R Connections

PAUL R. BERENS ’63 of Appleton, Wisconsin, died March 28, 2021. At Ripon, he studied economics and history. He was a member of Partners in the Legacy. He obtained a teaching certificate from Lawrence University and was a member of the National Guard. He had worked in retail clothing, had an antique booth at a downtown Appleton mall, and also was a teacher in the Milwaukee public school system. He enjoyed travelling, shopping and collecting antiques.

Full Obituary:

PAUL ROY BERENS ’63 passed away peacefully on Sunday March 28th, 2021 at Frontida Assisted Living in Kimberly where he had been a resident since October of 2020. He was born on July 29 to the late Sylvester and Sylvia (Rabe) Berens. Over the years, Paul worked in retail clothing, had an antique booth at a downtown Appleton mall, and also was a teacher in the Milwaukee public school system. He attended St. Norbert’s High School, earned his bachelor’s degree from Ripon College and obtained his teaching certificate from Lawrence College. He also was a member of the National Guard. Paul thoroughly enjoyed shopping, loved Christmas, appreciated any opportunity to travel with his dear friend Laury and loved collecting antiques. He was a grateful member of A.A. for close to 50 years. He will be remembered by family and friends for his goofy smile and quick wit with a hint of sarcasm! Paul was kind-hearted and endeared by those who knew him best…he will be missed.

Paul is survived by his brother, Peter E Berens (Sandy Stevens-Berens); his grand-nephew Will Berens; and nephew Nick C. Berens. He also is survived by his close friend Laury Ellis; cousins, Paul Gremmer and Lucy Motley; and friends, Frank Fischer and Marcia Miracle. Paul was preceded in death by his parents Sylvester and Sylvia (Rabe) Berens; brothers, John and James Berens; and his nieces, Rachel Berens and Leah Berens.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established for scholarships at Ripon College (https://www.ripon.edu/make-a-gift/). 

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

1960 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

DEBORAH JOHNSON VAN SLYKE ’60
H: (480) 284-5564 / C: (619) 889-5061 / [email protected]

Greetings, Classmates,

It is going to be a very short letter this time as it seems that most of you are hibernating or have forgotten how to get in touch with me.

Class Notes:

CHARLIE MORGAN ’60 and Samm have moved from Ponte Vedra, Florida, to The Villages.

KARL PIOTROWSKI ’60 of Aiea Oahu, Hawaii, has added his son, Brian, to his construction business in Honolulu. His daughter, Joy, and her husband are in Kenya.

Our author, KEN LUBER ’60 of Idyllwild, California, has written a children’s book “Molly & Milty – A Love Story.” The book is about a friendship between a cat and a dog. You can read more about it on his blog: http://kenluber.blogspot.com/2021/.

As for you faithful writer in the furnace of Arizona, please keep in touch.

Here are some updates from Ripon College:

Alumni Weekend:
Alumni and guests from 29 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, were on campus, Aug. 6-8, representing the classes of 1961 to 2023, for the first-ever August Alumni Weekend after COVID-19 put a pause on campus events over the past 18 months. Our 60th Class Reunion was celebrated as part of the Golden R Reunion with the Classes of 1970 and 1971. Save the date for Alumni Weekend 2022, which will go back to our traditional end of June date: June 23-26, 2022.

Past Fiscal Year Update:
A record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world supported Ripon’s fourth annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, reminding us all that regardless of the circumstances, Red Hawks come together.
Thank you to the over 3,600 donors who supported the College this past fiscal year through the Ripon Fund and other initiatives.

Campus Upgrades:
The McCullough Family Lounge in Farr Hall of Science — a favorite location of students for studying and collaborative work — recently received an extreme makeover with the intent of making the space more contemporary and technologically friendly. The renovations were made possible by a lead gift from Trustee PHILIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, and his wife, Pat ’04. Also, a new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall, which will be a great asset for the math and computer science departments.

Endowment:
The endowment recently hit an all-time high and as of Thursday, August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million.

Start of the Academic Year:
Classes started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID safety protocols

Online Publications:
You can read the latest editions of the Ripon Magazine online at this link: ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications/.

Send me your updates at any time. I enjoy hearing from you.

Stay well. Stay happy and bless you all.

DEB

Submitted by: Class Agent: Deborah Johnson Van Slyke

1959 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

DAVID MIRISCH ’59

www.dmirisch.com

(760) 715-0580 / [email protected]

Dear Class of 1959,

I know this past year has been different for all of us, but I hope you are feeling well as we all reach the mid ’80s. I am pleased and blessed to say I am fine and still staying active. The full length documentary on my life, “David Mirisch – The Man Behind the Golden Stars,” has already been accepted into 18 Film Festivals. One was the Coronado (California) Film Festival where my wife Sandy and I traveled from our home in Montana to be there, and where 60 of our Southern California friends joined us. And, at the age of 86, I became the Executive Producer of a feature film that takes place in 1890 and was shot totally in and around Missoula. 

If you have anything about your activities drop me an email at [email protected] and I will be sure to get it into our next Class Letter to keep us all connected. Perhaps, you just want to let me know what you enjoy watching on TV, or what you are reading about, or simply how you are passing the time with hobbies or travel. Maybe we can simply reminisce about memories from Ripon College? What was your favorite fall or winter activity on campus? I would really enjoy hearing any update or news from you, and I think our fellow classmates would, too. I welcome phone calls, emails, or letters. 

A reminder that if you can make it back to Alumni Weekend at Ripon College, all of us are part of the Golden R Reunion annual celebration now that we have surpassed our 50th Class Reunion. Alumni Weekend 2022 will be June 23-26. If you plan to travel to Ripon for Alumni Weekend, hotel room blocks are now available by calling the Heidel House in Green Lake (920-807-0300) or Cobblestone Suites in Ripon (920-748-5500), and asking for the Ripon College Alumni Weekend rate. 

Stay safe and well.

God Bless.

DAVID MIRISCH ’59

Submitted by: Class Agent: David Mirisch

1956 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

GLORIA BERTSCHIE LUDDECKE ’56

(813) 468-0997 / [email protected]

Greetings, 1956ers!

Well, folks, it’s that time of year again to update you as to any College news or any news that I have heard from any of you.

Below are notes from your classmates in order as I received them. 

PETER PORATH ’56 of Camden, South Carolina, did not graduate but rather went into service. He is or was a lawyer. I only talked with him through a phone call so my memory does not always keep all the information. He is still keeping in touch. 

ROGER GERTENRICH ’56 of Portland, Oregon, wrote, “I served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Korea. I then graduated from Northwestern University Dental School. Then my wife, Caryl, and I moved to Oregon. We have been married 61 years and have four kids and seven grandkids. I retired from dentistry and was a Salem, Oregon City Councilman and its mayor before moving to Portland, Oregon. We love Oregon. I have done dental exams on many fish before releasing them.”

