wonderful and gracious, even after working around the clock for 48 hours helping to get the house done in time,” Burke says. Nikki Cross is an account executive with Centex Home Equity, St. Louis, Mo. Mindy Thornton Olson is a logistics analyst at Deere & Co., Moline, Ill. Scott Dellefave is with JP Morgan Chase, Chicago. Brian Oster is a sales representative at Four Seasons Sunrooms, Davenport, Iowa. Keri Droegmiller received the master’s degree in clinical counseling psychology from Illinois State University, Normal. Alvin and Willona Olison ’02 Portis had a son, Kyle Olison, on May 24, 2005. Kelli Estes married Michael Kirby on June 11, 2005. She is a physical therapist at Ingham Regional Medical Center, Lansing, Mich. Nathan Fierce received the doctor of osteopathy degree from Des Moines (Iowa) University. Julia Higgins Ratchford is a speech-language pathologist for the Metron Integrated Health System, Grand Rapids, Mich. Melinda Finkral is office manager at the law firm of Polsky & Associates, Chicago. Daren Rauch had a daughter, Makenna, on September 15, 2004 (Sarah). Kyle Ford is product manager at Yahoo!, Inc., Santa Monica, Calif. Brett Roberts is a physical therapist at Riverview Hospital, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Jeromy Franks married Lindsay Brink on December 4, 2004. Michael Rodriguez married Abby Hewes ’01 on June 18, 2005. Jessica Bowling Gallo teaches English at East Peoria High School, Peoria, Ill. Robert ’98 and Jennifer Livingston Roth had a son, Macnamara Henry, on November 8, 2004. Chad Genac is senior compensation specialist at Brunswick Corp., Lake Forest, Ill. Heather Hoffman received the master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Midwestern University College of Health Science, Downers Grove, Ill. Linnae Johnson is deputy coroner for the Lake County Coroner’s Office, Waukegan, Ill. Suzanne Van Berschot Klimowski is a rehab physical therapist at Christ Hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill. Lisa Randazzo received the M.B.A. from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Carrie Crumpler Reed received the master’s degree in teaching and leadership from St. Xavier College, Chicago. Marilee Reu married Paul Tuite on April 30, 2005. Erika Roloff married Chad Johansen ’01 on March 5, 2005. Lisa Schroeder married Juan Carlos Baracaldo on January 7, 2005. Carrie DeBlecourt Simkus received the Ph.D. degree in cell and molecular biology from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. She is a research fellow at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Sarah Whitebread Stoodley is a special education teacher for the LaGrange (Ill.) Area Department of Special Education. Beth Swanson married Joshua Johnson on May 27, 2004. She is a speech-language pathologist at EBS Healthcare, Champaign, Ill. 40 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Tim and Diane Faivre Swiat had a son, Benjamin Matthew, on June 30, 2005. Tim is manager, branch examiner, at Morgan Stanley, Riverwoods, Ill. Joseph Tolnai is quality assurance specialist for ShopLocal.com, Chicago. 2000 Joslyn Albright received the M.D. degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington. She is a general surgery resident at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill. Charles Assell practices optometry at Elburn Eye Care in Elburn, Ill. Jeffrey Behrens married Jodi Corey ’98 on April 30, 2005. Kevin and Cynthia Heisler ’99 Behrens had a son, Kyle, on February 15, 2005. Jonathan and Danielle DeCillo ’98 Pugh had twin sons, Nicholas John and Nathan Paul, on June 6, 2004. Sarah Knoop is assistant market representative at May Merchandising Co., St. Louis, Mo. Tenay Maholmes Lee had a son, Jacob, on March 22, 2005 (Brittney, 5). Mia Beth Ruthey has been nominated by former students for Who’s Who Among American Teachers. She teaches English literature at United Township High School, East Moline, Ill. Marianne Siess married Charles Smith ’04 on July 24, 2003. Matthew Stone married Laura Potter on June 4, 2005. Amanda McDermott teaches in the Moline (Ill.) School District. Jon Turner had a son, Ashton, on September 21, 2004 (Jasmin; Abel, 3). Jon is director of golf and head golf professional at the Prairie Woods Golf Course, Avalon, Wis. Emily Brittain is a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Armenia. Carianne Bruner is a pharmacist at Walgreens, Chicago. Todd Mueller graduated from the Chicago Police Academy. Laila Baghdadi is a pastry cook at Vanille Patisserie, Chicago, and attends Kendall College School of Culinary Arts. Jeff Bass received the M.B.A. degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Jaimy Beatty married Ryan Voigts ’97 on March 4, 2005. Jaimy received the doctor of chiropractic degree from National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, Ill., and now practices at Advanced Physical Medicine and Therapy, Mt. Prospect, Ill. Nellie Berger is director of marketing and events at Rockford (Ill.) College. Joseph Besheer is an investment representative at Fidelity Investment, Northfield, Ill. Anna Bjorklund received the doctor of occupational therapy degree from Creighton University and is now an occupational therapist at ProCare 3, Inc., Omaha, Neb. Elizabeth Bremner received the M.A.T. degree from Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. Heather Miller Tritt had a son, Jackson Matthew, on June 4, 2005 (Adam). Melissa Muehler is premium services and banquets manager for The Swing of the Quad Cities. Dan Asleson received the M.B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame (Ind.) and is now development director for the Illowa Council, Boy Scouts of America. Todd and Carrie Wilson Swanson had a son, Andrew Todd, on March 10, 2005. Carrie is a physical therapist at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg, Ill. David Martinez is a resident physician at David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, Calif. Noelle Midlock married Christopher Harris on December 18, 2004. Jessica Argyle is program supervisor at The Arc of Rock Island. Matt Boland is a loan services representative at Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union, West Lafayette, Ind. Craig and Shaunna Kinroth ’99 Lyon had a son, Bradley Clarke, on March 30, 2005. Misty Johnson Meinig is a human resources specialist at Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp., Orlando, Fla. Jamie Allmendinger has been promoted to market director at the American Diabetes Association, Northern Illinois region, Chicago. Kami Condon Strunk had a daughter, Taryn Kay, on October 18, 2004 (Derek). Sania Tong married Gabriel Argao on August 7, 2004. She received the master’s degree in public health sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago. She is now an environmental scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C. Craig and Kari Sanderson ’99 Legel had a son, Jeremiah Matthew, on November 2, 2004. 2001 Brandy Weis married Mark Frederiksen on December 11, 2004. She is a substance abuse counselor at Crossings Recovery Centers, Patchogue, N.Y. Ben Whitebread works at the Toledo (Ohio) Zoo as a large mammal zookeeper. Sara Carton is an accountant at Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island. Katherine Connolly is director of Trinity Services’ Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program in Tinley Park, Ill. Moses and Twanna Rayborn Edwards had a daughter, Alessandra Janae, on April 1, 2005. Moses received the J.D. degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law. Eric Gjerde teaches for the Moorhead (Minn.) School District. Brett Griffin is assistant general manager at Menards, Moline, Ill. Andrew and Sarah Eckel ’02 Harrison had a daughter, Elizabeth Grace, on March 18, 2005. Abby Hewes married Michael Rodriguez ’00 on June 18, 2005. Nils Holgersson is human resources generalist at MoSys, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif. Laura Requet Hoss received the master’s degree in accountancy from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. She is a staff accountant at Doyle and Keenan, Davenport. Chad Johansen married Erika Roloff ’99 on March 5, 2005. Beth Johnson is a geological outreach coordinator for the Family Museum of Arts and Sciences, Bettendorf, Iowa. She is also a graduate student and teaching assistant at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Victoria Johnson received the master’s degree in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University. She is employed by Fitzgibbon Hospital, Marshall, Mo., as an occupational therapist. Courtney Sherbeyn Jones had a daughter, Olivia, on February 24, 2005 (Matthew; Abigail, 2). Courtney was promoted to senior business analyst at KONE, Inc., Moline, Ill. John Klimowski is an environmental consultant for EBI, Evergreen Park, Ill. Katie Kroener teaches for Marquardt School District, Glendale Heights, Ill. Mike Krzyzaniak received the M.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is now a general surgery resident with the U.S. Navy, San Diego, Calif. Janet Lucchesi Kurinsky is a vocal music teacher for the Naperville (Ill.) School District. Troy Larson married Julie Krack on September 4, 2004. He received the master’s degree in biology from Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., and now attends Illinois State University, Normal. Janel Matousek married Jonathan Sullivan ’04 on February 5, 2005. CJ Glawe received the M.D. degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Medicine and is now a psychiatry resident at New York University Medical Center. Michele Martin McKenzie received the master’s degree in teaching from Aurora (Ill.) University. She teaches fourth grade at Lakewood Creek Elementary School, Montgomery, Ill. Lindsay Grant married Marc O’Neal on December 4, 2004. She received the doctor of physical therapy degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., and is a physical therapist in Bourbonnais, Ill. April Moore received the M.D. degree from Southern Illinois University, Springfield. She is now a family practice resident at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford. Anders Carlson ’00 finally hangs up the pair of boots he bought in Anchorage, Alaska, while on a field trip with Dr. Jeff Strasser. Anders Carlson, Iceman Current students might take it as a word of caution: be careful what you pick as a topic for that next paper. It just might turn into a career. When Anders Carlson ’00 had to write a paper for Dr. Jeff Strasser’s geomorphology course, he thought he’d found a rather obscure subject in the retreat of the Canadian ice sheet. Little did he know. During graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Carlson found that little was, in fact, all anyone knew about the disappearance of the Laurentide Ice Sheet from northern Canada. Now a doctoral student at Oregon State University, Carlson received the J. Hoover Mackin Award from the Geological Society of America (G.S.A.) to support his research into the long-gone glacier. “We’ve sort of assumed that it was gone by about 7,000 years ago, but no one really knows when it disappeared,” Carlson says. Or, for that matter, exactly why it disappeared. And finding those answers might help scientists better understand not just the past, but the future as well. “There are two remaining ice sheets on a scale of the Laurentide—the one covering Greenland and the one covering Antarctica. If Greenland’s were to melt, you’d see a sixmeter rise in global sea level. If Antarctica’s disappears, we’re talking about a 60- to 70meter rise,” he says. “So long, New York.” Not that such a cataclysm is imminent, but Carlson’s work in describing the retreat of the Canadian ice sheet may help us understand recent increases in sea level—whether they’re related to melt in Greenland or Antarctica, and whether they’re due to anthropogenic causes or natural processes. According to Strasser, this represents a massive project for a Ph.D. thesis. “But Anders has the self-motivation and determination to accomplish it. When he sees a problem, he just attacks it,” Strasser says. “He’s well-deserving of the Mackin Award because of those qualities.” —Kai Swanson ’86 Editor’s Note As this issue goes to press, Carlson reports that it appears the Laurentide Ice Sheet disappeared approximately 6,800 years ago. “The disappearance was rapid, and the ice sheet wasted in less than 700 years,” he says. “This shows how sensitive ice sheets are to a warming climate and suggests that the Greenland Ice Sheet may be similarly sensitive to global warming…not good for the future.” 