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Alumni Awards

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Annually, during Alumni Weekend, Ripon College has the privilege to present its alumni with the following honors:

If you would like to be involved in future nominations, please use the Nomination Form.

The Distinguished Alumni Citation recognizes those alumni who, in thought and deed, embody the highest ideals and aspirations of a Ripon College education. Candidates may be selected on any one of the following criteria: distinction in his/her chosen field or profession (distinctive achievement); rendering outstanding service to his/her country, state or community (outstanding service); or rendering outstanding service to, and demonstrating a loyal and active interest in Ripon College (meritorious service). This year’s recipients are as follows:

2023 Recipients
 

Nancy Wadley Keough ’67

 

Justin W. Niebank ’78

 

Jerry L. Waukau ’78

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes and honors recent Ripon College graduates (10 years or less from graduation) who have, through personal efforts and commitment to the College or their local communities, distinguished themselves among their peers. This year’s recipients are as follows:

2023 Recipients
 

James-Mark Ooko-Ombaka ’16

The Ripon College Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1979 by the Alumni Association Board of Directors to recognize alumni and coaches who have distinguished themselves through their participation in Ripon athletic programs. This year’s inductees are as follows:

2023 Recipients
 

Jacob L. Gahart ’13

 

Taylor T. Koth ’13

 

Michelle M. Matter ’13

 

Adam D. Sellner ’13

 

Kirk P. Wilderspin ’99

 

Stephanie Rieuwpassa Willms ’13

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Aris Wurtz '12

Aristotle B. Wurtz ’12

Aristotle B. Wurtz ’12 is one of the most accomplished players in the storied history of Ripon’s men’s basketball program. A three-time First Team All-Conference and three-time All-Region selection, Wurtz earned All-American honors as a senior. Also a two-time Academic All-American, Wurtz became the first Ripon player to ever be named Division-III Academic Player of the Year. That same season (2012), he also became Ripon’s first-ever Jostens Trophy winner, given annually to the best Division-III basketball student-athlete on the basis of basketball ability, academic ability and community service. Wurtz graduated with the highest career free throw percentage in program history (.850), which still ranks third. He also currently ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,821) and points per game (19.8), fifth in rebounds (578), and sixth in 3-pointers made (144).

At Ripon, he majored in economics, business management and philosophy. He works for Du Frane Moving Co. A native of Brandon, Wisconsin, he now lives in Fond du Lac.

Natalie Geenen Anderson '09

Natalie Geenen Anderson ’09

Natalie Geenen Anderson ’09 never missed a game during her four-year softball career at Ripon College, and is one of the most decorated players in program history. She was a four-time All-Conference selection as the team’s shortstop, earning MWC North Player of the Year honors on two occasions. A member of Ripon’s first-ever MWC Championship and NCAA Tournament team, Anderson still holds the school record for career runs scored (105) and graduated as the program’s record holder in career doubles, currently ranking second with 39. She also still ranks second in program history for career hits (161) and home runs (17), third in triples (13) and stolen bases (29), sixth in batting average (.368), and eighth in runs batted in (68). Natalie is the only softball or baseball player in Wisconsin history to play in the Little League World series, state high school championship game, and NCAA tournament.

At Ripon, Natalie majored in exercise science and participated in intramurals.​ She also played one year of volleyball for the Red Hawks, finishing her career with 52 kills, 78 digs, nine service aces, and six total blocks. ​Natalie is originally from Appleton and currently works as a registered nurse at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison. She and her husband, Brian, reside in Evansville with their daughter Averie.

Kevin Weber '98

Kevin G. Weber ’98

Kevin G. Weber ’98 graduated as the winningest singles player in Ripon’s men’s tennis history. He compiled a career record of 73-10 during his four years with the Red Hawks, which currently stands as the third-most wins in program history. A three-time MWC singles champion in three different flights, Weber also teamed up with fellow Ripon Hall of Fame inductee Mike Milburn ’97 to advance to the semifinals of the 1997 NCAA Division-III Doubles Tournament. That duo finished their career with a 58-19 career doubles record, the third-most victories by a doubles team in program history. Together, they earned All-American honors as a doubles team in 1997, while helping Ripon win two MWC Team Championships during their career.

At Ripon, he majored in politics and government and participated in Phi Kappa Pi (Merriman). He is a member of the Red Hawks Club. He now plays platform tennis (paddle) and won the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area Platform Tennis Association (MAPTA) 20+ PTI Tournament in December 2021.

Originally from Wilmette, Illinois, Kevin resides in Limerick, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Karen, and their daughter Katie. He works as product owner for brokerage platforms for Vanguard.

Mike Milburn '97

Michael J. Milburn ’97

Michael J. Milburn ’97 graduated with the second-most singles victories in Ripon’s men’s tennis history, compiling a career record of 69-16, which still ranks sixth in school history. A two-time MWC singles champion (1994 and 1997), Milburn also teamed up with fellow Ripon Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Weber ’98 to advance to the semifinals of the 1997 NCAA Division-III Doubles Tournament. That duo finished their career with a 58-19 career doubles record, the third-most victories by a doubles team in program history. Together, they earned All-American honors as a doubles team in 1997, while helping Ripon win two MWC Team Championships during their career. Milburn was also a part of two MWC Team Championships.