CAROLYN CALLAHAN LANDWEHR ’55 of Glendale, Wisconsin, wrote with some sad news: JAMES B. LANDWEHR ’56 of Glendale, Wisconsin, died May 8, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in English and participated in student government. He stayed active in several ways, including serving on Class Reunion committees and as Class Agent. He served in the Coast Guard and particularly enjoyed being stationed in Alaska. He worked for GM’s AC Spark Plug for the space program and First National Bank (now US Bank). He was involved in his children’s sports, coached boys’ and girls’ softball, and was a swim official for the swim clubs and high school swim teams. After retiring, he volunteered with the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, researching and lecturing on the history of the Great Lakes. Survivors include his wife CAROLYN CALLAHAN LANDWEHR ’55; two sons and two daughters. Carolyn said four wonderful “kids.” They were married 62+ years. Carolyn said, “We all want to keep learning.” I agree with her. 

GERALDINE “GERRY” JENSEN JAMES ’56 of Dunwoody, Georgia (metro Atlanta area) married JERRY JAMES ’55 in November 1957. She writes, “We lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then Brookfield, Wisconsin, where two daughters were born eventually moving to the Atlanta area in 1964 where one daughter and one son were born. All four children live in the area including seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter born last year. Although I worked for several other national companies, the majority of my working career was spent working for several of the Johnson and Johnson companies until retirement in 1999. JERRY passed away August 2013 after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. I have been an active volunteer and part-time employee at one of the Emory University hospitals during the past twenty-one years. I also volunteer at church plus sing with a community senior choir. As the pandemic has caused a curtailment of my volunteering this year, I look forward to returning ASAP.”

My news: GLORIA BERTSCHIE LUDDECKE ’56 of Saint Pete Beach, Florida, goes to a senior center on a bus five days a week. I drive, but I don’t like it as well as I used to. At the center, I volunteered to play the piano for a sing-a-long while another member of the group sang the words with a microphone. Plans for the next sing-a-long include another person who sings and plays. We hope to alternate- each of us playing piano on some songs and leading the singing on the microphone on some of the songs. We also have open mic days during which I have told a story or played the piano or sang with the Karaoke machine. At church, I play the keyboard once a month at a nursing home while other church members lead singing or lead a mini service with a homily. I enjoy playing Scrabble, Rummikub, and Kings in the Corner (a card game) with friends. 

I wish I had more class news to share but, as Bugs Bunny used to say “That’s all folks!” Or was it Elmer Fudd at the end of the cartoon?

I hope all of you are keeping the College up to date as your address including zip code, your phone number, and your email address. Please send all updates to Ripon College by contacting me or by filling out the online form at alumni.ripon.edu/services/update-info/ or by emailing [email protected].

Be sure to read the Ripon Magazine mailed to you twice a year. In the Memoriam section – in case you missed it in the summer 2020 edition of the Ripon Magazine – 

ROXANA GRISEWOLD FOREMAN ’56 of Richmond, Virginia, died April 19, 2020.

JOHN WEMPLE ’56 of Naples, Florida died March 15, 2020.

The Ripon Magazine also contains other interesting articles about alumni of Ripon College. 

RIPON COLLEGE NEWS OF NOTE

During Alumni Weekend this past August, 29 states were represented, including Alaska and Hawaii. The classes of 1961 to 2023 were represented. None of the 50’s crowd. Alumni Weekend for next year is planned for June 23-26, 2022.

2,087 donors supported the annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, with a total of 3,600 donors this past fiscal year. 

The endowment hit an all-time high as of August 29, 2021, with $112 million. We have some alumni with money to pass on to others!

The McCullough Family Lounge received an extreme makeover with contemporary and technology being the focus. These were made possible through a lead from a Trustee PHILLIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04 and his wife Pat. Also, a new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall with a focus on math and computer science.

Classes started on Monday, August 30. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac Health County Health guidelines regarding safety protocols. 

For those using Facebook, check Ripon College (facebook.com/ripon.college) and Ripon College Center for Diversity and Inclusion (facebook.com/ripondiversity). 

So long for now. Hope to hear more from you,

Your Class of 1956 Class Agent,

GLORIA BERTSCHIE LUDDECKE ’56

Submitted by: Class Agent: Gloria Bertschie Luddecke

1964 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

PAT OSTROM KOHNEN ’64

(925) 201-7377 / [email protected]

Greetings to my ’64 Classmates,

I was hoping that by the time I wrote this Fall Letter most of COVID would be behind us. We are still being very careful here at Stoneridge Creek even though there is a high percentage of both residents and employees vaccinated. Outside guests can still only dine with residents at outside venues. Some excursions have started again. A group of us went to the Legion of Honor Art Museum in San Francisco. In order to dine inside at the Café we needed to show proof of vaccination. Some of my friends are starting to travel again, but I am waiting until 2022. I am thinking about a Great Lakes Cruise. Our Book Club is still meeting via Zoom, but a few of the clubs or committees are starting to meet in person with masks. My granddaughter in Sacramento is back at school in-person, but my three granddaughters in the Philippines are still doing distance learning.  

My oldest granddaughter who turned 25 on July 4th has moved back to California with her fiancé; she now works for the Sacramento Police Department. She was a criminal justice major in college.

I hope that you are doing well. Aging does come with challenges, but I am trying to keep fit. I now have a personal trainer twice a week to help keep me on track. I think word games are good for the mind. I have recently started to play Quiddler; it is a card game similar to Scrabble. It takes some thought, but not so much that we cannot chat while we play. Reading continues to be a special pleasure for me. During the pandemic I started to explore Netflix.

Alumni and guests from 29 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, were on campus, August 6-8, representing the classes of 1961 to 2023, for the first ever August Alumni Weekend. The weekend included a Commencement Ceremony for the Class of ’20. Next year the Alumni Weekend date will be June 23-26, 2022.

Classes started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. There are 250 first year students and nine transfer students. Seventy-one percent of the incoming class comes from Wisconsin. 74 students represent the 23 other states. The male/female ratio is 52%/48%. Ethnicity is 78% White, 11% Hispanic, 4% Black and 7% other. There are 100 first generation college students. The most common names among the class are Emily/Emilie, Isabelle/Isabella and Jacob.

Thank you to the over 3,600 donors who supported the College this past fiscal year through the Ripon Fund and other initiatives. Many of you have been generous over the years. Even if you have never donated before this could be your year to make a donation. Before my husband, JIM KOHNEN ’64, died, we decided to include Ripon in our will. The College endowment recently hit an all-time high of $112 million.

I have some sad news to share, including that our classmates BILL BEYER ’64 died on July 24, 2021, and BARBARA CARLSON WATTMAN ’64 died May 28, 2020. 

WILLIAM “BILL” BEYER ’64 of Greenleaf, Wisconsin, died July 24, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in chemistry, participated in Theta Chi and was commissioned through ROTC. He had worked in healthcare. Survivors include his wife, CAROL HABERKORN BEYER ’66; and children, including ELISABETH BEYER NOLEN ’86. BILL BEYER ’64 and I were both chemistry majors and he was a Theta Chi fraternity brother of my husband JIM KOHNEN ’64.