41 Once upon a time… Augustana graduates are always doing interesting things, but how many can say they’ve renovated a house with a member of royalty? Elizabeth Burke ’01 may be in a class by herself after teaming up with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, for a special episode of the home design show While You Were Out on The Learning Channel (TLC). At the time, Burke was a development associate with the Illinois division of SOS Children’s Villages, an international non-profit child welfare agency that builds villages for children who have been removed from their biological families due to abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. Unlike traditional foster care, SOS reunites children with their siblings to live together with a trained SOS foster parent until they reach adulthood, Burke says. SOS Children’s Villages Illinois consists of two sites, one in Lockport and a relatively new one on the south side of Chicago, which is the first urban foster care village in the world. “Fergie is SOS’s national spokesperson, and she joined forces with TLC’s While You Were Out to redecorate an entire house in Lockport Village,” Burke says. The surprise makeover was in the home of an extraordinary SOS mother who took in a group of eight siblings at Lockport Village Elizabeth Burke ’01 and Sarah Ferguson in 1995. After the two oldest siblings were grown and moved out on their own, she legally adopted the six youngest and accepted another 10-year-old child into her family. Burke says everyone was inspired by this woman’s commitment to children in need, prompting SOS-USA, TLC and Ferguson to coordinate the home makeover. This is the first time the program has taken on such an extensive renovation, as well as the first time the show has been hosted by a royal celebrity. “Fergie was so wonderful and gracious, even after working around the clock for 48 hours helping to get the house done in time,” Burke says. Nikki Cross is an account executive with Centex Home Equity, St. Louis, Mo. Mindy Thornton Olson is a logistics analyst at Deere & Co., Moline, Ill. Scott Dellefave is with JP Morgan Chase, Chicago. Brian Oster is a sales representative at Four Seasons Sunrooms, Davenport, Iowa. Keri Droegmiller received the master’s degree in clinical counseling psychology from Illinois State University, Normal. Alvin and Willona Olison ’02 Portis had a son, Kyle Olison, on May 24, 2005. Kelli Estes married Michael Kirby on June 11, 2005. She is a physical therapist at Ingham Regional Medical Center, Lansing, Mich. Nathan Fierce received the doctor of osteopathy degree from Des Moines (Iowa) University. Julia Higgins Ratchford is a speech-language pathologist for the Metron Integrated Health System, Grand Rapids, Mich. Melinda Finkral is office manager at the law firm of Polsky & Associates, Chicago. Daren Rauch had a daughter, Makenna, on September 15, 2004 (Sarah). Kyle Ford is product manager at Yahoo!, Inc., Santa Monica, Calif. Brett Roberts is a physical therapist at Riverview Hospital, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Jeromy Franks married Lindsay Brink on December 4, 2004. Michael Rodriguez married Abby Hewes ’01 on June 18, 2005. Jessica Bowling Gallo teaches English at East Peoria High School, Peoria, Ill. Robert ’98 and Jennifer Livingston Roth had a son, Macnamara Henry, on November 8, 2004. Chad Genac is senior compensation specialist at Brunswick Corp., Lake Forest, Ill. Heather Hoffman received the master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Midwestern University College of Health Science, Downers Grove, Ill. Linnae Johnson is deputy coroner for the Lake County Coroner’s Office, Waukegan, Ill. Suzanne Van Berschot Klimowski is a rehab physical therapist at Christ Hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill. Lisa Randazzo received the M.B.A. from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Carrie Crumpler Reed received the master’s degree in teaching and leadership from St. Xavier College, Chicago. Marilee Reu married Paul Tuite on April 30, 2005. Erika Roloff married Chad Johansen ’01 on March 5, 2005. Lisa Schroeder married Juan Carlos Baracaldo on January 7, 2005. Carrie DeBlecourt Simkus received the Ph.D. degree in cell and molecular biology from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. She is a research fellow at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Sarah Whitebread Stoodley is a special education teacher for the LaGrange (Ill.) Area Department of Special Education. Beth Swanson married Joshua Johnson on May 27, 2004. She is a speech-language pathologist at EBS Healthcare, Champaign, Ill. 40 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Tim and Diane Faivre Swiat had a son, Benjamin Matthew, on June 30, 2005. Tim is manager, branch examiner, at Morgan Stanley, Riverwoods, Ill. Joseph Tolnai is quality assurance specialist for ShopLocal.com, Chicago. 2000 Joslyn Albright received the M.D. degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington. She is a general surgery resident at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill. Charles Assell practices optometry at Elburn Eye Care in Elburn, Ill. Jeffrey Behrens married Jodi Corey ’98 on April 30, 2005. Kevin and Cynthia Heisler ’99 Behrens had a son, Kyle, on February 15, 2005. Jonathan and Danielle DeCillo ’98 Pugh had twin sons, Nicholas John and Nathan Paul, on June 6, 2004. Sarah Knoop is assistant market representative at May Merchandising Co., St. Louis, Mo. Tenay Maholmes Lee had a son, Jacob, on March 22, 2005 (Brittney, 5). Mia Beth Ruthey has been nominated by former students for Who’s Who Among American Teachers. She teaches English literature at United Township High School, East Moline, Ill. Marianne Siess married Charles Smith ’04 on July 24, 2003. Matthew Stone married Laura Potter on June 4, 2005. Amanda McDermott teaches in the Moline (Ill.) School District. Jon Turner had a son, Ashton, on September 21, 2004 (Jasmin; Abel, 3). Jon is director of golf and head golf professional at the Prairie Woods Golf Course, Avalon, Wis. Emily Brittain is a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Armenia. Carianne Bruner is a pharmacist at Walgreens, Chicago. Todd Mueller graduated from the Chicago Police Academy. Laila Baghdadi is a pastry cook at Vanille Patisserie, Chicago, and attends Kendall College School of Culinary Arts. Jeff Bass received the M.B.A. degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Jaimy Beatty married Ryan Voigts ’97 on March 4, 2005. Jaimy received the doctor of chiropractic degree from National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, Ill., and now practices at Advanced Physical Medicine and Therapy, Mt. Prospect, Ill. Nellie Berger is director of marketing and events at Rockford (Ill.) College. Joseph Besheer is an investment representative at Fidelity Investment, Northfield, Ill. Anna Bjorklund received the doctor of occupational therapy degree from Creighton University and is now an occupational therapist at ProCare 3, Inc., Omaha, Neb. Elizabeth Bremner received the M.A.T. degree from Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. Heather Miller Tritt had a son, Jackson Matthew, on June 4, 2005 (Adam). Melissa Muehler is premium services and banquets manager for The Swing of the Quad Cities. Dan Asleson received the M.B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame (Ind.) and is now development director for the Illowa Council, Boy Scouts of America. Todd and Carrie Wilson Swanson had a son, Andrew Todd, on March 10, 2005. Carrie is a physical therapist at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg, Ill. David Martinez is a resident physician at David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, Calif. Noelle Midlock married Christopher Harris on December 18, 2004. Jessica Argyle is program supervisor at The Arc of Rock Island. Matt Boland is a loan services representative at Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union, West Lafayette, Ind. Craig and Shaunna Kinroth ’99 Lyon had a son, Bradley Clarke, on March 30, 2005. Misty Johnson Meinig is a human resources specialist at Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp., Orlando, Fla. Jamie Allmendinger has been promoted to market director at the American Diabetes Association, Northern Illinois region, Chicago. Kami Condon Strunk had a daughter, Taryn Kay, on October 18, 2004 (Derek). Sania Tong married Gabriel Argao on August 7, 2004. She received the master’s degree in public health sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago. She is now an environmental scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C. Craig and Kari Sanderson ’99 Legel had a son, Jeremiah Matthew, on November 2, 2004. 2001 Brandy Weis married Mark Frederiksen on December 11, 2004. She is a substance abuse counselor at Crossings Recovery Centers, Patchogue, N.Y. Ben Whitebread works at the Toledo (Ohio) Zoo as a large mammal zookeeper. Sara Carton is an accountant at Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island. Katherine Connolly is director of Trinity Services’ Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program in Tinley Park, Ill. Moses and Twanna Rayborn Edwards had a daughter, Alessandra Janae, on April 1, 2005. Moses received the J.D. degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law. Eric Gjerde teaches for the Moorhead (Minn.) School District. Brett Griffin is assistant general manager at Menards, Moline, Ill. Andrew and Sarah Eckel ’02 Harrison had a daughter, Elizabeth Grace, on March 18, 2005. Abby Hewes married Michael Rodriguez ’00 on June 18, 2005. Nils Holgersson is human resources generalist at MoSys, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif. Laura Requet Hoss received the master’s degree in accountancy from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. She is a staff accountant at Doyle and Keenan, Davenport. Chad Johansen married Erika Roloff ’99 on March 5, 2005. Beth Johnson is a geological outreach coordinator for the Family Museum of Arts and Sciences, Bettendorf, Iowa. She is also a graduate student and teaching assistant at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Victoria Johnson received the master’s degree in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University. She is employed by Fitzgibbon Hospital, Marshall, Mo., as an occupational therapist. Courtney Sherbeyn Jones had a daughter, Olivia, on February 24, 2005 (Matthew; Abigail, 2). Courtney was promoted to senior business analyst at KONE, Inc., Moline, Ill. John Klimowski is an environmental consultant for EBI, Evergreen Park, Ill. Katie Kroener teaches for Marquardt School District, Glendale Heights, Ill. Mike Krzyzaniak received the M.