AlumNotes

1993

Matt Fifolt completed his Ph.D. in educational leadership through a dual enrollment program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama. He works as the assistant director of experiential education at UAB. He and his wife, Staci, reside in Birmingham.

Tim Hunter and wife Pam (Kraatz) relocated to Macomb, Mich. Tim is a forecast analyst in the OnStar Division of General Motors. Pam is a stay-at-home mom for their sons, Joe, 5, and Tom, 3.

Kristin (Bierlein) Keltner of Indianapolis has been elected a shareholder in Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC. She concentrates her practice in labor and employment litigation and represents management in civil rights and other employment-related claims. Kristin also regularly presents training seminars on employment law issues to human resources professionals.

John Messerall and his production company, Live Oak Entertainment Group LLC, in association with BlowBack Films LLC, are slated to begin production on the independent 35mm feature film, “BlowBack.” John wrote the script for the film, which he also will direct. Shooting is scheduled to begin in April. Visit the Web site for more information: www.liveoakentertainment.com.

BIRTHS

To Jeana (Bullock) Ellis and husband David of Raleigh, N.C.: Lucile “Lucy” Jean, born on Nov. 6, 2006.

To Carl and Christine (Sabal ’94) Frey of Bay Village, Ohio: Benjamin Carl, born Aug. 29, 2006; joins sisters Eleanor, 8, Grace, 6, and

Lily, 2.

To Amy (Shimer) Lange and husband Michael of Dumfries, Va.: Megan, born in November 2006; joins sister Emily, 3.

To Sean Royer and wife Melissa of Lake Bluff, Ill.: Luca Thorpe, born May 7, 2006; joins brothers Rocco, 4, and Gianni, 2.

1994

Stacy (Lucke) Gatz and husband Jim reside in Hoffman Estates, Ill. They have one daughter, Amanda, born in June 2006; and Jim brings two sons, Garett, 16, and Brent, 14, to the family. Stacy is a facility manager with W.W. Grainger Inc.

Stephanie (Marshall) Guzik, husband Steven and their daughter, Chloe, reside in Chicago. Stephanie is the assistant director for the Office of Research Integrity at Rush University Medical Center.

Amy (Swift) Harkness and husband Doug reside in Chicago with their two daughters, Anna and Greta. Amy currently stays at home with the children. She is employed part time in the Operating Room at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Doug is a market manager in the Surface Chemistry Department at Akzo Nobel Chemical Co.

 Ellen (Luepke) Layton was elected partner in the Chicago office of Barnes & Thronburg LLP. She is a member of the firm’s health care department and focuses her practice in health care law. She has written and published on numerous health care topics. She is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and is admitted to practice in Illinois. Ellen also is a member of Ballet Chicago Board of Directors.

Paul Wilson of Berwyn, Ill., is assistant vice president of operations for Levy Security Corp. in Chicago. He was awarded the designation of Certified Protection Professional by the Professional Certification Board of ASIS International.

Jeffrey Wrage J.D. is a partner in the law firm Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman—Lawyers on the Square, in Valparaiso. He represents plain­tiffs in personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability cases. He holds certification as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

BIRTHS

To Rachel (Nolan) Borah and husband Daniel of Gilberts, Ill.: Jack Nolan, born on Feb. 4, 2006.

To Stephanie (Marshall) Guzik and husband Steven of Chicago: Chloe, born April 8, 2006.

To Amy (Swift) Harkness and husband Doug of Chicago: Anna Ellen, born July 8, 2006; joins sister Greta, 3.

To Mindy (Buster) Tillberg and husband Alan of Minneapolis, Kan.: Jacob Robert, born Oct. 15, 2006.

1995

Angela (Twardy) Burton and husband Carley reside in Schererville, Ind., with their three children, Abigail, Joshua, and Maxwell. Carley is the production and shipping coordinator for LaFarge North America. Angie is the scheduling and editing manager for Spies in Disguise, a mystery shopping company (www.spiesindisguise.com).