BARBARA CARLSON WATTMAN ’64 of Wichita, Kansas, died May 28, 2020. At Ripon, she studied art. She also studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, earned a degree in art history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and studied at Wichita State University. She taught at Wichita State and the Wichita Art Association. She was active in the Oz Bicycle Club; and was a member of the Scandinavian Society, researched her Swedish heritage and traveled to Sweden four times. Later in life, she earned a master’s degree in gerontology and worked in the memory care unit at Catholic Care Center. She was active in the Adoration group at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Survivors include one son and two daughters.

RONALD SCOTT HEIDERICH ’64 of Saint Paul, Minnesota, writes, “My wife Kathy Heiderich died September 21, 2020. 57.5 years married! Love of my life. Died of renal cancer.”

RICHARD L. MOSCHEL ’64 of Ely, Minnesota, writes, “This was a year of staying in!”

I did not receive any other class information to share either from the College or from you. Let me know how you are doing; so I can share some class notes in my next letter.

Stay Safe,

Pat Ostrom Kohnen ’64

Submitted by: Class Agent: Pat Ostrom Kohnen

1966 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

BARRY SIMON ’66

(505) 967-5225 / [email protected]

Dear Classmates of 1966,

For the past several Ripon bulletins with updates about members of various classes, we have been missing. And so, I bit the bullet and volunteered to be the Class Agent for 1966. Not very democratic, but…here we are.

1966. A long time ago. 55 years ago. We have all been on our personal journeys. Until our class disappeared from the update bulletins, I had been able to follow the initial steps we took to further our education with advanced degrees or to start our careers. I was always amazed at how many went on to careers in major businesses, moving up the corporate ladder to successful positions. I guess I didn’t realize the role business education played in our undergraduate years as I was planning for a career as a high school English teacher with some involvement in theater and chorus. The road I took eventually lead to a 25-year career in the television/film industry.

Then there were the marriages and growing families. Children were born and then grandchildren. Only recently did I become a grandfather when my husband’s daughter and her wife adopted a three-week-old baby. I now understand the joy of watching a child grow and develop from just a bundle to an alert and learning one one-year old child. Meanwhile, I have spent the ten years volunteering for Albuquerque Reads (the teacher is still in me), helping kindergarten kids with their developing reading skills. With some students it is a delight; with others it is a struggle; and with some it is a real challenge overcoming their developmental and emotional needs. But watching my granddaughter grow through a series of pictures sent daily from Brooklyn by her parents has been its own, ecstatic journey. Plus, I love sending her books and seeing pictures of her “reading.” The latest was her holding the New York Times…upside down. You have to start somewhere.

Now, at nearly 78, it’s about retirement. And while I have plans for the future—well, at least for tomorrow—I know that the years ahead are much shorter than the future when I left Ripon, diploma under my arm and hopes and dreams filling my imagination. I don’t know about you, but when I look back at my journey I am really taken aback at where I have been, the names I can’t remember, the challenges I faced, the successes I had, the regrets I harbor, the relationships I have been in and, in general, my life from the Midwest to the West Coast to the Southwest. 

I suspect that you, too, have had an interesting journey since 1966. And so, before the next Class Letter deadline approaches, I ask you to share where you are now: what are you doing, what you are proudest of, and what you look forward to in the days/years ahead. I welcome you to email me at [email protected] or call me at (505) 967-5225. 

Thanks for taking the time to write, and I look forward to reading your observations. Finally, the Class of 1966 is back!

Your Unelected Class Agent,

BARRY SIMON ’66

Submitted by: Class Agent: Barry Simon

1976 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

MICHELE BARAN WITTLER ’76

[email protected]

PETER TUZ ’76

[email protected]

Hello, Members of the Class of 1976,

Our 45th Reunion has come and gone. Alumni and guests from 29 states were on campus August 6-8 representing classes from 1961 to 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first Alumni Weekend held in August and probably the last. Plans are to hold next year’s Alumni Weekend at the traditional end of June period which falls June 23-26 in 2022. Members of our class who participated included STEVE BINKLEY ’76, JULIE CARLSON ’76, ALLEN MCCUE ’76, TOM BROMAN ’76, MARK TESLIK ’76 and MICHELE BARAN WITTLER ’76. STEVE and MICHELE were presented to the school with a check for $100,000 raised from members of our Class of 1976. Our contributions matter, and we are grateful to all who participated.

There is a lot of other good news from Ripon you might be interested in.

On April 28, 2021 donors from around the world participated in Ripon’s fourth annual day of giving, known as #OneDayRally. In total, more than 3,600 donors supported Ripon this past fiscal year through the Ripon Fund and other fund-raising initiatives.

The campus continues to get some much-needed face-lifting.

In Farr Hall of Science, the McCullough Family Lounge recently received an extreme makeover with the intent of making the space more contemporary and technologically friendly. The renovations were made possible by a lead gift from Trustee PHILIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, and his wife, Pat.

A new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall, which will be a great asset for our Department of Mathematical Sciences, as well as other departments. 

In addition, thanks to generous donors, strong markets and great leadership, Ripon’s endowment recently hit an all-time high and was at $112 million as of as of Thursday, August 19, 2021.

Like many educational institutions around the country, Ripon started full in person classes on Monday, August 30th. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety protocols. There is a comprehensive program to help the campus community with vaccinations if needed.

We have some sad news to share of our classmate:

JEFFREY P. CLARK ’76 of Poynette, Wisconsin, died May 9, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in baseball, Phi Kappa Pi, Phi Beta Kappa, Partners in the Legacy and other Ripon memberships. He received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He worked for his entire 42-year career at Lathrop (later Boardman) & Clark. He served as president of the State Bar of the Wisconsin Elder Law & Special Needs Section, and of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He loved sports, especially the UW Badgers football and basketball, and played curling and golf. He enjoyed landscaping, history and travelling. Survivors include his wife, Susan; son ADAM CLARK ’07; daughter LAURA CLARK CULLINANE ’02; and brothers JAMES CLARK ’68 and JOHN CLARK ’71.

Lastly, we are happy to correct a grievous error that was published in the Ripon Magazine a few months ago — GEORGE ANASTOS ’76 is still with us! In an almost unbelievable series of unfortunate coincidences, we were given information that a George C. Anastos of Cottage Grove, Minnesota had passed away in February 2021. However, he was not the GEORGE C. ANASTOS ’76 who attended Ripon and graduated with us in 1976. All of us look forward to seeing GEORGE at a future Class Reunion. Sincere apologies to GEORGE! 