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is now a general surgery resident with the U.S. Navy, San Diego, Calif. Janet Lucchesi Kurinsky is a vocal music teacher for the Naperville (Ill.) School District. Troy Larson married Julie Krack on September 4, 2004. He received the master’s degree in biology from Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., and now attends Illinois State University, Normal. Janel Matousek married Jonathan Sullivan ’04 on February 5, 2005. CJ Glawe received the M.D. degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Medicine and is now a psychiatry resident at New York University Medical Center. Michele Martin McKenzie received the master’s degree in teaching from Aurora (Ill.) University. She teaches fourth grade at Lakewood Creek Elementary School, Montgomery, Ill. Lindsay Grant married Marc O’Neal on December 4, 2004. She received the doctor of physical therapy degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., and is a physical therapist in Bourbonnais, Ill. April Moore received the M.D. degree from Southern Illinois University, Springfield. She is now a family practice resident at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford. Anders Carlson ’00 finally hangs up the pair of boots he bought in Anchorage, Alaska, while on a field trip with Dr. Jeff Strasser. Anders Carlson, Iceman Current students might take it as a word of caution: be careful what you pick as a topic for that next paper. It just might turn into a career. When Anders Carlson ’00 had to write a paper for Dr. Jeff Strasser’s geomorphology course, he thought he’d found a rather obscure subject in the retreat of the Canadian ice sheet. Little did he know. During graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Carlson found that little was, in fact, all anyone knew about the disappearance of the Laurentide Ice Sheet from northern Canada. Now a doctoral student at Oregon State University, Carlson received the J. Hoover Mackin Award from the Geological Society of America (G.S.A.) to support his research into the long-gone glacier. “We’ve sort of assumed that it was gone by about 7,000 years ago, but no one really knows when it disappeared,” Carlson says. Or, for that matter, exactly why it disappeared. And finding those answers might help scientists better understand not just the past, but the future as well. “There are two remaining ice sheets on a scale of the Laurentide—the one covering Greenland and the one covering Antarctica. If Greenland’s were to melt, you’d see a sixmeter rise in global sea level. If Antarctica’s disappears, we’re talking about a 60- to 70meter rise,” he says. “So long, New York.” Not that such a cataclysm is imminent, but Carlson’s work in describing the retreat of the Canadian ice sheet may help us understand recent increases in sea level—whether they’re related to melt in Greenland or Antarctica, and whether they’re due to anthropogenic causes or natural processes. According to Strasser, this represents a massive project for a Ph.D. thesis. “But Anders has the self-motivation and determination to accomplish it. When he sees a problem, he just attacks it,” Strasser says. “He’s well-deserving of the Mackin Award because of those qualities.” —Kai Swanson ’86 Editor’s Note As this issue goes to press, Carlson reports that it appears the Laurentide Ice Sheet disappeared approximately 6,800 years ago. “The disappearance was rapid, and the ice sheet wasted in less than 700 years,” he says. “This shows how sensitive ice sheets are to a warming climate and suggests that the Greenland Ice Sheet may be similarly sensitive to global warming…not good for the future.” 41 Cindy Chinlund Mueller received the J.D. degree from John Marshall Law School, Chicago. Elizabeth Newell received the M.D. degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and is now a pediatrics resident at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Kathleen Nolan received the J.D. degree from Valparaiso (Ind.) University and is now an attorney with Thomas Burdelik & Associates. Heather Pelkey received the D.V.M. degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She is now a veterinarian at the Animal Clinic of Romeoville (Ill.). Andrea Piasecki is a physical therapist with Rock Valley Physical Therapy, Moline, Ill. Megan Blair Randazzo received the master’s degree in elementary education from Roosevelt University, Chicago. Tonya Rayborn is a supervisor with State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill. Danielle Ricci received the master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. She has been recognized in the 2005 edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Amy Rice received the master’s degree in medical genetics from Brunel University, London. She works at the Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Salisbury, United Kingdom. Brian Rust is a police officer in the City of Evanston, Ill. Kristen Schipper received the J.D. degree from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. Amy Slawter received the M.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is now an emergency medicine resident at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Justin Smith is an environmental scientist with Seneca Environmental Services, Bettendorf, Iowa. Chad Snook is a firefighter/paramedic with the City of Moline, Ill. Suzanne Steele is customer service manager for order processing at Deere and Company. Daniel ’95 and Lisa Kasarsky Stirratt had a son, Jonah Matthew, on June 27, 2005. Lisa teaches biology at Rock Island High School. Deanna Swanson is human resources assistant at Driehaus Capital Management, Chicago. Heather Tabbert is a project manager with the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago. 42 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Closing the gap Ryan Tillman received the M.B.A. degree from Mississippi State University. He is a management associate at Trustmark National Bank, Jackson, Miss. Los Angeles Academy Middle School in South L.A. is a world away from the farm Justin Betzelberger ’03 grew up on near Pekin, Illinois. But every day he goes to work as part of the Teach for America Corps, he does so with the knowledge he’s doing his part to address a problem with potentially critical consequences for our society. Ethan Tritt teaches math and coaches football for the Spring Branch School District, Houston, Texas. “The mission of Teach for America is to close the educational achievement gap in the U.S.,” Betzelberger says. “There’s a passion among Corps members to give their students the opportunity to succeed.” Katy Boultinghouse Wehr had a daughter, Riley MacKenzie, on May 19, 2005 (David). Among the students with whom he works, 11.4% are proficient at grade level in English, while only 7.4% are at grade level in math. Nationally, Teach for America reports that nine-year-olds in low-income communities are three grade levels behind on average, and are seven times less likely to graduate from college than those in higher income areas. Andrea Weidner received the D.V.M. degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She is now a large animal veterinarian at the Kiel (Wis.) Veterinary Clinic. Teach for America members receive a salary, plus an AmeriCorps education award. Betzelberger is using that to help complete a master’s degree at Loyola-Marymount. Teach for America also has a “Sponsor a Teacher” program, in which major contributors are paired with Corps members. Betzelberger not only had the chance to meet his patron, but also was his guest at a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game. Stephanie Wessel married Adam Reyburn on May 28, 2005. She received the M.D. degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine and is now a family practice resident at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. A biology major at Augustana, Betzelberger also minored in Spanish. That came in handy during his last round of parent conferences, 40 out of 46 of which he conducted in Spanish. When he completes his two-year commitment, Betzelberger says he’d like to continue working with Teach for America, possibly as a recruiter in addition to teaching. Actually, that process has already started. On September 22, he was on campus as part of an alumni panel at the college’s weekly convocation. Betzelberger talked about how his Augustana experience helped him discover his true vocation. Jennifer Wilkes is a mortgage broker at The Mortgage Department, Inc., Chicago. Stevie Yuhas is an account executive at Colangelo Synergy Marketing, Chicago. 2002 Darcy Ahrens received the master’s degree in communication disorders from Bowling Green (Ohio) State University. Leah Angelo is a logistician at the Rock Island Arsenal. Kelly Bagsby and Michael Nelson were married in April 2004. Kelly is a registered nurse on the leukemia unit at Johns Hopkins Cancer Center, Baltimore, Md. Jessie Bazzell married Den Diduch on December 31, 2004. She teaches language arts at Forrestville Valley Middle School, Forreston, Ill. Laura Bromann is an equity research assistant at William Blair & Co., Chicago. Brad Carlock is general manager of Carlock & Associates, Cape Coral, Fla. Sean Cavanaugh is director of governmental affairs for the Quad City Area Realtor Assoc., Moline, and the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Area Assoc. of Realtors. Elizabeth Choporis received the M.Ed. degree in higher education, student affairs administration from Loyola University, Chicago. She is now assistant director for student activities at Elmhurst (Ill.) College. Erik Christian had a daughter, Madelyn Therese, on February 14, 2004 (Amanda). Elizabeth Anderson Christiansen received the master’s degree in occupational therapy from Midwestern University. She is now an occupational therapy aide at Capital Medical Center Hand Therapy Clinic, Olympia, Wash. Laura Davis is drama director and teacher for the Oak Grove (Mo.) School District. Patrick Hunt is a loan closer in the small business association division at Banco Popular, Rosemont, Ill. Ginger Joseph Seidensticker has been promoted to manager, corporate sales and service, for the Colorado Crush football team. Shameka Jones is an office assistant at Benedictine University, Lisle, Ill. Erin Slattery is inventory management specialist at the Rock Island Arsenal. Jessica Ertmer married David Barker on September 18, 2004. She is an international buyer at WMH Tool Group, Elgin, Ill. Julie Lewis is a legislative assistant at the American College of Surgeons, Washington, D.C. Anne Altheide Sloniker is a graphic designer at American Marketing & Publishing, DeKalb, Ill. Lisa Freberg is with Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Phoenix, Ariz. Gretchen Maher is a senior internal auditor at Baker & McKenzie, Chicago. Derek Strom married Kimberly Baker ’03 on August 7, 2004. Emily Garbisch received the doctor of physical therapy degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., and now is a physical therapist at Athleticoes, Chicago. Darcy Mason is a credit analyst at LaSalle Bank, Chicago. Jarmanese Torrance is a copywriter for Media Alliance, Oak Brook, Ill. Jessica DeMay is a jeune fille au pair for the Aymerich Family in Saint Germain en Laye, France. Kashaundra Gaston received the J.D. degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb. Katie Hancock teaches science at Wheaton (Ill.) North High School. Andrew ’01 and Sarah Eckel Harrison had a daughter, Elizabeth Grace, on March 18, 2005. Luke Hawkins married Amy Linden on October 23, 2004. He is a compliance auditor at Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island. Brian Holba married Megan Carlson ’04 on May 28, 2005. Valerie Hughes married Brock McConchie on September 6, 2003. She is a secretary at Blackhawk State Bank, Milan, Ill. Cara Hummel married Scott Nelson ’03 on March 19, 2005. Caroline Meinike is a social worker for Lutheran Social Services. James Triveri is an engineer at Prince, Carol Stream, Ill. Kristina Meyers married Kevin Pitz on June 28, 2003. She is a recreation therapist at Eastern State Hospital, Lexington, Ky. Jennifer Weber is an occupational therapist with Arlington Pediatric Therapy, Arlington Heights, Ill. Adam Michels is a speech-language pathologist for the Oswego (Ill.) School District. Lisa Wisniewski is a teacher for the Woodridge (Ill.) School District. Vicki Monti received the doctor of physical therapy degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. Karen Yackley is a deputy clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, Chicago. Andrea Muschetto married Michael Purcell on March 26, 2005. She is a guidance counselor at West Aurora (Ill.) High School. Mehgan Blair O’Hearn is a hydrologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Alvin ’00 and Willona Olison Portis had a son, Kyle Olison, on May 24, 2005. Patrick Rigg is a graduate student at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. 