Robert Conaway and wife Nicole (Holman ’94) celebrated 11 years of marriage. They have two sons: Corbin, 9, and Holden, 7. Nicole is the principal at a local elementary school. Robert is the assistant vice president of Data Management at Wachovia Securities. They reside in Bolingbrook, Ill.

Ed Hearn J.D., wife Anna (Butkovsky ’99 J.D.) and their daughter, Isabella, reside in Valparaiso.

Lisa (Mitchell) Muller and her two children reside in London, England. She is the senior account manager for AMR Research, handling Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

BIRTHS

To Angela (Twardy) and Carley Burton of Schererville, Ind.: Maxwell Richard, born on July 13, 2006.

To Jack Nakashima and wife Angi of San Antonio: Simon Gabriel, born on Feb. 23, 2007; joins brother Ethan.

To Jeannine (Duesing) and Matthew Zahn of Apple Valley, Minn.: daughter Ainsley Marlyce, born on Jan. 5, 2007; joins brother Brennan, 3.

1996

Christian Nafzger was appointed as a special assistant United States attorney for the District of Idaho. He will prosecute gang-related crime in the state of Idaho. He and wife Jodi and

their two-year-old son, Henry, continue to live in Boise, Idaho.

BIRTHS

To Tara (Riggall) and Rob Johansen of Manchester, Mo.: August John; joins sisters Linnea and Kendra.

To Rene (Nisevich) Kosina and husband Joe of St. John, Ind.: Kailey Grace, born July 10, 2006; joins sister Brianne, 4.

To Jennifer (Fisher) and David Lee of Frankfort, Ill.: Michael Robert, born on July 10, 2006; joins siblings Matthew and Kaitlyn.

To Jennifer (Werderits) Refenning and husband Brady of Palm City, Fla.: Cason Jack, born April 5, 2007; joins brother Brennan.

1997

Jan (Gum) Boren earned her M.B.A. in health care administration from Bellvue University. She resides in Westville, Ind., and has worked at Porter Hospital for 19 years as a registered nurse. She is president of Porter’s nursing staff.

Patty (Brown) Dees J.D. retired from her position at Indiana University South Bend, where she was director of affirmative action. She had worked for the university since 2000. She previously was the assistant to the president at Saint Mary’s College, and worked in corporate law before coming to IUSB’s campus.

Robert Jenkins and his twin brother, Bill, own and operate The Bayou restaurant in Milwaukee, which features Cajun and Creole cuisine. In addition to the restaurant, Bill has operated the cocktail lounge, Cush, for five years.

 Jennifer (Staack) Minor and husband Kevin reside in Warrensburg, Mo., with their two daughters, Hannah, 7, and Hope, 4. Kevin is a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base. Jennifer volunteers as the treasurer of their children’s Christian school and is the president of the Whiteman AFB Officers’ Spouses’ Club. Their e-mail address is minorkj98@yahoo.com.

Adam Palmer, Woodbridge, Va., is director of the Office of Legal Counsel for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, was awarded the 2006 Community Service Award by the Washington, D.C., Association of Corporate Counsel. (See valpo.edu/valpomag/

features/city3.php.)

Diana Pecan J.D. is a partner in the law firm of Goldstine, Skrodzki, Russian, Nemec and Hoff Ltd., in Burr Ridge, Ill. She concentrates her practice in corporate and business law, includ­ing commercial transactions. She and her husband, Bill Kravcar, reside in Riverside, Ill.

Christina (Salgado) Sanchez and husband Eric reside in Beavercreek, Ohio. They have three sons, Joseph, Brendan and Kieran. (Kieran had a Cochlear implant on Dec. 29, 2006.) Christina works with teachers in struggling school districts as an academic coach through the No Child Left Behind Act. She looks forward to soon being a principal.

BIRTHS

To Wendy (Zimmerman) and Marcus Rothaar ’98 of Chicago: Annaliese Joy, born March 27, 2007.