Speaking of reunions, are you involved in gatherings with members of class? Let us know about your news and about these gatherings. There is something precious about being in touch and being together. STEVE PUGH ’76 and BABS JANSSEN PUGH ’78 were recently on campus as a stop on their months-long holiday trip from New Hampshire to Wisconsin. They loved touring the Willmore Center and STEVE PUGH ’76 reminisced about a PE swim class with CANDI HUTCHISON ’76 and SARA REDMAN JUMP ’76 helping a classmate who broke his ankle jumping off the diving board. DAN SHERMAN ’76 was also on campus in August; he was on a motorcycle trip from New England to points west and back. In a couple of weeks a group of Alpha Delta Pi sisters, including JUDY REISINGER DAVIS ’76/P’10, CAROL WARREN SACHEN ’76, and PEGGY ZAREK ODDO ’76 will be gathering in Door County. In October, JULIE CARLSON ’76, SHANE MCCAMEY ’76, GLENN PINCUS ’76, FRED THEISEN ’76, JEFF GILLIS ’76/P’09, BETH GALLER GILLIS ’78/P’09, and SHARON GRIGGINS ’76 will gather in Green Lake and spend some time on campus. This summer, GAIL DOBISH ’76, spoke at a Green Lake Festival of Music event honoring the founder of the Festival, Ripon College Professor of Music Doug Morris.

It would be wonderful to gather on campus during each Alumni Weekend. And, it is not too early to think ahead to our 50th Class Reunion, a very special occasion in 2026! 

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you.

All good wishes,

PETER TUZ ’76

MICHELE BARAN WITTLER ’76

Submitted by: Class Agent: Jondi Gumz

1970 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Outgoing Class Agent:

SUSAN HECHT GEBHARDT ’70

We are currently searching for a new Class Agent.

Dear Class of 1970,

After waiting patiently for your Class Reunion to be celebrated, it sure was nice to be able to celebrate your class during August’s Alumni Weekend festivities. For those of you who could attend, it was a joy to have you back at your Alma Mater, a place that you can always call home. For those of you who we missed, please know that you are always welcome back at any time. All of you are now part of the Golden R Club, which you automatically join once you celebrate your 50th Class Reunion. There is a special celebration at each Alumni Weekend for Golden R Club members, which you are always welcome. This past Alumni Weekend, there were alumni and guests from 29 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, on campus August 6-8, representing the classes of 1961 through 2023, for the first-ever August Alumni Weekend after COVID-19 put a pause on campus events over the past 18 months. Your class had 17 people attend the Saturday evening gathering. Enclosed you will find your official 50th Reunion photo commemorating this milestone event. Save the date for Alumni Weekend 2022, which will go back to the traditional end of June date: June 23-26, 2022. We had two of your classmates submit their reflections from the weekend that are shared with you below.

JON MEYER ’70 of Aberdeen, Washington, writes “I want to thank all the Ripon people who helped during my Class Reunion. They were unfailingly polite, efficient, and, most importantly, they were friendly. As a member of the Class of 1970 who hadn’t been on campus since graduation, the reception I received made for a very positive experience.”

LINDA WARD MACK ’70 of Elm Grove, Wisconsin and Scottsdale, Arizona, writes this reflection from her experience at Alumni Weekend:

“The Class of 1970 finally got our 50th Reunion a year late! For those of us who had planned and looked so forward to our awesome gathering in 2020, the actual reunion in 2021 was bittersweet. It was a disappointment that most of those who had planned on attending in 2020 couldn’t come for 2021, yet it was gratifying that, though the event wasn’t as planned, we did it! To those classmates of 1970 who didn’t attend, know you were missed.

“Our delayed 50th Reunion was combined with the 50th Reunion for the Class of 1971, Alumni Weekend, and a graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020. Alumni gathered at the Commons to register on a rainy Saturday morning. Wisconsin had little rain leading into August and then Ripon got slammed with a devastating storm uprooting large trees and knocking out power for the city earlier that week. It was amazing that the College even managed the Alumni Weekend!! Rain prevailed all weekend, and yet spirits weren’t dampened.

“As an ADPi, I planned on meeting sorority sisters CHRIS BELTZ MAAS ’70, SUE BRADLEY SORENSEN ’71, JANET BEAN GADDIS ’71, and BEVERLY MOESCHEL HIRSEKORN ’72 who had flown in from Colorado! PHYLLIS HOLLYER ’70 was unable to attend at the last minute. For the 2020 Reunion, a group of ADPi’s had planned a get-together for classes of 1968-1972 with more than 45 gals coming. We went from 45 to five in 2021.

“At the Saturday morning registration, there were a number of familiar faces, though I was thankful we all had name tags. After a meet and greet, we decided to tour campus. Changes most evident are the street closures in front of Commons, Tri-Dorms, and Johnson Hall. It is still an amazingly beautiful campus. The Commons has had a facelift! The Lane Library renovations create a learning environment based on technology. Central campus looks the same, while the newer state-of-the-art gymnasium, known as the Willmore Center, and the fine arts center, known as the C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts, expand the campus footprint, their addition to the College is breath-taking. WOW!! The gym is a tribute to past athletic accomplishments while creating opportunities for today’s team’s success. The fine arts center is a venue for today’s student artists surrounded by works of art from the past. Impressive!

“The downside of our campus tour was Johnson Hall. For those of us who lived there in the ’60s, it is still the same 51 years later. Johnson Hall is neat and clean but it has the same cabinets in rooms, closet doors, etc., like we never moved out. I have no idea what other residence halls look like. My son, DAVID MACK ’97, graduated from Ripon in 1997 and the Quads were still the Quads. My daughter, ASHLEY MACK ’07 lived in Johnson Hall, too! It’s the same as it was in the past at present, but I hope for updating in the future!

“After a delicious lunch at Knuth Brewing Company in town, we met to see other alums. In typical fashion, though, we stayed in our own groups! It was fun seeing alums from other years and mingling with faces and names we recognized. It was great to see long-time past Class Agent JIM WALSH ’70 there. Having worked on a number of reunions with him and enjoyed his newsletters over the years, thanks JIM!! DAVE READ ’70, another of our former Class Agents, was also in attendance during the 50th Celebration, and his time serving is appreciated. Recent Class Agent SUE HECHT GEBHARDT ’70 and husband BILL GEBHARDT ’69 attended looking no worse from his health challenges. Thanks, SUE, for keeping us updated and hope you are in your new house!

“The Golden R Club and Reunion Celebration dinner highlighted the day featuring a formal sit-down dinner with drinks and dessert and a welcome by Ripon College President Zach Messitte and Board of Trustee members. Following their remarks, each one of us ‘oldies’ were recognized and received the Golden R pin. I guess getting old is an achievement unto its own! Our gratitude was expressed in our $220,504 class gift in honor of our 50th Reunion. A great gift to give our gratitude to RC!

“The evening ended at The Spot. No, not OUR Spot, rather The Spot, which we used to call The Pub! Our Spot is closed and gone, this is The Spot of the day. It’s like a coffee bar and sells beverages. Quite nice actually and clearly convenient! A fun day was had by all! Good work RC staff. You knocked it out of the park!