At Ripon, Mike majored in politics and government with a minor in philosophy. He served on the Alumni Board from 2015-2018, and hosted students on the Career Discovery Tour twice. He has served on the Board of Trustees for Ripon College since the fall of 2018. Originally from Oak Park, Illinois, Mike currently lives in Austin, Texas, with Samantha Stammet, and son, Beckham.

Mike Dietrick '97

Michael J. Diedrick ’97

Michael J. Diedrick ’97 was a two-sport student-athlete at Ripon College, competing in both football and track & field. On the gridiron, Diedrick was a three-time All-Conference wide receiver, earning First Team honors during his junior year. A key member of Ripon’s 1996 MWC Championship team as a senior, Diedrick still ranks fifth in program history with 24 receiving touchdowns, 25 years after his graduation, while also ranking eighth in receptions (105), and 10th in receiving yards (1,593). As a member of Ripon’s track team, Diedrick was part of the program’s school record relay in the outdoor 4×200 meters (1:33.27), which was set in 1996, but has since been broken.

At Ripon, he majored in business management. A native of Kaukauna, Mike resides in Delafield with his wife Nicole, and their two children, Stella and Ace. He currently serves as director and chief operating officer for IBM Watson Health.

Susan Bundock headshot

Susan J. Bundock ’82

Susan J. Bundock ’82 retired in July 2021 after 39 years with C-SPAN, where she most recently was executive producer of American History TV.

Before that, she managed programming operations, and produced coverage of the White House, Congress, international events, presidential campaigns and political conventions. She started as a production assistant in September 1982 just a few months after graduating from Ripon College.

She hosted students on the Career Discovery Tour in 2015 and 2017.

At Ripon, Susan had a self-designed major in politics and communication, wrote a weekly column for College Days and worked for WRPN. As a senior, she was a staff writer for the Fond du Lac Reporter newspaper.

Her hometown is Deerfield, Illinois. She lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with her husband, Matthew Johnson ’82. Their children are Emily and Alex.

Bradley Alberts headshot

Bradley W. Alberts ’92

Bradley W. Alberts ’92 is president/CEO of the Dallas Stars Hockey Club in Dallas, Texas.

He is a board member for the Dallas Sports Commission, American Cancer Society CEO Board, DISE (Dallas Influencers in Sports and Entertainment), American Airlines Center and Pro Players Foundation. He is listed on The Dallas 500, a selection of the most powerful business leaders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

At Ripon, he majored in history, was a Pickard Award winner in 1992 and served on the Alumni Board of Directors from 2004-2007. He played basketball and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2019, he hosted students on the Career Discovery Tour program.

Brad lives in Dallas with his wife, Kate, and daughter, Grace.

Erin R. Schaick ’12

Erin R. Schaick ’12 is vice president and director of development and community relations for CATCH Neighborhood Housing in Concord, New Hampshire.

She is active in the community. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Concord 2018, a current Fellow in the Hoffman-Haas Fellowship Program of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, and immediate past chair of the Concord Young Professionals Network.

She served on the board of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce from 2019-2021 and is a member of the chamber’s Leadership Greater Concord Steering Committee and Business Grants Committee. She is a volunteer and former blogger for Stay Work Play New Hampshire and was honored by the New Hampshire Union Leader’s 40 Under Forty Award in 2020. In May 2022, Erin was honored as the Young Professional of the Year by the Concord Young Professionals Network and Concord Chamber of Commerce.

At Ripon, she majored in communication with minors in nonprofit business management and religion. She was involved with numerous activities, including the Student Media + Activities Committee, Amnesty International and choral ensembles, and she raised money through the Mr. Ripon Pageant for two years through the Applied Communication class. She has been a Class Agent for the Ripon College Class of 2012 since 2014.

Erin’s hometown is Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and she now lives in Concord, New Hampshire.

Gisela Ortega headshot

Gisela J. Ortega ’12

Gisela J. Ortega ’12 is the Director of Startup Community for gener8tor, a Milwaukee turnkey platform for the creative economy that connects startup founders, musicians, artists, investors, universities and corporations. She has been instrumental in the growth of gener8tor.

At gener8tor she spearheads growth and community connections for startup founders and is devoted to making sure there is equitable access to resources and capital for founders. Prior to gener8tor, Gisela worked in a variety of non-profit organizations and within local government at the City of Milwaukee focusing on affordable housing, small business development and resident engagement in predominantly black and brown neighborhoods.

She is an active volunteer for many community organizations, including being a Big Sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, a board member of the Urban Economic Development Corp and participates in various committees across various organizations in the city of Milwaukee. She has made a lasting impact in the Community Development world in Milwaukee by creating the first Resident Leadership program at the City of Milwaukee and won the PNC Bank Trailblazer Award at the LISC MANDI Awards for her community organizing efforts and impact. She has also been acknowledged by the City of Milwaukee for policy efforts in helping create and pass the framework for Employee Resource Groups and founding of the first Latinx Employee Resource Group for the City of Milwaukee.

At gener8tor she created and led the first event focused on directing venture capital to black and brown founders becoming the most successful event at gener8tor to date and creating a lasting impact with startup companies being funded, helping address the inequities of less than 2% of venture capital going to black and brown founders.

At Ripon, she majored in Global Studies and Spanish and participated in the Women’s Soccer Team, Amnesty International and the Black Student Union. She has been a member of the Ripon College Alumni Board since July 2021.

Originally from San Francisco, California, Gisela currently resides in Milwaukee with her husband, Zachary Vornholt ’13.