To Beth (Hout) and Scott Sanders of Madison, Wis.: Ethan Scott, born on Jan. 18, 2007; joins brother Caleb, 3.

To Beckie (Ramstack) and John Thompson of Brookfield, Wis., Keira Cyan, born Dec. 18, 2006.

1998

Christine Bouffard bought a new home in Oswego, Ill. After working at Northern Illinois University for two years as an instructor of kinesiology and physical education, Christine moved on to a new position of instructor of exercise science at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Ill. She also helps with the college’s softball team as a pitching coach.

Teresa (Shudick) Hunt is a registered nurse. She works as a medical/surgical floor nurse at Porter Hospital in Valparaiso.

Joshua Lee and wife Jennifer (Ewert) live in Chicago. Jennifer is a mental health counselor with Thresholds, a Midwest mental health care provider. Joshua is an attorney with Schiff Hardin LLP. He was appointed vice chair of the Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Committee of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association. He also serves as a member of the editorial board of the section’s publication, TortSource.

Angela (Blahm) McPhee received a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She has begun a doctoral program in clinical psychology at Capella University.

Amy (Sahm) Nettles and husband Nelson celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in May. They reside in Greenwood, Ind., with their three children, Claire, Mia and Alex.

 Molly (Owen) Palmer J.D. has joined the Galesburg (Ill.) law firm of Stoerzbach Morrison PC. She worked as a practicing attorney for more than eight years and concentrates her practice of law in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, real estate, guardianship and elder law.

Sharon Schultz of Valparaiso received her M.B.A. degree in health care administration from Bellvue University. She is the assistant to the director in the obstetric unit. She began working at Porter Hospital in 1977.

Beth (Tassava) Stafford and husband Daniel live in the Netherlands and work for the development organization World Partners. The goal of the organization is to support entrepreneurs in Moldova by providing the resources that are necessary to develop their businesses while also supporting local Christian churches.

BIRTHS

To Amy (Sahm) Nettles and husband Nelson of Greenwood, Ind.: twin girls, Claire Elizabeth and Mia Marie, born Sept. 23, 2006; join brother Alex, 5.

To Beth (Tassava) Stafford and husband Daniel of Ede, the Netherlands (Alamosa, Colo.): Rebecca Lenore, born Oct. 24, 2006.

1999

Katea Frey of Phoenix has joined the Quarles & Brady Streich Lang LLP real estate practice. While earning her law degree at Georgetown University, she was the executive editor for the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, and worked with the Georgetown University Institute for Public Representation legal clinic. She was the recipient of the university’s Pro Bono Award.

Cheryl Lohrmann of Portland, Ore., is an office manager and designer for the Northwest Film Center. Cheryl made an animated short film, “Sid the Lid Meets Tumbleweed,” and has founded a group of artists called Leave No Plastic Behind. The group is working on an exhibit of individual works made of cast-off plastic packaging products.

BIRTHS

To Christine (Skultety) Bateman and husband Dale of New London, Conn.: Keleman Gabriel, born Dec. 29, 2006; joins brother Morgan.

To Anna (Butkovsky) Hearn J.D. and husband Ed ’95 J.D. of Valparaiso: Isabella Viera, born Feb. 13, 2006.

To Brigitte (Mullen) and Brian Pseja ’97 of Valparaiso: Hayden Alexander, born May 23, 2006; joins brother Ryan, 2.

2000

Jami (Holman) Cloud and husband Andrew reside in Portage, Ind., and have one son, Brayden Andrew, who was born in October 2006. Jami is the executive store manager at Barnes and Noble Booksellers in Valparaiso.

Susan (Thoney) Hazard earned the chartered financial analyst designation in 2006. She left her position as second vice president at Northern Trust Co. and returned to the full-time Duke M.B.A. program. She was awarded the Forte Foundation Scholarship for exemplary leadership. Forte is a consortium of top business schools and companies dedicated to providing education and direction to talented women.