2003 Brad Amundsen is a credit analyst at LaSalle Bank, Tampa, Fla. Kyle Anderson married Lindsey Resch on October 9, 2004. Kimberly Baker married Derek Strom ’02 on August 7, 2004. Brad Bartels is with Clearbrook, Arlington Heights, Ill. Jason Busch is a reporter with The Monroe Times, Monroe, Wis. Sarah Cernekee is a patrol officer with the Yorkville (Ill.) Police Department. John Childers attends National–Louis University, Evanston, Ill. Lindsay Clarke and Ryan Koenig were married on October 16, 2004. Lindsay is marketing director of New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Ryan is a business banker for Wells Fargo Bank, also in Cedar Rapids. Sarah Cullen is an information systems assistant at Baruch College, New York, N.Y. Brenda Curry married John Macke on June 18, 2005. Benjamin Doetch married Melissa Liebenstein on February 18, 2005. Sarah Dorner is a production operator at BioMerieux, Lombard, Ill. Carrie Engstrom teaches high school English in South Elgin, Ill. Mikhail Giza had a daughter, Norah Rhiannon, on April 27, 2005 (Elizabeth). Kristin Hanekamp teaches physics at Warren Township High School, Gurnee, Ill. Matthew Hawkins received the master’s degree in sports management from Illinois State University, Normal. Brett Herbeck received the master’s degree in speech pathology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Kate Holcomb married Ed Balogh, Jr., on December 18, 2004. She received the master’s degree in teaching from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She now teaches English at the Islamic Foundation School, Villa Park, Ill. Kate Hooper received the master’s degree in speech pathology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Meghan Howell is senior support technician at Techteam Global, Davenport, Iowa. Matthew Jennings is head men’s volleyball coach at St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Jessica Kopp Johanningmeier is a quantitative reasoning consultant at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa. Brijan Knapp is a mental health clinician at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Alison Krueger teaches at the New England Center for Children, Southborough, Mass. Amy Laytham is an elementary special education teacher for the Park Hill School District, Kansas City, Mo. Marinne Lorch Leonard received the master’s degree in English from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. She is an instructor at Lewis & Clark Community College, Godfrey, Ill. Kristen Lewandowski received the master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She is a social work case manager at Elmhurst (Ill.) Memorial Hospital. Julie Lucchesi is a speech-language pathologist for the Wilmette (Ill.) Public School District. Alexander Maidak and Sarah O’Hern had a daughter, Madelyn, on October 31, 2004. Nicole McGowan is a case manager at Bethany for Children & Families, Moline, Ill. Thomas Merritt is a conductor for the B&SF Railway, Needles, Calif. Melissa “Moe” Mlot is in customer relations/ sales at Sterling Lumber Co., Blue Island, Ill. Jackie Moon is an account executive at Silver Jeans, Chicago. Scott Nelson married Cara Hummel ’02 on March 19, 2005. Sheila Nguyen received the master’s degree in public health from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. Lori Papineau is head women’s volleyball coach at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis. Michael Patterson teaches business education at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Flossmoor, Ill. Jaclyn Pfeiffer received the master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She is an urban planner with DMJM+Harris Planning, Phoenix, Ariz. Aubrey Purdy is a research associate at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. 43 Cindy Chinlund Mueller received the J.D. degree from John Marshall Law School, Chicago. Elizabeth Newell received the M.D. degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and is now a pediatrics resident at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Kathleen Nolan received the J.D. degree from Valparaiso (Ind.) University and is now an attorney with Thomas Burdelik & Associates. Heather Pelkey received the D.V.M. degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She is now a veterinarian at the Animal Clinic of Romeoville (Ill.). Andrea Piasecki is a physical therapist with Rock Valley Physical Therapy, Moline, Ill. Megan Blair Randazzo received the master’s degree in elementary education from Roosevelt University, Chicago. Tonya Rayborn is a supervisor with State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill. Danielle Ricci received the master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. She has been recognized in the 2005 edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Amy Rice received the master’s degree in medical genetics from Brunel University, London. She works at the Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Salisbury, United Kingdom. Brian Rust is a police officer in the City of Evanston, Ill. Kristen Schipper received the J.D. degree from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. Amy Slawter received the M.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is now an emergency medicine resident at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Justin Smith is an environmental scientist with Seneca Environmental Services, Bettendorf, Iowa. Chad Snook is a firefighter/paramedic with the City of Moline, Ill. Suzanne Steele is customer service manager for order processing at Deere and Company. Daniel ’95 and Lisa Kasarsky Stirratt had a son, Jonah Matthew, on June 27, 2005. Lisa teaches biology at Rock Island High School. Deanna Swanson is human resources assistant at Driehaus Capital Management, Chicago. Heather Tabbert is a project manager with the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago. 42 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Closing the gap Ryan Tillman received the M.B.A. degree from Mississippi State University. He is a management associate at Trustmark National Bank, Jackson, Miss. Los Angeles Academy Middle School in South L.A. is a world away from the farm Justin Betzelberger ’03 grew up on near Pekin, Illinois. But every day he goes to work as part of the Teach for America Corps, he does so with the knowledge he’s doing his part to address a problem with potentially critical consequences for our society. Ethan Tritt teaches math and coaches football for the Spring Branch School District, Houston, Texas. “The mission of Teach for America is to close the educational achievement gap in the U.S.,” Betzelberger says. “There’s a passion among Corps members to give their students the opportunity to succeed.” Katy Boultinghouse Wehr had a daughter, Riley MacKenzie, on May 19, 2005 (David). Among the students with whom he works, 11.4% are proficient at grade level in English, while only 7.4% are at grade level in math. Nationally, Teach for America reports that nine-year-olds in low-income communities are three grade levels behind on average, and are seven times less likely to graduate from college than those in higher income areas. Andrea Weidner received the D.V.M. degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She is now a large animal veterinarian at the Kiel (Wis.) Veterinary Clinic. Teach for America members receive a salary, plus an AmeriCorps education award. Betzelberger is using that to help complete a master’s degree at Loyola-Marymount. Teach for America also has a “Sponsor a Teacher” program, in which major contributors are paired with Corps members. Betzelberger not only had the chance to meet his patron, but also was his guest at a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game. Stephanie Wessel married Adam Reyburn on May 28, 2005. She received the M.D. degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine and is now a family practice resident at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. A biology major at Augustana, Betzelberger also minored in Spanish. That came in handy during his last round of parent conferences, 40 out of 46 of which he conducted in Spanish. When he completes his two-year commitment, Betzelberger says he’d like to continue working with Teach for America, possibly as a recruiter in addition to teaching. Actually, that process has already started. On September 22, he was on campus as part of an alumni panel at the college’s weekly convocation. Betzelberger talked about how his Augustana experience helped him discover his true vocation. Jennifer Wilkes is a mortgage broker at The Mortgage Department, Inc., Chicago. Stevie Yuhas is an account executive at Colangelo Synergy Marketing, Chicago. 2002 Darcy Ahrens received the master’s degree in communication disorders from Bowling Green (Ohio) State University. Leah Angelo is a logistician at the Rock Island Arsenal. Kelly Bagsby and Michael Nelson were married in April 2004. Kelly is a registered nurse on the leukemia unit at Johns Hopkins Cancer Center, Baltimore, Md. Jessie Bazzell married Den Diduch on December 31, 2004. She teaches language arts at Forrestville Valley Middle School, Forreston, Ill. Laura Bromann is an equity research assistant at William Blair & Co., Chicago. Brad Carlock is general manager of Carlock & Associates, Cape Coral, Fla. Sean Cavanaugh is director of governmental affairs for the Quad City Area Realtor Assoc., Moline, and the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Area Assoc. of Realtors. Elizabeth Choporis received the M.Ed. degree in higher education, student affairs administration from Loyola University, Chicago. She is now assistant director for student activities at Elmhurst (Ill.) College. Erik Christian had a daughter, Madelyn Therese, on February 14, 2004 (Amanda). Elizabeth Anderson Christiansen received the master’s degree in occupational therapy from Midwestern University. She is now an occupational therapy aide at Capital Medical Center Hand Therapy Clinic, Olympia, Wash. Laura Davis is drama director and teacher for the Oak Grove (Mo.) School District. Patrick Hunt is a loan closer in the small business association division at Banco Popular, Rosemont, Ill. Ginger Joseph Seidensticker has been promoted to manager, corporate sales and service, for the Colorado Crush football team. Shameka Jones is an office assistant at Benedictine University, Lisle, Ill. Erin Slattery is inventory management specialist at the Rock Island Arsenal. Jessica Ertmer married David Barker on September 18, 2004. She is an international buyer at WMH Tool Group, Elgin, Ill. Julie Lewis is a legislative assistant at the American College of Surgeons, Washington, D.C. Anne Altheide Sloniker is a graphic designer at American Marketing & Publishing, DeKalb, Ill. Lisa Freberg is with Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Phoenix, Ariz. Gretchen Maher is a senior internal auditor at Baker & McKenzie, Chicago. Derek Strom married Kimberly Baker ’03 on August 7, 2004. Emily Garbisch received the doctor of physical therapy degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., and now is a physical therapist at Athleticoes, Chicago. Darcy Mason is a credit analyst at LaSalle Bank, Chicago. Jarmanese Torrance is a copywriter for Media Alliance, Oak Brook, Ill. Jessica DeMay is a jeune fille au pair for the Aymerich Family in Saint Germain en Laye, France. Kashaundra Gaston received the J.D. degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb. Katie Hancock teaches science at Wheaton (Ill.) North High School. Andrew ’01 and Sarah Eckel Harrison had a daughter, Elizabeth Grace, on March 18, 2005. Luke Hawkins married Amy Linden on October 23, 2004. He is a compliance auditor at Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island. Brian Holba married Megan Carlson ’04 on May 28, 2005. Valerie Hughes married Brock McConchie on September 6, 2003. She is a secretary at Blackhawk State Bank, Milan, Ill. Cara Hummel married Scott Nelson ’03 on March 19, 2005. Caroline Meinike is a social worker for Lutheran Social Services. James Triveri is an engineer at Prince, Carol Stream, Ill. Kristina Meyers married Kevin Pitz on June 28, 2003. She is a recreation therapist at Eastern State Hospital, Lexington, Ky. Jennifer Weber is an occupational therapist with Arlington Pediatric Therapy, Arlington Heights, Ill. Adam Michels is a speech-language pathologist for the Oswego (Ill.) School District. Lisa Wisniewski is a teacher for the Woodridge (Ill.) School District. Vicki Monti received the doctor of physical therapy degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. Karen Yackley is a deputy clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, Chicago. Andrea Muschetto married Michael Purcell on March 26, 2005. She is a guidance counselor at West Aurora (Ill.) High School. Mehgan Blair O’Hearn is a hydrologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Alvin ’00 and Willona Olison Portis had a son, Kyle Olison, on May 24, 2005. Patrick Rigg is a graduate student at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. 