“Sunday morning had 30 or so of us gather for the Remembrance Service in the Commons Pickard Dining Room. The local pastor, JEFFREY DODSON ’06, from the First Congregational Church next to East Hall spoke as we all reflected on those classmates that didn’t live to see this day. Memories were all we had of our time together. Wish we had had a list of all of our classmates who had passed away from the Class of 1970. Always know that you are not forgotten.

“Afterwards, we had a tasty buffet brunch at the Commons that reminded us of the many meals we had there. I remember coming to dinner on Monday after house meetings, dressed up for dinner Thursday and Sunday dress, or ‘borrowing’ a tray for sledding? BTW I still have mine! Finally, we headed home with more memories of times past to last another lifetime….till we meet again, my friends and classmates of Class of 1970!”

NEWS AND NOTES FROM RIPON COLLEGE

Past Fiscal Year Update: A record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world supported Ripon’s fourth annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, reminding us all that regardless of the circumstances, Red Hawks come together. Thank you to the over 3,600 donors, including many of you from your Class of 1970, who supported the College this past fiscal year through the Ripon Fund and other initiatives.

Campus Upgrades: The McCullough Family Lounge in Farr Hall of Science — a favorite location of students for studying and collaborative work — recently received an extreme makeover with the intent of making the space more contemporary and technologically friendly. The renovations were made possible by a lead gift from Trustee PHILIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, and his wife, Pat P’04. Also, a new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall, which is a great asset for the math and computer science departments. 

Endowment: Ripon’s endowment recently hit an all-time high and as of August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million.

Start of the Academic Year: Classes started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety protocols.

CLASS AGENT UPDATE

Your Class Agent, SUE HECHT GEBHARDT ’70 has faithfully and caringly served her alma mater for over six years, and, now that the 50th Class Reunion is over, she has communicated that she is hoping that someone else will take over the reins. We thank SUE for her service and for helping to ensure that your class stayed connected over the years.

What does it take to be a Class Agent? Class Agents write a Class Letter each fall and spring that includes updates from classmates. The Office of Constituent Engagement helps with every step of the Class Letter including providing any classmate updates they receive, and they take care of sending out the Class Letters both through email and through the U.S. postal service. Being a Class Agent provides a direct line of communication with a staff member at Ripon College, and it is a great way to contribute to the success of your Alma Mater. 

Here are some reasons why you may want to consider being a Class Agent:

• You will have unique opportunities to get information, often before our general alumni population, and you will get to know campus staff and administration on a more personal level.
• You will help the College keep track of the contact information of classmates, helping ensure that all of us get to keep in touch. This is also important to help keep classmates connected to the larger Ripon College family.
• It feels good to give back to your Alma Mater in such a tangible way!

If you are interested in becoming a Class Agent or you simply want to learn more about this opportunity, email me, JOLENE RUEDEN SCHATZINGER ’07, associate director of engagement, at [email protected], or you can call me at (920) 748-8354. Thank you for considering this opportunity! 

I want to again take this moment to congratulate you on reaching this milestone of celebrating your 50th Class Reunion. We hope you will come back to visit campus in the future – you are always welcome!

Jolene Rueden Schatzinger ’07, Associate Director of Engagement
[email protected] / (920) 748-8354

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

1971 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

JIM BEISNER ’71

(770) 570-7725 / [email protected]

Greetings, Class of 1971!

It is hard to believe we were starting our freshman year fifty-four long years ago, just as the Class of 2025 did this fall. Classes officially started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety protocols. The Ripon College community is growing. As of August 27, Ripon College welcomed a class of 250 first-year students and nine transfer students. This compares to the fall of 2020, which had 241 first-year students and ten transfer students.

Seventy-one percent of the incoming class come from Wisconsin. Seventy-four students represent 23 other states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. While COVID-19 restrictions have limited the number of students from foreign countries, Ethiopia and Myanmar are represented.

Although there is a large time gap between our start at Ripon and theirs, the quality of education has not changed in all those years. Through the support of our time, talents, and treasures, Ripon College has maintained a superb educational experience. Coming back for Alumni Weekend provided an opportunity to see this first-hand. There were alumni and guests from 29 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, that were on campus, August 6-8, representing the classes of 1961 to 2023, for the first-ever August Alumni Weekend after COVID-19 put a pause on campus events over the past 18 months. Our class had 15 people attend the Saturday evening gathering, but many more were seen around campus during the weekend. Enclosed you will find our official 50th Reunion photo commemorating this milestone event.

It was so good to get together and reminisce about our time at Ripon so many years ago. The update provided during the Alumni Weekend State of the College program, as well as information that is shared in the Ripon Magazine and the online newsletter concerning current College activities along with department updates and alumni news, continue to show the excellent contribution Ripon makes to the nation and State of Wisconsin.  

As a reminder, we are now considered part of the Golden R Club. As a Golden R Club member, we are invited to join with all Club members (those who have celebrated their 50th Reunion and beyond) for a special celebration held each year during Alumni Weekend. I hope to see many of you at future Alumni Weekends! Save the date for Alumni Weekend 2022, which will go back to the traditional end of June date: June 23-26, 2022.

Campus News

Previous Fiscal Year Update: A record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world supported Ripon’s fourth annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, reminding us all that regardless of the circumstances, Red Hawks come together.

Campus Upgrades: The McCullough Family Lounge in Farr Hall of Science — a favorite location of students for studying and collaborative work — recently received an extreme makeover with the intent of making the space more contemporary and technologically friendly. The renovations were made possible by a lead gift from Trustee PHILIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, and his wife, Pat. Also, a new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall, which is a great asset for the math and computer science departments. 

Endowment: Ripon’s endowment recently hit an all-time high and as of August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million.

I want to especially thank the classmates who so generously gave to our class gift in support of our 50th Reunion. Our class was able to give Ripon College $25,945 and had 39% of our classmates contribute to the gift in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021. These funds will support the many and varied operations the College provides students that enhance their learning experience. I urge your consideration to continue your support of Ripon by increasing this year’s gift in recognition of all we have accomplished because of Ripon College. 

Sincerely,

JIM BEISNER ’71

Submitted by: Class Agent: Jim Beisner

1983 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

BARB WILLIAMS CLAY ’83

(612) 749-5010 / [email protected]

Greetings Class of 1983 – 

Fall is upon us and for the first time in 38 years, JOHN CLAY ’83 will not be preparing for the new school year. We made the retirement decision in late April and now retirement is starting to feel real as the 2021 school year begins. Work with RGA has been great and I am thoroughly enjoying my new role as chief of staff. Three dates have been set and reset for returning to the office. When we return, we will go to a hybrid of two days in the office (Tuesday/Wednesday) and three days optional for work from home. 

A silver lining of the pandemic is that I was able to work from Colorado for the month of April, spend time with my two daughters and son-in-law, and celebrate the birth of our first grandchild, Atlas Keoni Clark. Keoni means John in Hawaiian, JOHN was called Keoni as a little boy when he lived on the Big Island, and Lizzy and Jim met in Hawaii. Full circle so that was pretty cool. The Clay family has been healthy, safe, and happy and we wish the best for all our alumni friends. 