Lynette Jones J.D. lives in Highland, Ind., with her son and nephew. She is a development director for The Caring Place in Valparaiso. She also is on the board of directors of the Indiana Ballet Northwest Indiana, and is an executive council member of Northwest Indiana Planned Giving Group.

Jessica (Amrozowicz) Kerins received her Ph.D. degree in genetics from Washington University in St. Louis in December 2006. She resides in Dallas where she is a post-doctoral fellow at Southern Methodist University. Mark ’00 is an assistant professor in the Department of Cinema-Television at Southern Methodist University.

Nichole (Connor) Towns graduated from the University of North Carolina with a master’s degree in nursing in May 2005. She works as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Piedmont Pediatrics in Concord, N.C. Husband Erron is a pediatrician.

Leslie (Moses) Williamson was ordained at Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Plaines, Ill., on June 9, 2007. The Reverend Paul R. Amdahl, bishop of the Metropolitan Church Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, presided.

MARRIAGE

Nichole Connor and Erron Towns, Oct. 28, 2005, Salisbury, N.C.

BIRTHS    

To Kristy (Rehlander) Bixler and husband Stephen of Noblesville, Ind.: Isabella Kathleen, born on Nov. 3, 2006.

To Bryan Pape J.D. and wife Stacy of Stafford, Va.: Hannah Katherine, born Jan. 22, 2007; joins two siblings.

2001

Jason Fechner anchors WQAD-TV’s newscasts on Friday and Saturday and reports several nights a week. Before joining WQAD, Jason worked at WXOW, the ABC-affiliate in LaCrosse, Wis. He earned his master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Heather (Iverson) Smith and husband Blaire reside in Gettysburg, Pa. In May 2006, Heather graduated with a master’s degree in social work from Temple University, as well as a M.A. in ministerial studies from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. She works as the director of Christian education and family ministry at Luther Memorial Church in Erie, Pa. Both Blaire and Heather were consecrated as the first diaconal ministers in the Northwest Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on June 8, in Greenville, Pa.

Tom Wang of Chicago is a firefighter and paramedic for the Mount Prospect Fire Department. He also is a member of the Valpo Admission Network (VAN).

MARRIAGE

Heather Iverson and Blaire P. Smith, Aug. 26, 2006, Delaware, Ohio.

BIRTHS

To Sarah (Wennerholm) and Douglas Allen ’98 of Aurora, Ill.: Lauren Naomi, born Nov. 24, 2006.

To Aubrie Divine-Scott and husband Nathan of Madison, Wis.: Sierra Jane, born Nov. 7, 2006.

To Angela (Orrico) and Jason Stockrahm ’00 of Lockport, Ill.: Jamison Edward, born Dec. 6, 2006; joins sister Alexa, 2.

To Jennifer (Waddington) and Daniel Zeigner ’00 of Valparaiso, Owen Daniel, born Jan. 11, 2007; joins sister Ella, 4.

2002

Kelly Berea is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Massachusetts. She specializes in property, contract and banking law, and serves as an associate counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty Co. in Chicago.

Becky Ditchfield has been signed on as the new morning/mid-day meteorologist for KUSA-TV (NBC Denver) 9News. She comes to the Gannett-owned station from KTHV, a CBS affiliate also owned by Gannet. She has worked for KTHV since 2004.

Chad Dorshorst and wife Lindsey reside in Muncie, Ind. Lindsey is a graduate assistant at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities, and Chad is the assistant director of outreach. He completed his master’s degree in political science from Ball State University in 2006. Lindsey is pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling.

Michael Hagenow received a master of divinity degree from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in June 2006. On March 4, 2007, the congregation of Clairemont Lutheran Church in San Diego called him as their associate pastor. He was ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on March 25, 2007, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Valparaiso and installed as associate pastor at Clairemont on April 1.