2003 Brad Amundsen is a credit analyst at LaSalle Bank, Tampa, Fla. Kyle Anderson married Lindsey Resch on October 9, 2004. Kimberly Baker married Derek Strom ’02 on August 7, 2004. Brad Bartels is with Clearbrook, Arlington Heights, Ill. Jason Busch is a reporter with The Monroe Times, Monroe, Wis. Sarah Cernekee is a patrol officer with the Yorkville (Ill.) Police Department. John Childers attends National–Louis University, Evanston, Ill. Lindsay Clarke and Ryan Koenig were married on October 16, 2004. Lindsay is marketing director of New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Ryan is a business banker for Wells Fargo Bank, also in Cedar Rapids. Sarah Cullen is an information systems assistant at Baruch College, New York, N.Y. Brenda Curry married John Macke on June 18, 2005. Benjamin Doetch married Melissa Liebenstein on February 18, 2005. Sarah Dorner is a production operator at BioMerieux, Lombard, Ill. Carrie Engstrom teaches high school English in South Elgin, Ill. Mikhail Giza had a daughter, Norah Rhiannon, on April 27, 2005 (Elizabeth). Kristin Hanekamp teaches physics at Warren Township High School, Gurnee, Ill. Matthew Hawkins received the master’s degree in sports management from Illinois State University, Normal. Brett Herbeck received the master’s degree in speech pathology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Kate Holcomb married Ed Balogh, Jr., on December 18, 2004. She received the master’s degree in teaching from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She now teaches English at the Islamic Foundation School, Villa Park, Ill. Kate Hooper received the master’s degree in speech pathology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Meghan Howell is senior support technician at Techteam Global, Davenport, Iowa. Matthew Jennings is head men’s volleyball coach at St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Jessica Kopp Johanningmeier is a quantitative reasoning consultant at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa. Brijan Knapp is a mental health clinician at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Alison Krueger teaches at the New England Center for Children, Southborough, Mass. Amy Laytham is an elementary special education teacher for the Park Hill School District, Kansas City, Mo. Marinne Lorch Leonard received the master’s degree in English from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. She is an instructor at Lewis & Clark Community College, Godfrey, Ill. Kristen Lewandowski received the master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She is a social work case manager at Elmhurst (Ill.) Memorial Hospital. Julie Lucchesi is a speech-language pathologist for the Wilmette (Ill.) Public School District. Alexander Maidak and Sarah O’Hern had a daughter, Madelyn, on October 31, 2004. Nicole McGowan is a case manager at Bethany for Children & Families, Moline, Ill. Thomas Merritt is a conductor for the B&SF Railway, Needles, Calif. Melissa “Moe” Mlot is in customer relations/ sales at Sterling Lumber Co., Blue Island, Ill. Jackie Moon is an account executive at Silver Jeans, Chicago. Scott Nelson married Cara Hummel ’02 on March 19, 2005. Sheila Nguyen received the master’s degree in public health from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. Lori Papineau is head women’s volleyball coach at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis. Michael Patterson teaches business education at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Flossmoor, Ill. Jaclyn Pfeiffer received the master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She is an urban planner with DMJM+Harris Planning, Phoenix, Ariz. Aubrey Purdy is a research associate at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. 43 Kevin Randall is office manager at Kelly’s Medical Equipment & Supply, Clinton, Iowa. Katherine Andre attends the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Charles Smith married Marianne Siess ’00 on July 24, 2003. J. Iverne Dowie ’36 on February 14, 2005 (see In memoriam, next page). Suzanne Robins married Scott Benhart on June 25, 2005. Brandt Bennett is a sales representative with Cintas Corp. Nick Stafford teaches English (grades onesix) in Incheon, South Korea. Gladis Lundeen ’37 Allen on February 19, 2005. Lindsey Ryan teaches seventh- and eighthgrade Spanish at Homer Junior High School, Homer Glen, Ill. Sarah Blade teaches at Arrowhead Ranch, Coal Valley, Ill. Patrick Stivers is a docket clerk at the law firm of Heyl, Royster, Voelker and Allen, Byron, Ill. Laurel Rider ’38 Anderson on December 29, 2004. Survivors include her husband, Chester. John Sturtevant is a sales representative for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Eleanor Gruenau ’38 McKeever on May 6, 2005. Survivors include her sister, Carma Gruenau ’42 Drechsler. Jonathan Sullivan married Janel Matousek ’01 on February 5, 2005. Floyd Anderson ’39 on March 24, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Louise; daughters, Sharon Anderson ’68 Telleen, Barbara Anderson ’71 Lindquist; brother, Richard C. Anderson ’52; and grandson, Anders Lindquist ’04. Thomas Sanneman is a financial planner at American Express Financial Advisors, Lombard, Ill. Aubrey Schissel is a chemistry technician at Exlon Nuclear Power Co. Sandra Schleicher is a front desk assistant at Eagle Ridge, Galena, Ill. Jaclyn Smith married Kevin Jensen on June 11, 2005. Bradley Snyder is a wildland firefighter with the Cherryvale Fire Dept., Boulder, Colo. Kristin Pogemiller Stephenson is a manager with Curves for Women, O’Fallon, Mo. Douglas Swanson received the M.B.A. degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Nicholas Tarpein is finance manager at Lujack’s Auto Plaza, Davenport, Iowa. Elena Terronez is a bilingual service representative for the Social Security Administration, Rock Island. Jennifer Wilson VanDeVelde had a daughter, Alea Mae, on May 13, 2005 (Neil). Jennifer Carlson Vaughn teaches history at Dunbar Vocational High School, Chicago. Jennifer Vortman is a budget analyst for the Military Sealift Command, Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C. Janis Wegner received the master’s degree in communication science and disorders from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth. Chad Williams is office manager at Miller Mortgage, Rock Island. Jill Youngblood teaches biology at Hoffman Estates (Ill.) High School. 2004 Jon Aagaard is a regional sales associate for the state of Florida at Claymore Securities, Lisle, Ill. Anna Bogner teaches English at Culturlingua, Leon, Mexico. Jeremy Brunner is an account representative at State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill. Anne Cameron works in collections at Wells Fargo Bank, West Des Moines, Iowa. Megan Carlson married Brian Holba ’02 on May 28, 2005. Letitia Ceynar is band director for Anamosa (Iowa) Community Schools. Tara Crandall is an admissions counselor at Augustana College. Jennifer Davis teaches second grade at Dalzell Elementary School, Princeton, Ill. Brian Dickey is a project accountant for William A. Randolph, Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Karen Flint married Neil Dahlstrom on June 18, 2005. Nicole Foote is executive team leader for Target Corp., St. Charles, Ill. Cheryl Sinibaldo Fundakowski is an administrator at Air Fleet Capital, Leesburg, Va. Stephanie Grana is cheerleading coach at Wheaton (Ill.) North High School. Michael Hansen attends the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Jeffrey Igou is store manager at Sherwin Williams, Rock Island. Kristin Krueger teaches Spanish at Proviso Township High School, Hillside, Ill. Joshua Kumpula is general music/orchestra teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Waukegan, Ill. Lisa Miller is a quality control analyst in microbiology at ZLB Behring, Bradley, Ill. Abby Montgomery married Jerry Hoggard on December 4, 2004. Liz Pepke is store manager for Maurices, Overland Park, Kan. Stephanie Tetzler attends the University of Illinois, Chicago. Katie Tracey teaches at the Princeton (Ill.) Christian Academy. Lindsay Welsh Tracy is business relations specialist at HON, Muscatine, Iowa. Jason Williams was awarded the Glenn T. Seaborg Nobel travel award from the Swedish Council of America to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. He is a graduate student in environmental and forestry biology at State University of New York, Syracuse. Vanessa Young is a missionary/volunteer with the ELCA, Chicago. 2005 Heather Widolff teaches high school English for the Sterling (Ill.) School District. Deaths (notices received as of June 30, 2005) Wendell Lund ’27 on December 25, 2004. His wife, Marian, survives him (see Augustana College Magazine, Spring 2005, page 22). Marie Saunders ’28 Kerker on February 27, 2005. Ruth Peterson ’28 Youngberg on February 26, 2005. Survivors include her daughter, Glenna Youngberg ’64 Sbertoli, and grandchildren, Jennifer Sbertoli ’88 Kreiter and Kyle Youngberg ’03. Ida Stenstrom ’29 Engstrom on January 21, 2004. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Engstrom ’55 Hinkley. Jamie Abbitt is case manager for the Rock Island County Health Department. Jennifer Polcyn is administrative assistant at LAGA, Northbrook, Ill. Sandy Aguirre is credit manager for Wells Fargo Financial, Davenport, Iowa. Sarah Powers is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Bradley, Ill. Christine Allard attends Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Lindsay Rowe attends Rush University, Chicago. Claretta Brissman ’34 Leonhard on April 13, 2005. Her survivors include daughter, Karen Leonhard ’61 Lohse. Erik Anderson is employed at Selden Fox Ltd., Oak Brook, Ill. Kristen Schultz is a pharmacy coordinator at Tap Pharmaceuticals, Chicago. Elizabeth Shield ’35 Pool on February 2, 2005. 44 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Miriam E. Peterson ’29 on November 4, 2004. H. Maurice Carlson ’39 on December 21, 2004. Among survivors is his wife, Phyllis. Helen Horberg ’39 Gustafson on May 8, 2005. Werner Meyn ’39 on December 24, 2004. Survivors include his sister, Helen Meyn ’41 Allen. Harold Peterson ’39 on May 9, 2005. Marian Dyce ’40 Bowdich on May 20, 2005. Eleanor Bergendahl ’41 Anderson on February 1, 2005. Survivors include her sons, Donald Anderson ’67 and Kurt Anderson ’72. Marjorie Baumgarten ’41 Burkland on April 26, 2005. Ernest E. Carlstrom ’41 in May 2005. His wife survives him. Kenneth H. Rogers ’45 on April 8, 2005. Victor “Bud” Lindquist ’46 on November 24, 2004. His survivors include his wife, Mary Lou Buck ’47 Lindquist; son, Kirk ’72; daughter, Kristin Lindquist ’74 Lohmiller; and grandson, Anders Lindquist ’03. Hugo Anderson ’47 on March 5, 2005. L. Jack Ehlers ’47 on October 18, 2004. His wife, Ida, survives him. Arthur H. Miller ’48 on April 20, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Lois. Robert C. Miller ’48 on June 4, 2005. Survivors include his daughter, Kristine Miller ’70 Morris. Marilyn Anderson ’48 Munson on June 10, 2005. Allen Curtis ’49 on June 24, 2005. His wife, Lillian, survives him. Herbert Kamerer ’49 on December 30, 2004. His wife, Alice, survives him. Kenneth D. Moburg ’49 on January 17, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Jackson ’46 Moburg. John “Cuzin” Anderson ’50 on January 25, 2005. Among survivors are his wife, Dorothy Bratlie ’50 Anderson; daughter, Kathy Anderson ’74 Janicek; granddaughter, Elizabeth Janicek ’07; brother, William Anderson ’46; and sisters, Joanna Anderson ’43 Berentson and Sally Anderson ’56 Mishkind. Charles Harrison ’41 on January 27, 2005. Duane R. Carlson ’50 on May 30, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Maribeth Wilson ’49 Carlson. Helen Johnson ’41 Johnson on January 8, 