Class Notes:

MARGARET ALGAR AARON ’83 of Oregon, Wisconsin, writes, “I retired recently after a career in public administration. In my spare time, I have continued a hobby of music recording. I am a jazz and blues singer.”

Some sad news to report:

THOMAS A. HOEHNE ’83 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, died Jan. 13, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in art and criminal justice and participated in the Parallax publication. He painted houses and worked as a field foreman for Green Giant in Ripon; at a career placement center and as a supervisor in a commercial laundry in Chicago; in a supermarket in upstate New York; and for a wallpaper factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He enjoyed sports, playing baseball and track in school, and enjoyed football and the Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed reading, watching movies, collecting and antiquing. Survivors include one brother, TED HOEHNE ’77; two sisters, SUZANNE HOEHNE KILLIAN ’75 and VICKI HOEHNE MATHIAS ’77; and a sister-in-law, KAREN STOCKDALE HOEHNE ’78.

ELIZABETH ANNE “LISA” FREEMAN ’83, a native of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, died June 28, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in psychology and participated in Alpha Delta Pi. She earned a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Music was a passion. Survivors include her parents, A. John and Maria Freeman.

Here are the updates for Ripon at the time that this letter is written:

• One Day Rally was a wonderful success with a record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world supported Ripon’s fourth annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, reminding us all that regardless of the circumstances, Red Hawks come together. 
  • The Class of ’83 came through with flying colors with 33 participants and the 2nd highest class for giving totaling $253,211
• Our endowment recently hit an all-time high and as of Thursday, August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million.
• The McCullough Family Lounge in Farr Hall of Science — a favorite location of students for studying and collaborative work — recently received an extreme makeover with the intent of making the space more contemporary and technologically friendly. The renovations were made possible by a lead gift from Trustee PHILIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, and his wife, Pat. Also, a new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall, which will be a great asset for the math and computer science departments. 
• Classes started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID safety protocols. Here is a link for information on Ripon’s COVID-19 response and current procedures: ripon.edu/coronavirus-information/.
• Check out this article that highlights more information about the incoming class –  https://ripon.edu/2021/08/31/the-face-of-the-class-of-2025-our-new-first-years/
  • 250 freshman and nine transfer students
  • 40% first-generation students
  • 24 states represented 
• There are an array of positive things happening at Ripon and you may enjoy checking out the following links
  • Ripon Magazine, which includes features of alumni and faculty –  ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications/
  • News stories published by the College – ripon.edu/news/ 
  • Ripon College Center for Politics and the People – facebook.com/RiponCollegeCPP 
  • Ripon College Center for Diversity and Inclusion – facebook.com/ripondiversity 

Thanks for not only being a very fun class but for your involvement in supporting Ripon College. Our 40th Class Reunion is just around the corner… June of 2023! Mark your calendars.  

BARB WILLIAMS CLAY

Class Agent 1983

Submitted by: Class Agent: Barb Williams Clay

1977 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent: 

ALAN LAWRENCE ’77/P’08/P’14 

(920) 422-2347 / [email protected]

Dear Classmates,

2021 was once again a deviation from normal thanks to what COVID has been doing to our world. In 2020 it caused the cancellation of our annual Alumni Weekend, but this year we managed to schedule two events. The first was mostly virtual, on the traditional weekend in June. The second was mostly in-person on a date in August that had been hoped would be safer.

Despite living only 70 minutes from Ripon, I missed the August event. I’ve been busy, and it was a rainy weekend. But, MARYJO MACSWAIN ’77 and JEANNIE BLACK ’77 attended, as they usually do. They contributed this description for us:

“Alumni Weekend 2021 was a blast despite the rain, which wasn’t forecasted until a day or two before. However, the College did an amazing job of making last minute changes from all outdoor activities to protect people from the rain and storms, as well as implementing excellent COVID mitigations. There were lots of people attending, plenty of activities to enjoy, and even about ten different tents for the Saturday dinners and activities. Unfortunately, the rain moved the dinners inside but that ended up being well done! The new food service was terrific and provided great meals and options. The Service of Remembrance on Sunday morning was well attended as we remembered our classmate, BIRGIT ABROMAITIS RETSON ’77, and others. The College did a great job in every area, especially considering the circumstances of a devastating storm in Ripon the week before, COVID procedures, and the rain that changed plans. We weren’t able to attend graduation (for the Class of 2020), but we heard it went very well. Attendance wasn’t nearly as high as previous years but it seemed like a lot of 50-year alumni and many younger ones, too.”

Next year, during Alumni Weekend in June we are celebrating the 45th anniversary of our class graduation. In turn, our class will be meeting for our 45th Reunion celebration the weekend of June 23-26, 2022. As the Class Agent, I have a role in this planning, but I really would like a committee to help me. If you are interested in helping, then please write to me.

Here are notes from two of our classmates:

HARRY QUINN ’77 of Bel Air, Maryland, writes “Things are going fine for SUE LAMBERT QUINN ’79 and me here in Maryland. Our son, Michael, has three children, one of which lives with her mom here in Maryland so that we get to see her often. Kela is eight and she keeps us on our toes. Mike lives in Missouri and has two boys, one about 22 months old and the other almost four months. We went out to see them in late March. I am still working for the Science and Technology Corporation managing our Department of Defense work. The work is great and keeps me busy. I manage the finances, do some program management, deal with the customers, and hire scientists, engineers, and others when I can. For fun, I do some photography, mostly underwater, but some above. The underwater photography I do in the Caribbean, mostly around St. John in the USVI. St. John is my happy place. Our daughter is my hiking and snorkeling buddy! Earlier in June, we went up to the New York Finger Lakes region to sightsee and visit wineries.”

ANDREA MORRIS ’77 of La Habra, California, writes “I am retiring this July after 36 years in the NICU. I do get to go out on a high note as I am receiving the Mentor of the Year award from my national organization, the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. While leaving the clinical side of care I am continuing to teach in the NICU CNS program at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Looking forward to traveling, both nationally and internationally along with other fun things like remodeling the home (groan).”

And, about myself, ALAN LAWRENCE ’77/P’08/P’14. I’ve retired and my wife decided we don’t need to live in Appleton, Wisconsin anymore. Within a few months we decided that we could move, and then what we needed in a new community. Ultimately, Roanoke, Virginia was selected. It will be an interesting new chapter for us. We bought our “new” house last month and are frantically packing up for our move. So, this Class Letter is briefer than normal.

We also have two deaths to report from our classmates.

STEPHEN C. SNYDER ’77 of Cameron, Wisconsin, died Jan. 31, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in biology, participated in the Wilder Field Station several times and began an interest in radio work. He received a degree in forestry from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He worked for more than 40 years as a forestry technician for Rusk County and as an announcer for WWIB Radio for 41 years. He enjoyed the outdoors and fishing, racquetball player, his faith, and performing as a keyboardist and singer.