Joel Krause of McHenry, Ill., is a civil engineer II in water resources at Smith Engineering Consultants in McHenry. He became a certified floodplain manager by the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management in April 2006.

Bryan Swanson received his master’s degree in geography from Western Michigan University in 2005. The title of his thesis was, “Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Relations and the Social Production of Space in Isabella County, MI.” Bryan backpacked across Europe for a couple of months in fall 2005, stopping to visit relatives in Rome and Bolzano, Italy. In 2006, he accepted a full-time position as city planner for the Countryside, Ill. His e-mail address is bryan.swanson@gmail.com.

Scott and Julie (Meyer) Tyrcha reside in Waukesha, Wis. To view their June 17, 2006, wedding photos, go to www.tyrcha.com/wedding.

Shannon (Kruse) Wetzel and husband Mike reside in Elgin, Ill. Alumnae who took part in their April 21, 2007, wedding were: Kristy Paukner ’02, Melissa Kleinschmidt’02, and Annie (Mueller) May ’02.

MARRIAGES

Chad Dorshorst and Lindsey Muntz, Nov. 25, 2006, Elkhart, Ind.

Shannon Kruse and Mike Wetzel, April 21, 2007, Schaumburg, Ill.

Allison Miller and Adam Hoskinson, Aug. 5, 2006, Winetka, Ill.

Scott Tyrcha and Julie Meyer ’04, June 17, 2006, Wausau, Wis.

BIRTH

To Jennifer (Kunze) Bergman and husband Nicholas of Danville, Ind.: Emmaliza Cecilia Sophia, born Nov. 29, 2006.

2003

Justin Ballard resides in Lansing, Mich. He received his J.D. degree from Michigan State University College of Law and has plans to move to California in September and take the California bar exam. He continues work on a screenplay loosely based on the band, DURNIK.

 Jennifer (Bonner) Campbell ’06 J.D. is a member of the law firm of Singleton, Crist, Austgen & Sears LLP in Munster, Ind. She practices in the areas of tort litigation and worker’s compensation. She served on the VU Guild Advisory Team in restructuring the Guild and currently serves as a member of the VU Guild’s Board of Directors. Jennifer is married to Glen ’03, a civil engineer with American Structurepoint Inc., an Indianapolis-based company. He works out of the northwest Indiana branch office as a project engineer specializing in transportation design.

Petrit Hasa is a first lieutenant  in the Air Force, stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla. He is a wing weather officer with three years of military service and is assigned to the 325th Operational Support Squadron.

Jennifer (Hemmelgarn) Hensley and her husband, Thomas, have plans to move to California in July so Jenni can pursue her master’s degree in tropical meteorology. Jenni recently was promoted to the rank of captain in the U.S. Air Force.

Allison (Miller) Hoskinson works as a nanny for a family in Winnetka, Ill. Husband Adam is an engineer for Grainger Industrial Supply. Valpo alumni who attended their August 2006 wedding were: Sarah Wychor ’03, Lauren (Miller ’99) Toppen, Janice (Crane ’01) Miller, Lori (Koller ’76) Klatwitter, Chris Magee ’02, Lisa Kinsley ’03, Laura Connell ’03 and Karen (Saliga ’04) Pokrywczynski.

C. Michael Palmer M.Ed. has been named Instrumental Music Director at the Head-Royce School in Oakland, Calif.

MARRIAGE

Stephanie Loomis and Matt Pappas ’04, May 13, 2007, Disney World.

BIRTH

To Heather (Benson) Schoon and husband David of Highland, Ind.: Lainey Elizabeth, born on Jan. 22, 2007.

2004

Eric Brauer ’05 M.S. is in his second year as baseball coach for the Marquette High School Blazers, Michigan City (Ind.). Marquette is now one of the top teams in Class A. Also, under Eric’s guidance, Marquette has its own regulation field, freshly painted dugouts complete with helmet and batting racks, wind screens and more.

Mark Couser lives in Dallas and works in the inner city as director of the New Hope Community Center. He also is works at a suburban church, St. Paul Lutheran, in Plano, Texas, as their youth pastor.