2005. Survivors include her husband, Lloyd ’41, and daughter Bonnie Johnson ’76 Curl. Clinton Schryver ’50 on October 26, 2004. Survivors include his wife, Joann Hultgren ’54 Schryver. Gertrude Ossian ’41 Lundholm on June 30, 2005. Survivors include her sons, Mark ’70 and Peter ’71; daughter, Martha Lundholm ’78 Jansson; and grandson, Nicholas Lundholm ’04 (see In memoriam, next page). Mona Walz ’51 Dusseljee on May 6, 2005. Her sister, Jo Walz ’49 Parsons, survives her. Mary Ann Froude ’42 Kulow on March 9, 2005. Stowell Masengarb ’42 on March 1, 2005. His survivors include his son, John Masengarb ’62. Lois Nicholson ’44 Brandt on December 17, 2004. Marilyn Whitman ’44 Edstrom on January 16, 2005. Among survivors is her husband, Paul ’38. Philip Engdahl ’44 on January 18, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Barbara. Dorothy Magney ’45 Youngdale on September 28, 2004. Mildred Johnson, wife of John Johnson ’45, on March 2, 2005. Mary Ann Frazier, wife of Forrest Frazier ’51, on March 18, 2005. Eugene L. Johnson ’52 on April 22, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Marguerite Robinson ’53 Johnson. Helen Fisko ’52 Knoke on February 23, 2005. Her husband, Kenneth, survives her. Janice Nachbauer, wife of Louis Nachbauer ’52, on June 20, 2005. E. Robert Walther ’52 on February 7, 2005. His wife, Katie, survives him. Muriel Peel ’54 Fetzner on January 14, 2005. Survivors include her son, Carl ’77. Richard A. Swanson ’54 on March 10, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Lorian Sundelius ’54 Swanson; sons, Scott ’80, Craig ’83, and Kai ’86; brother, Gerald Swanson ’59; and granddaughter, Deanna Swanson ’01 (see page 48). William M. Berger, Jr. ’55 on April 27, 2005. His wife, Sally, survives him. Curtis N. Strate ’56 on April 8, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Kay Zimmer ’56 Strate. Kathryn Anderson ’56 Zimmerman on April 25, 2005. James B. Lingwall ’57 on June 2, 2005. His wife, Maxine, survives him. Emma Anderson, wife of Roger E. Anderson ’58, on December 30, 2004. Ilinca Zarifopol Johnston, wife of Kenneth R. Johnston ’59, on January 18, 2005. David S. Mellander ’59 on March 29, 2005. Donald E. Stein ’60 on November 29, 2004. Jerry Dobby, husband of Suzanne Johnson ’62 Dobby, on May 26, 2005. Marcus K. Bateman ’65 on May 3, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Elaine. Ronald D. Horner ’65 on April 17, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Sandy, and brother, Thomas ’66. Marcella Hallas ’66 Armstrong on May 10, 2005. Survivors include her husband, William, and daughter, Linda Armstrong ’74 Lindy. Thelma Dickinson ’66 Johnson on April 21, 2005. Her husband, Howard, survives her. Richard Dishno ’68 on May 4, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Nancy. Pearl Schlottke Klyber ’69 on January 28, 2005. James R. Slack ’71 on April 30, 2005. Shirley A. Young ’72 on May 14, 2005. Survivors include her mother, Lucille Young. Greta Sutton ’73 Brooks on February 28, 2005. Her husband, James, survives her. Robin C. Hoffmann ’75 on August 1, 2004. Survivors include her mother, Cheris, and brother, Phillip ’74. Myra Funkhouser ’82 Marolf on June 16, 2005. Her husband, David, survives her. Wilma Tosh ’84 on May 6, 2004. Pamela Zoellick ’92 Hene on June 21, 2005. Survivors include her husband, David and son, Erich. James J. Johnson ’93 on March 31, 2005. Megan Ellenberger ’98 on February 20, 2005. Her parents, Frederick ’58 and Karol Johnson ’59 Ellenberger, survive her. In memoriam J. Iverne Dowie, 93 An extraordinary member of the Augustana community, Dr. J. Iverne Dowie died February 14. Blind since the age of 2, Dowie was already something of a celebrity at Augustana when he enrolled here in 1932. He had been a featured soloist with the Augustana Band on its 1928 European tour, during which some audiences were incredulous that the violin could be played so well by a sightless adolescent. Tests of both his blindness and his virtuosity were required at several venues. Graduating with honors in 1936, Dowie then completed his master’s in history at the University of Chicago, and later his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He taught at the Augustana Synod’s Luther Junior College in Nebraska from 1941 to 1958, and even served one year as acting president of the institution. Dowie taught in the History Department at Augustana from 1958 to 1979, and served as its chair from 1969 to 1976. After retiring, Dowie became one of the first clients of APRIS, the Augustana Public Radio Information Service, a reading program for persons with visual and other disabilities which is housed by WVIK, Augustana’s public radio station. One additional note: not only did Dowie walk from his home at 80041st Street to campus, day in and day out for 21 years, but when the house needed re-roofing, he did it himself. Gertrude Lundholm, 92 As one longtime friend describes her, Gertrude Lundholm was an avid reader who was quite knowledgeable and “always raring to go.” She received her diploma from Augustana in 1941. Four years later, she married Brynolf “Beany” Lundholm, professor of music and accompanist for the Augustana Choir and the Handel Oratorio Society for many years. The Lundholm home often was a gathering place for students, especially when their children — Mark ’70, Peter ’71 and Martha Lundholm ’78 Jansson — attended Augustana. In the Summer 1984 issue of Augustana College Magazine, the Rev. Tom Church ’68 wrote of the Lundholms on the occasion of Beany’s death: “The Lundholm house on 34th Street became my home away from home. We talked about everything from girlfriend problems to vocational goals. In a sense, some of the credit for my being in the ordained ministry to this day belongs to Beany and Gertrude.” Following her graduation from Augustana, Gertrude taught elementary school in Stanton, Iowa, and special education at the state school in Glenwood, Iowa. Later, she was a teacher at Longfellow Elementary School in Rock Island. She volunteered at Holden Village, an ecumenical Christian center for renewal, in Chelan, Wash., for 40-plus summers. “To say that the Lundholm family were fanatics about Holden Village would be an understatement!” Church said. “But finally I caved in and applied for a summer staff position. I too am a Holden fanatic.” Gertrude also was a longstanding member of First Lutheran Church in Moline and the Endowment Society of Augustana. She died June 30 in Rock Island. 45 Kevin Randall is office manager at Kelly’s Medical Equipment & Supply, Clinton, Iowa. Katherine Andre attends the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Charles Smith married Marianne Siess ’00 on July 24, 2003. J. Iverne Dowie ’36 on February 14, 2005 (see In memoriam, next page). Suzanne Robins married Scott Benhart on June 25, 2005. Brandt Bennett is a sales representative with Cintas Corp. Nick Stafford teaches English (grades onesix) in Incheon, South Korea. Gladis Lundeen ’37 Allen on February 19, 2005. Lindsey Ryan teaches seventh- and eighthgrade Spanish at Homer Junior High School, Homer Glen, Ill. Sarah Blade teaches at Arrowhead Ranch, Coal Valley, Ill. Patrick Stivers is a docket clerk at the law firm of Heyl, Royster, Voelker and Allen, Byron, Ill. Laurel Rider ’38 Anderson on December 29, 2004. Survivors include her husband, Chester. John Sturtevant is a sales representative for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Eleanor Gruenau ’38 McKeever on May 6, 2005. Survivors include her sister, Carma Gruenau ’42 Drechsler. Jonathan Sullivan married Janel Matousek ’01 on February 5, 2005. Floyd Anderson ’39 on March 24, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Louise; daughters, Sharon Anderson ’68 Telleen, Barbara Anderson ’71 Lindquist; brother, Richard C. Anderson ’52; and grandson, Anders Lindquist ’04. Thomas Sanneman is a financial planner at American Express Financial Advisors, Lombard, Ill. Aubrey Schissel is a chemistry technician at Exlon Nuclear Power Co. Sandra Schleicher is a front desk assistant at Eagle Ridge, Galena, Ill. Jaclyn Smith married Kevin Jensen on June 11, 2005. Bradley Snyder is a wildland firefighter with the Cherryvale Fire Dept., Boulder, Colo. Kristin Pogemiller Stephenson is a manager with Curves for Women, O’Fallon, Mo. Douglas Swanson received the M.B.A. degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Nicholas Tarpein is finance manager at Lujack’s Auto Plaza, Davenport, Iowa. Elena Terronez is a bilingual service representative for the Social Security Administration, Rock Island. Jennifer Wilson VanDeVelde had a daughter, Alea Mae, on May 13, 2005 (Neil). Jennifer Carlson Vaughn teaches history at Dunbar Vocational High School, Chicago. Jennifer Vortman is a budget analyst for the Military Sealift Command, Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C. Janis Wegner received the master’s degree in communication science and disorders from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth. Chad Williams is office manager at Miller Mortgage, Rock Island. Jill Youngblood teaches biology at Hoffman Estates (Ill.) High School. 2004 Jon Aagaard is a regional sales associate for the state of Florida at Claymore Securities, Lisle, Ill. Anna Bogner teaches English at Culturlingua, Leon, Mexico. Jeremy Brunner is an account representative at State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill. Anne Cameron works in collections at Wells Fargo Bank, West Des Moines, Iowa. Megan Carlson married Brian Holba ’02 on May 28, 2005. Letitia Ceynar is band director for Anamosa (Iowa) Community Schools. Tara Crandall is an admissions counselor at Augustana College. Jennifer Davis teaches second grade at Dalzell Elementary School, Princeton, Ill. Brian Dickey is a project accountant for William A. Randolph, Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Karen Flint married Neil Dahlstrom on June 18, 2005. Nicole Foote is executive team leader for Target Corp., St. Charles, Ill. Cheryl Sinibaldo Fundakowski is an administrator at Air Fleet Capital, Leesburg, Va. Stephanie Grana is cheerleading coach at Wheaton (Ill.) North High School. Michael Hansen attends the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Jeffrey Igou is store manager at Sherwin Williams, Rock Island. Kristin Krueger teaches Spanish at Proviso Township High School, Hillside, Ill. Joshua Kumpula is general music/orchestra teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Waukegan, Ill. Lisa Miller is a quality control analyst in microbiology at ZLB Behring, Bradley, Ill. Abby Montgomery married Jerry Hoggard on December 4, 2004. Liz Pepke is store manager for Maurices, Overland Park, Kan. Stephanie Tetzler attends the University of Illinois, Chicago. Katie Tracey teaches at the Princeton (Ill.) Christian Academy. Lindsay Welsh Tracy is business relations specialist at HON, Muscatine, Iowa. Jason Williams was awarded the Glenn T. Seaborg Nobel travel award from the Swedish Council of America to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. He is a graduate student in environmental and forestry biology at State University of New York, Syracuse. Vanessa Young is a missionary/volunteer with the ELCA, Chicago. 2005 Heather Widolff teaches high school English for the Sterling (Ill.) School District. Deaths (notices received as of June 30, 2005) Wendell Lund ’27 on December 25, 2004. His wife, Marian, survives him (see Augustana College Magazine, Spring 2005, page 22). Marie Saunders ’28 Kerker on February 27, 2005. Ruth Peterson ’28 Youngberg on February 26, 2005. Survivors include her daughter, Glenna Youngberg ’64 Sbertoli, and grandchildren, Jennifer Sbertoli ’88 Kreiter and Kyle Youngberg ’03. Ida Stenstrom ’29 Engstrom on January 21, 2004. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Engstrom ’55 Hinkley. Jamie Abbitt is case manager for the Rock Island County Health Department. Jennifer Polcyn is administrative assistant at LAGA, Northbrook, Ill. Sandy Aguirre is credit manager for Wells Fargo Financial, Davenport, Iowa. Sarah Powers is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Bradley, Ill. Christine Allard attends Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Lindsay Rowe attends Rush University, Chicago. Claretta Brissman ’34 Leonhard on April 13, 2005. Her survivors include daughter, Karen Leonhard ’61 Lohse. Erik Anderson is employed at Selden Fox Ltd., Oak Brook, Ill. Kristen Schultz is a pharmacy coordinator at Tap Pharmaceuticals, Chicago. Elizabeth Shield ’35 Pool on February 2, 2005. 