BIRGIT ABROMAITIS RETSON ’77 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died May 11, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in English and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega/Alpha Gamma Theta. She later was a charter member of Partners in the Legacy. She received a degree in nursing from George Mason University. Survivors include two sons, including PHILIP RETSON ’15, and one daughter.

The other day, I received a letter from Ripon’s Vice President and Dean of Faculty, John Sisko. He was inviting me to make another gift to help support and enhance Ripon College by making a gift to the Ripon Fund. This is always a worthwhile endeavor.

I’d like to highlight a couple of points from Dean Sisko’s letter: “Ripon College is a student-first and student-centered school. The College is dedicated to providing a premier, immersive and accessible liberal arts education. Ripon College is a tier-1 national liberal arts school; it is a best-value school; and it is a top college for social mobility. But Ripon College is much more. For those of us with experiences of Ripon, the College quickly becomes part of our own internal understanding of who we are: who we are as individuals and who we are as members of a community.”

Please send news about yourself either to the College or to me to be shared in our next Class Letter. We’d love to hear from you.

Remember that your financial help is very important to help keep Ripon a competitive and quality institution. Your donations are important every year. Your participation is very important.

Always for Ripon, 

Alan

Submitted by: Class Agent: Alan Lawrence

2014 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

TIM HOLME ’14

(608) 333-9526 / [email protected]

MARA JENSEN POULLETTE ’14

(920)-946-8498 / [email protected]

Greetings, Class of 2014! 

Oh boy, what a summer! We hope all of you had a great one as well. As we all know, as summer is ending fall is around the corner and Ripon College students are already back as of August 30th. I am really happy to be writing to you as it brings back a lot of great memories. I am excited to announce that I recently took a new job within the DNR. I am the new Conservation Biologist in the Central Sands region of the state. I still happily live in Portage, Wisconsin, with KATIE WILLIAMS ’13. Now here are other updates from the Class of 2014. 

Class Notes:

NAOMI JAHN SKULAN ’14 of Morris, Minnesota, writes, “NICK SKULAN ’14 and I welcomed our son, Peter Parker Skulan, to our family on May 3, 2021.” 

MAXWELL ROY ’14 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, writes, “I recently began my DrPH program at the Medical College of Wisconsin this fall ’21 semester. CETONIA WESTON ROY ’15 and I began our own real estate LLC and we bought a building on Martin Luther King Drive, just north of downtown Milwaukee, where it will house her business (Niche Book Bar) and a few other ideas we have. Our son, Xavier, just started second grade.” 

REBECCA NIEVES BAKKE ’14 of Maple Grove, Minnesota, writes, “ANDREW BAKKE ’14 and I welcome Alexander A. Bakke on February 13, 2021. I am an HR Manager at US LBM Holdings and Andrew is a Senior Software Engineer at Tintri.”

SAMANTHA ANGELL EASTBERG ’14 of Marshfield, Wisconsin, writes, “I’m starting my second year of post-doctoral fellowship at the Marshfield Clinic Health System. My husband, Josh, and I are expecting a little boy on November 4, 2021.”

BRITTANY LAHAIE BARTLETT ’14 of Campbellsport, Wisconsin, writes, “My husband, Nathan, and I welcomed our sweet daughter, Vivian Rose, to our family on January 6, 2021.”

JILL VANEPEREN BEILFUSS ’14 of Fremont, Wisconsin, writes, “My husband, MITCHEL BEILFUSS ’15, and I welcomed our sweet baby girl, Jordyn Alyse, on January 3, 2021.”

MATT LANGE ’14 of Waukesha, Wisconsin, writes, “My wife, Kristi, and I welcomed our beautiful daughter, Gracelynn Lange, into the world on December 1, 2020. I completed my MBA from Colorado State University in the spring of 2021 and am a Senior Supply Management Analyst for Harley-Davidson.”

SOPHIA KLINGENBERGER MARTINEZ ’14 of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, writes, “CHRISTIAN MARTINEZ ’14 and I were married on June 19, 2021. CHRISTIAN started his Masters in Social Studies Education at the University of Iowa this fall and I am in my sixth year of teaching science and coaching high school volleyball and soccer.”

ALI NEMECEK ’14 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, writes, “I graduated from law school at Marquette in May (finally done with school!) and am currently working for Ernst and Young in Milwaukee. My boyfriend, Mike, and I adopted our first fur child, Zadie, a Pitbull/Boxer mix, in June and she has stolen our hearts (and our bed, couch, wallets, and everything else)!”

BAILEY BODEEN ’14 of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, writes, “I completed an MS degree in Biology at UW Oshkosh in 2018. From there, I spent time as a research assistant for a contract research facility. I am now navigating life as a 2nd-year doctoral student at UW-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine.”

TYLER MESSERSCHMIDT ’14 of Newport News, Virginia, writes, “I am a Field and Laboratory Manager at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Also, I am drug and disease free and I’m looking for any ladies who missed a chance with me during college.”

ERIC LANGMAN ’14 of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, writes, “I am teaching science and social studies at Milwaukee Math and Science Academy.”

Thank you all for sending updates! They shouldn’t stop there! We encourage all of you to keep sending us your update to share with classmates at any time throughout the year. Please plan to join us for Alumni Weekend next year on June 23-26, 2022. At this past Alumni Weekend in August, there were 29 states represented, including Alaska and Hawaii. It is good to see things returning to normal after a rough 2020. We hope to see all of you at the next Alumni Weekend. Cheers!

Sincerely,

TIM HOLME ’14

MARA JENSEN POULLETTE ’14

Submitted by: Class Agents: Tim Holme & Mara Jensen Poullette

2015 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

SAMANTHA KAY ’15

(414) 587-5958 / [email protected]

KAYLIE LONGLEY ’15

(262) 212-7394 / [email protected]

Hey Classmates, 

We are thinking of you, and we hope you are all hanging in there. Classes at Ripon College started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID safety protocols. We’ll write more in our spring Class Letter, but we wanted to take a quick moment to send a shout out to all of you, and to encourage you to stay safe and take care as we continue to get through this pandemic.

Class Notes:

KATIE BIEDLER ’15 of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, passed her Series 6 licensing exam for investments. She hopes to transition from retail banking into wealth management.

ELLY DAVIS ’15 of Middleton, Wisconsin, finally married the love of her life, Trevor Morris in front of their family and friends after waiting an extra year and postponing twice. The incredible bridal party included KAYLIE LONGLEY ’15, LEIGHANNE LACY ’15, her cousin, Dani Solem, and the Maid of Honor, her sister Gwen Davis. The highlight of the day was getting to see all the family and friends they’ve missed over the last year and a half! After the wedding, they vacationed in Saugatuck, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. ELLY and Trevor currently reside in Middleton, Wisconsin with their two very spoiled cats, Slinky and Jax.

TEAGAN FORD ’15 of Jackson, Minnesota, is celebrating three years at Daktronics.

HOLLY KORTEMEIER ’15 currently lives in Stoughton, Wisconsin with her dog, Hooper. She works as a school counselor in the Oregon School District.