Corey and Jayceen (Gee) Ensrude reside in St. Charles, Mo., where Jayceen works as a project manager at FireStream Worldwide, and Corey teaches fourth grade at Messiah Lutheran Church.

Phillip Garrett J.D. and his wife, Barbara, reside in LaPorte, Ind. Phillip is employed as an associate attorney for Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones LLP in LaPorte.

Erik Kabela received a Master of Science degree in agricultural meteorology from Iowa State University in spring 2006. He works as a meteorologist at the Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, S.C., which is part of the Savannah River Site, a U.S. Department of Energy facility. His wife, Megan (Bolton ’06), works at Houndslake Country Club in Aiken where she is a membership assistant.

Nicole Kenyon of Peru, Ill., graduated from Midwestern Univeristy Chicago College of Pharmacy with her doctorate in pharmacy in March 2007. She will now do a pharmacy practice residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

Caleb Kimmel and his wife, Kristen (Peterson ’04), live in Fort Wayne, Ind. Caleb, owner of Between the Lines, an organization that works to improve the skills and lives of young athletes, was invited by the Confederation of European Baseball to be a featured speaker at the European congressional meetings in Vilnius, Lithuania. His talk focused on The Rising Star Development Baseball Program and on organizational leadership and efficient coaching structure to enhance player development opportunities worldwide.

Robb Kolstad graduated with a master’s degree in public affairs from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University—Bloomington. Following graduation, Robb was awarded the L.P. Cookingham Fellowship and is currently working for the city manager of Kansas City, Mo.

Sarah Penrose teaches exploratory music at George Rogers Clark Middle School in Hammond, Ind. She is co-director for the middle school Student Council and Drama co-director. She also created the Web site for the Performing Arts Department at Clark.

Kristi (von Trebra) Weber received her doctorate in physical therapy in May 2007 from Marquette University. She and husband Chris ’04 continue to reside in Wauwatosa, Wis., where they both will be working at Froedtert Hospital while Chris completes his final year of medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Henry Yep of Arlington, Va., performed in a Washington Savoyards production of “The Merry Widow” in April 2007. In late 2006 he appeared on the stage with the Washington National Opera in “Madam Butterfly.”

MARRIAGES

Phillip Garrett J.D. and Barbara Pozywala, Oct. 28, 2006, South Bend, Ind.

Jayceen Gee and Corey Ensrude, June 24, 2006, St. Louis.

Sarah Jank ’85 M.B.A. and John Uhrich, May 26, 2007, Omaha, Neb.

2005

April (Williams) Garrett and husband William reside in Cincinnati, where April is a revenue agent for the Internal Revenue Service.

Liz Stelter graduated with her master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, this past May. She works as a consultant for Wonderlic Inc. in Libertyville, Ill.

2006

Tammy Lis of Roselle, Ill., won Lutheran General Hospital Nurses’ Choice Award for Beginning Practitioner for 2007.

Danielle Vale won the title of Mrs. Indiana-America in Indianapolis. She competes in the Mrs. America pageant in late August in Tucson. Danielle is a special events coordinator and currently attends Valpo’s School of Law. She is training for a YMCA triathlon and has almost obtained her black belt in tae kwon do.

Kevin Warner and wife Adrianne (Traen) reside in Littleton, Colo., where Kevin attends Denver Seminary. He is pursuing his master of divinity degree with a concentration in youth ministry. Adrianne works as a nurse in a Swedish Medical Center.

Brent Whitlock of Bettendorf, Iowa, is the voice of the Richmond High School’s basketball Red Devils on WKBV 1490-AM and has done news for Whitewater Broadcasting since September.

MARRIAGES

Tara Harrison and Kirk Heavner, Jan. 6, 2007, Lincolnton, N.C.

Kevin Warner and Adrianne Traen, June 25, 2006, Naperville, Ill.
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