44 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Miriam E. Peterson ’29 on November 4, 2004. H. Maurice Carlson ’39 on December 21, 2004. Among survivors is his wife, Phyllis. Helen Horberg ’39 Gustafson on May 8, 2005. Werner Meyn ’39 on December 24, 2004. Survivors include his sister, Helen Meyn ’41 Allen. Harold Peterson ’39 on May 9, 2005. Marian Dyce ’40 Bowdich on May 20, 2005. Eleanor Bergendahl ’41 Anderson on February 1, 2005. Survivors include her sons, Donald Anderson ’67 and Kurt Anderson ’72. Marjorie Baumgarten ’41 Burkland on April 26, 2005. Ernest E. Carlstrom ’41 in May 2005. His wife survives him. Kenneth H. Rogers ’45 on April 8, 2005. Victor “Bud” Lindquist ’46 on November 24, 2004. His survivors include his wife, Mary Lou Buck ’47 Lindquist; son, Kirk ’72; daughter, Kristin Lindquist ’74 Lohmiller; and grandson, Anders Lindquist ’03. Hugo Anderson ’47 on March 5, 2005. L. Jack Ehlers ’47 on October 18, 2004. His wife, Ida, survives him. Arthur H. Miller ’48 on April 20, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Lois. Robert C. Miller ’48 on June 4, 2005. Survivors include his daughter, Kristine Miller ’70 Morris. Marilyn Anderson ’48 Munson on June 10, 2005. Allen Curtis ’49 on June 24, 2005. His wife, Lillian, survives him. Herbert Kamerer ’49 on December 30, 2004. His wife, Alice, survives him. Kenneth D. Moburg ’49 on January 17, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Jackson ’46 Moburg. John “Cuzin” Anderson ’50 on January 25, 2005. Among survivors are his wife, Dorothy Bratlie ’50 Anderson; daughter, Kathy Anderson ’74 Janicek; granddaughter, Elizabeth Janicek ’07; brother, William Anderson ’46; and sisters, Joanna Anderson ’43 Berentson and Sally Anderson ’56 Mishkind. Charles Harrison ’41 on January 27, 2005. Duane R. Carlson ’50 on May 30, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Maribeth Wilson ’49 Carlson. Helen Johnson ’41 Johnson on January 8, 2005. Survivors include her husband, Lloyd ’41, and daughter Bonnie Johnson ’76 Curl. Clinton Schryver ’50 on October 26, 2004. Survivors include his wife, Joann Hultgren ’54 Schryver. Gertrude Ossian ’41 Lundholm on June 30, 2005. Survivors include her sons, Mark ’70 and Peter ’71; daughter, Martha Lundholm ’78 Jansson; and grandson, Nicholas Lundholm ’04 (see In memoriam, next page). Mona Walz ’51 Dusseljee on May 6, 2005. Her sister, Jo Walz ’49 Parsons, survives her. Mary Ann Froude ’42 Kulow on March 9, 2005. Stowell Masengarb ’42 on March 1, 2005. His survivors include his son, John Masengarb ’62. Lois Nicholson ’44 Brandt on December 17, 2004. Marilyn Whitman ’44 Edstrom on January 16, 2005. Among survivors is her husband, Paul ’38. Philip Engdahl ’44 on January 18, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Barbara. Dorothy Magney ’45 Youngdale on September 28, 2004. Mildred Johnson, wife of John Johnson ’45, on March 2, 2005. Mary Ann Frazier, wife of Forrest Frazier ’51, on March 18, 2005. Eugene L. Johnson ’52 on April 22, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Marguerite Robinson ’53 Johnson. Helen Fisko ’52 Knoke on February 23, 2005. Her husband, Kenneth, survives her. Janice Nachbauer, wife of Louis Nachbauer ’52, on June 20, 2005. E. Robert Walther ’52 on February 7, 2005. His wife, Katie, survives him. Muriel Peel ’54 Fetzner on January 14, 2005. Survivors include her son, Carl ’77. Richard A. Swanson ’54 on March 10, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Lorian Sundelius ’54 Swanson; sons, Scott ’80, Craig ’83, and Kai ’86; brother, Gerald Swanson ’59; and granddaughter, Deanna Swanson ’01 (see page 48). William M. Berger, Jr. ’55 on April 27, 2005. His wife, Sally, survives him. Curtis N. Strate ’56 on April 8, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Kay Zimmer ’56 Strate. Kathryn Anderson ’56 Zimmerman on April 25, 2005. James B. Lingwall ’57 on June 2, 2005. His wife, Maxine, survives him. Emma Anderson, wife of Roger E. Anderson ’58, on December 30, 2004. Ilinca Zarifopol Johnston, wife of Kenneth R. Johnston ’59, on January 18, 2005. David S. Mellander ’59 on March 29, 2005. Donald E. Stein ’60 on November 29, 2004. Jerry Dobby, husband of Suzanne Johnson ’62 Dobby, on May 26, 2005. Marcus K. Bateman ’65 on May 3, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Elaine. Ronald D. Horner ’65 on April 17, 2005. Survivors include his wife, Sandy, and brother, Thomas ’66. Marcella Hallas ’66 Armstrong on May 10, 2005. Survivors include her husband, William, and daughter, Linda Armstrong ’74 Lindy. Thelma Dickinson ’66 Johnson on April 21, 2005. Her husband, Howard, survives her. Richard Dishno ’68 on May 4, 2005. Among survivors is his wife, Nancy. Pearl Schlottke Klyber ’69 on January 28, 2005. James R. Slack ’71 on April 30, 2005. Shirley A. Young ’72 on May 14, 2005. Survivors include her mother, Lucille Young. Greta Sutton ’73 Brooks on February 28, 2005. Her husband, James, survives her. Robin C. Hoffmann ’75 on August 1, 2004. Survivors include her mother, Cheris, and brother, Phillip ’74. Myra Funkhouser ’82 Marolf on June 16, 2005. Her husband, David, survives her. Wilma Tosh ’84 on May 6, 2004. Pamela Zoellick ’92 Hene on June 21, 2005. Survivors include her husband, David and son, Erich. James J. Johnson ’93 on March 31, 2005. Megan Ellenberger ’98 on February 20, 2005. Her parents, Frederick ’58 and Karol Johnson ’59 Ellenberger, survive her. In memoriam J. Iverne Dowie, 93 An extraordinary member of the Augustana community, Dr. J. Iverne Dowie died February 14. Blind since the age of 2, Dowie was already something of a celebrity at Augustana when he enrolled here in 1932. He had been a featured soloist with the Augustana Band on its 1928 European tour, during which some audiences were incredulous that the violin could be played so well by a sightless adolescent. Tests of both his blindness and his virtuosity were required at several venues. Graduating with honors in 1936, Dowie then completed his master’s in history at the University of Chicago, and later his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He taught at the Augustana Synod’s Luther Junior College in Nebraska from 1941 to 1958, and even served one year as acting president of the institution. Dowie taught in the History Department at Augustana from 1958 to 1979, and served as its chair from 1969 to 1976. After retiring, Dowie became one of the first clients of APRIS, the Augustana Public Radio Information Service, a reading program for persons with visual and other disabilities which is housed by WVIK, Augustana’s public radio station. One additional note: not only did Dowie walk from his home at 80041st Street to campus, day in and day out for 21 years, but when the house needed re-roofing, he did it himself. Gertrude Lundholm, 92 As one longtime friend describes her, Gertrude Lundholm was an avid reader who was quite knowledgeable and “always raring to go.” She received her diploma from Augustana in 1941. Four years later, she married Brynolf “Beany” Lundholm, professor of music and accompanist for the Augustana Choir and the Handel Oratorio Society for many years. The Lundholm home often was a gathering place for students, especially when their children — Mark ’70, Peter ’71 and Martha Lundholm ’78 Jansson — attended Augustana. In the Summer 1984 issue of Augustana College Magazine, the Rev. Tom Church ’68 wrote of the Lundholms on the occasion of Beany’s death: “The Lundholm house on 34th Street became my home away from home. We talked about everything from girlfriend problems to vocational goals. In a sense, some of the credit for my being in the ordained ministry to this day belongs to Beany and Gertrude.” Following her graduation from Augustana, Gertrude taught elementary school in Stanton, Iowa, and special education at the state school in Glenwood, Iowa. Later, she was a teacher at Longfellow Elementary School in Rock Island. She volunteered at Holden Village, an ecumenical Christian center for renewal, in Chelan, Wash., for 40-plus summers. “To say that the Lundholm family were fanatics about Holden Village would be an understatement!” Church said. “But finally I caved in and applied for a summer staff position. I too am a Holden fanatic.” Gertrude also was a longstanding member of First Lutheran Church in Moline and the Endowment Society of Augustana. She died June 30 in Rock Island. 45 Alumnusessay �The most intense experience of my life’ by Navy Lt. Ken Velez ’94 editor’s note Lt. Ken Velez ’94 is a naval aviator in the U.S. Navy. He flies the EA-6B Prowler, which provides an umbrella of protection for strike aircraft, ground troops and ships by jamming enemy radar, electronic data links and communications. Velez has flown combat missions in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The following is his account of relief efforts following the December 26 massive earthquake and devastating tsunamis in the Bay of Bengal. I never thought i would be selected as one of the first Americans to aid in the post-tsunami humanitarian relief efforts. After all, I really didn’t have the skills my commanding officer needed, such as foreign language skills or training in advanced first-aid. In fact, I didn’t write down much on the volunteer assessment sheet—just some construction skills, basic first-aid and time spent as a physical therapy assistant. Perhaps he wanted more intangible qualities. When our aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, arrived off the north shore of Indonesia on New Year’s Day, I was in the first wave of helicopters (helos) sent to establish a logistical hub and move relief supplies from the Banda Aceh airport. Not knowing what to expect as we lifted off the flight deck, we quickly caught a glimpse of the destruction. Numerous corpses floated in the water. Proceeding further inland, we were amazed that the coastal town was obliterated. You could see outlines of the foundations of homes. As the earthquake shook them loose, the tsunamis washed everything out to sea. At the airport, we found near chaos. No infrastructure for relief efforts was in place. About 500 Indonesians had made their way to the airport in search of food, water and a flight out of the area. A few Australians and the Indonesian military had established a base, and were accepting supplies. But they did not have helos to move the food and water. As a Prowler pilot with no helicopter-flying abilities, I was initially sent in to be the liaison to move supplies along the west coast. Quickly realizing there was no one to actually liaise with, my executive officer and I became the primary ground coordinators to make this relief effort happen. Working with the Indonesians and the civilian relief agencies, we established a system to have 12 helos flying from sunrise to sunset. The helos ferried everything from biscuits, rice, noodles, milk and water to medical supplies. We transported medical staff, as well. As our pilots dropped off supplies, Indonesian citizens rushed to hug them with relief and joy. Finally our helos were authorized to airlift any injured people they found back to Banda Aceh. Their arrival was the most intense experience of my life. These people had been hanging in trees, stuck on mountainsides or crawling on broken roads for days. Some of them were missing limbs. Some of them were near death. Many of them were children. The first time I ran to a helo with a stretcher, I felt like everything was in slow motion as the helo’s door opened. I stood and stared in awe because I couldn’t believe how many people were inside. Almost 20 injured men, women and children were piled on top of each other. I just put it out of my head and helped run them to a tent for treatment. Once all the helos were empty, I had to catch my breath to give the helos and the load team their next misNavy Lt. Ken Velez ’94, left, sions. This cycle continued all day assists injured Indonesians in the intense heat. at the Banda Aceh airport. At the end of the third day, as I sat on the floor of the helo for the ride back to the USS Abraham Lincoln, I looked over and saw my executive officer giving me a nod of approval. I smiled, nodded back, and looked out the open door. Everybody had pushed themselves to their mental and physical limits. The teamwork and determination out there was nothing like I’d ever seen. What makes a person run across an airfield to save someone he doesn’t know? We don’t speak their language. We don’t share the same religion. The differences are vast. But we put all that aside. I’d never been so proud to be in the U.S. Navy and an American. What makes a person run across an airfield to save someone he doesn’t know? 46 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Ta Prohm Temple within the Angkor Wat complex A journey of compassion (continued from page 25) One afternoon Ryder and the three teen-agers were walking along a street in Siem Reap. One of Jeffrey’s friends gave a cookie to a 10-year-old boy who was missing a leg, probably from polio. The boy immediately broke the cookie into four pieces to share with his friends. When he was then given a package of cookies, a crowd of children gathered and the bounty was shared evenly. “To me, that’s the epitome of Cambodian culture,” Ryder says. “The children take care of each other because they see themselves in each other. Their parents can’t take care of them because they don’t have the money or they’re off trying to work somewhere. That’s why I became involved with the monks’ project at Wat Damnak Pagoda.” Somnieng Hoeurn is the head monk at Wat Damnak Pagoda, a Buddhist temple in Siem Reap. When he met Ryder last January, there was an instant connection between the two men. When Hoeurn asked Ryder to help him take care of the children of Siem Reap Province, Ryder couldn’t refuse. The Life and Hope Association assistance program, based at Wat Damnak Pagoda, provides basic living assistance and educational opportunities to destitute children, including orphans and street children. If the children learn English, for example, they have a better chance of getting a job in tourism. “Dr. Ryder is very important and useful man for developing my program, the kind of man that my children and I need,” Hoeurn says. “He is full of skills and experiences, and most important he is a very good, kind man, and this world needs the people like him. I should not say that he is a dentist and a rich man…as you know, there are many rich men and women in the world, but they don’t do as him. Why? “In the Buddhism way, we can say that Dr. Ryder already has a name as a wise man, as this is how this kind of person always has done for this world.” Ryder says he is not so much religious as he is philosophical. He enjoys finding answers to life’s problems. However he’s described, Ryder’s life has been transformed by a remarkable commitment to less fortunate communities around the world. And perhaps more importantly, he has channeled his vision with perseverance, and a rare ability to follow through. In Cambodia, or any other country, people like Jon Ryder make a difference. 47 Alumnusessay �The most intense experience of my life’ by Navy Lt. Ken Velez ’94 editor’s note Lt. Ken Velez ’94 is a naval aviator in the U.S. Navy. He flies the EA-6B Prowler, which provides an umbrella of protection for strike aircraft, ground troops and ships by jamming enemy radar, electronic data links and communications. Velez has flown combat missions in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The following is his account of relief efforts following the December 26 massive earthquake and devastating tsunamis in the Bay of Bengal. I never thought i would be selected as one of the first Americans to aid in the post-tsunami humanitarian relief efforts. After all, I really didn’t have the skills my commanding officer needed, such as foreign language skills or training in advanced first-aid. In fact, I didn’t write down much on the volunteer assessment sheet—just some construction skills, basic first-aid and time spent as a physical therapy assistant. Perhaps he wanted more intangible qualities. When our aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, arrived off the north shore of Indonesia on New Year’s Day, I was in the first wave of helicopters (helos) sent to establish a logistical hub and move relief supplies from the Banda Aceh airport. Not knowing what to expect as we lifted off the flight deck, we quickly caught a glimpse of the destruction. Numerous corpses floated in the water. Proceeding further inland, we were amazed that the coastal town was obliterated. You could see outlines of the foundations of homes. As the earthquake shook them loose, the tsunamis washed everything out to sea. At the airport, we found near chaos. No infrastructure for relief efforts was in place. About 500 Indonesians had made their way to the airport in search of food, water and a flight out of the area. A few Australians and the Indonesian military had established a base, and were accepting supplies. But they did not have helos to move the food and water. As a Prowler pilot with no helicopter-flying abilities, I was initially sent in to be the liaison to move supplies along the west coast. Quickly realizing there was no one to actually liaise with, my executive officer and I became the primary ground coordinators to make this relief effort happen. Working with the Indonesians and the civilian relief agencies, we established a system to have 12 helos flying from sunrise to sunset. The helos ferried everything from biscuits, rice, noodles, milk and water to medical supplies. We transported medical staff, as well. As our pilots dropped off supplies, Indonesian citizens rushed to hug them with relief and joy. Finally our helos were authorized to airlift any injured people they found back to Banda Aceh. Their arrival was the most intense experience of my life. These people had been hanging in trees, stuck on mountainsides or crawling on broken roads for days. Some of them were missing limbs. Some of them were near death. Many of them were children. The first time I ran to a helo with a stretcher, I felt like everything was in slow motion as the helo’s door opened. I stood and stared in awe because I couldn’t believe how many people were inside. Almost 20 injured men, women and children were piled on top of each other. I just put it out of my head and helped run them to a tent for treatment. Once all the helos were empty, I had to catch my breath to give the helos and the load team their next misNavy Lt. Ken Velez ’94, left, sions. This cycle continued all day assists injured Indonesians in the intense heat. at the Banda Aceh airport. At the end of the third day, as I sat on the floor of the helo for the ride back to the USS Abraham Lincoln, I looked over and saw my executive officer giving me a nod of approval. I smiled, nodded back, and looked out the open door. Everybody had pushed themselves to their mental and physical limits. The teamwork and determination out there was nothing like I’d ever seen. What makes a person run across an airfield to save someone he doesn’t know? We don’t speak their language. We don’t share the same religion. The differences are vast. But we put all that aside. I’d never been so proud to be in the U.S. Navy and an American. What makes a person run across an airfield to save someone he doesn’t know? 46 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 Ta Prohm Temple within the Angkor Wat complex A journey of compassion (continued from page 25) One afternoon Ryder and the three teen-agers were walking along a street in Siem Reap. One of Jeffrey’s friends gave a cookie to a 10-year-old boy who was missing a leg, probably from polio. The boy immediately broke the cookie into four pieces to share with his friends. When he was then given a package of cookies, a crowd of children gathered and the bounty was shared evenly. “To me, that’s the epitome of Cambodian culture,” Ryder says. “The children take care of each other because they see themselves in each other. Their parents can’t take care of them because they don’t have the money or they’re off trying to work somewhere. That’s why I became involved with the monks’ project at Wat Damnak Pagoda.” Somnieng Hoeurn is the head monk at Wat Damnak Pagoda, a Buddhist temple in Siem Reap. When he met Ryder last January, there was an instant connection between the two men. When Hoeurn asked Ryder to help him take care of the children of Siem Reap Province, Ryder couldn’t refuse. The Life and Hope Association assistance program, based at Wat Damnak Pagoda, provides basic living assistance and educational opportunities to destitute children, including orphans and street children. If the children learn English, for example, they have a better chance of getting a job in tourism. “Dr. Ryder is very important and useful man for developing my program, the kind of man that my children and I need,” Hoeurn says. “He is full of skills and experiences, and most important he is a very good, kind man, and this world needs the people like him. I should not say that he is a dentist and a rich man…as you know, there are many rich men and women in the world, but they don’t do as him. Why? “In the Buddhism way, we can say that Dr. Ryder already has a name as a wise man, as this is how this kind of person always has done for this world.” Ryder says he is not so much religious as he is philosophical. He enjoys finding answers to life’s problems. However he’s described, Ryder’s life has been transformed by a remarkable commitment to less fortunate communities around the world. And perhaps more importantly, he has channeled his vision with perseverance, and a rare ability to follow through. In Cambodia, or any other country, people like Jon Ryder make a difference. 47 Let me tell you about one moment of joy in his life that maybe, I guess, I’m the only one who knows about. It was an October day, about four or five years ago. He and I always took a fall bike trip for three or four days. We had about 20 miles to go that day. The sky was deep October blue. The wind was on our backs, but we were getting tired. We stopped to rest in a small Illinois town along the border of Wisconsin; somewhere up near Freeport and Rockford, to eat a power bar. We found ourselves leaning against the iron Rev. Richard A. Swanson ’54 Campus Pastor 1966-99 November 22, 1932 — March 10, 2005 For those who could not attend the campus memorial service for the Rev. Richard “Swanie” Swanson on March 17, 2005, the following is an excerpt from the reflection presented by President Emeritus Dr. Thomas Tredway ’57, who traveled many miles with Swanie during almost 40 years of friendship. “Much has been said this week about Swanie’s listening and counseling…about his capacity to be completely present to the person with whom he found himself. And maybe that’s why he was such a help to so many people. Because he had moments in his life of hurting and wondering and being afraid, like we all do. But I can tell you too that he had times of great joy and great happiness and to be near him when he was exuding that happiness and joy was one of the greatest experiences many of us have ever had…. 48 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2005 railed fence of a cemetery in that small prairie town. We got to talking — as we did often on our bike rides— about God, about life and about its purpose. And somehow or another I mentioned one of the great Calvinist catechisms that children in the Presbyterian tradition still learn, I think, when they are becoming church members. It’s a question-andanswer catechism, and the question is this: What is the chief end of man? And the catechism gives this answer for those early Christian children to learn. The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. �Oh, Treddy,’ Swanie said to me. �To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’ And he leapt up on his Trek bicycle and sped off down the road as he always was, way ahead of me, yelling over his shoulder, �Enjoy Him forever!’” Alumni and other friends of Augustana are invited to add their memories of Pastor Swanson to those already posted at www.augustana.edu/ richardswanson.
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