MICHAEL LANPHIER ’15 and wife, JOHANNA BURTON LANPHIER ’13, moved into a house in Lincoln, Nebraska last summer. He won a trip through work to Japan next year! MICHAEL and JOHANNA also shared their career wisdom and scientific insight with Ripon College students through Zoom for the Biology Senior Seminar course, which took place in Bear Auditorium in early October.

KAYLIE LONGLEY ’15 moved to Denver, Colorado, with its 300 days of sunshine, mountains, and craft breweries. She’s now the Marketing Manager for the Montessori School of Denver, and she’s also co-coaching Girls on the Run, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering elementary students through movement and conversation. She’s found Packers fans!

KATIE JO MCGEE ’15 is now the English Specialist at Etonkida in Nanjing, China.

CODY MESSERSCHMIDT ’15 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the Project Manager at 7Summits, an IBM Company and a digital solutions provider.

Take care,

Kaylie

Sam

Submitted by: Class Agents: Sam Kay and Kaylie Longley

2016 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

SARA DRIEBEL ’16

(262) 347-1484 / (262) 439-8124 / [email protected]

ELIZABETH KONIECZNY YAMAT ’16

(414) 369-7430 / [email protected]

Hi Team!

It was so fun to see so many of you for our Class Reunion (when the rain allowed us to meet up!). Alumni Weekend brought prairie hikes, s’mores, socials, and a funky 5K in which yours truly took last place. Our connections to each other remain an incredibly valuable part of our Ripon experience and getting to reunite and celebrate our fifth year together was exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s time to gear up for the next Alumni Weekend, which is scheduled to take place June 23-26, 2022.

A few Ripon updates that you all may be excited to hear: Upgrades have taken place inside Farr Hall and Todd Wehr! The next time you are on campus, be sure to check out the upgraded McCullough Family Lounge in Farr Hall, and the new Data Visualization Lab in Todd Wehr.

We are so excited to hear the ways that our Alma Mater continues to make learning more exciting and innovative, and are thrilled to hear what you have all been up to! Now, on to the updates!

Class notes: 

ALEX MORIARTY ’16 of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, bought a new car and got Lasik! Last June she also celebrated five years with her agency!

ALEXANDER MEHRE ’16 of Veazie, Maine, and his wife, Jessica, are settling into their new house with plenty of updates. He has been making Old Town kayaks and interning at General Electric. He is back for another year of studying mechanical engineering as the vice president of the Robotics Club!

ALISON LEAVER ’16 of Antigo, Wisconsin, graduated from vet school in May 2020.

ALYSSA KENNEDY ’16 of McHenry, Illinois, is in her second year of residency in Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic in LaCrosse.

ALYSSA NYCZ ’16 of West Hartford, Connecticut, was able to swing a trip home over the past summer for a week of Northern Wisconsin lake life, which went by way too fast! Whenever they get the chance, she and Kevin (who wishes he was a Ripon alum, but sadly missed out) make day trips to enjoy the beaches in Rhode Island. She even learned a few emergency medicine tricks during the last beach day, as one of them (not Alyssa) dislocated a shoulder in the pre-Hurricane Henri waves.

BRANDON MASTALISH ’16 of Mayville, Wisconsin, moved back home to Wisconsin and has been working for Wisker A Automatic Litter Box factory in Juneau, Wisconsin!

CHRIS WEAVER ’16 and NIKKI GLASHEEN WEAVER ’14 of Genoa City, Wisconsin, are married! They bought a home together and now reside in Southern Wisconsin. 

ELIZABETH KONIECZNY YAMAT ’16 of Glendale, Wisconsin, and her spouse, Brady, are excited to welcome their second child in February. Theo can’t wait to be a big brother!

EMILIE KATONA ’16 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bought a house!

FRANK STELTER-HOGH ’16 of Naperville, Illinois, got a new job at Bolingbrook High School and bought a house with HANNAH METZ STELTER ’17!

GARRISON ANDERSON ’16 moved in with BRITTANY MANGIN ’17 in Chicago, Illinois. He started a new job in marketing for a healthcare technology company.

HOPE BELL ’16 of the United Kingdom has moved into a house and started law school for international law in the United Kingdom. She is almost done with her third year at her immersion school, which has expanded and now has 80 kids and seven foreign teachers that she is in charge of!

JADEE KELLOGG SEN ’16 and AKASH SEN ’16 moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. They and their dog, Apollo, are enjoying seeing the mountains every day and going on hikes on the weekends. 

JAMES-MARK OOKO-OMBAKA ’16 of Mount Vernon, New York, is an Independent Consultant (Operations Manager) at SEMA, an East-African civic innovation that makes public services and local governments work better. Originally founded in the Netherlands, SEMA was awarded the D-prize in December 2017 for a pilot project in Kampala, Uganda and an additional grant from Hague-based Knowledge Management Fund in May 2018 to test out SEMA’s theory of change. SEMA has now become completely localized in Uganda and expanding in Kenya, staffed by a local core team and advisory board. Financial support from government agencies speaks to the validity of their approach to furthering open government by providing localized feedback to assist public services by directly addressing citizen perceptions and needs. In the process, SEMA has developed a sustainable financial model by earning revenue through public and private procurements, supplemented by innovation grants and local donations. As the Operations Manager in Kenya, JAMES-MARK builds strategic networks, government partnerships, and efficient systems and processes to facilitate SEMAs growth within the region.  

JORDAN POLK ’16 of La Crosse, Wisconsin, is an admission counselor at Viterbo University and a head basketball coach at Hillsboro High School.

JOSHUA LUNA ’16 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, started a new job as the director of rehabilitation for a nursing facility, and he and his girlfriend are looking to buy their first home this year!

KATIE TREDINNICK ’16 of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, spent the summer outside learning about regenerative agriculture and finding its applications in public health, planetary health, and vet med. She was lucky enough to go on a magical vacation to Washington with the lovely SARA DRIEBEL ’16 and a vacation to the North Shore of Minnesota with her beau, PAUL MEUER ’13. She starts her second year of vet school in September and is both excited and nervous about what the year will hold!

KAY SENGLAUB ’16 of West Allis, Wisconsin, is the Matron of Honor in KELSEA PATTERSON ’17’s wedding in September! She took 11th place at the 2021 United States National Irish Dance Championships while competing in the Adult Competition in Phoenix, Arizona this July. She is looking forward to competing in the Mid-America Region in November.

LAUREN GOTTSHALL ’16 of Newark, New Jersey is an OB-Gyn Resident Physician at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey!

LIZZIE PETERS ’16 of Appleton, Wisconsin, just started her fourth year of teaching at St. Edward School as the 4K AM and 3rd Grade PM teacher! She was just offered and accepted a swim team coaching position primarily with the younger kids. She has never done anything with the swim team, so she is excited to try something new in the aquatics world and learn from the other coaches.

LOGAN JENSEN ’16 lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

NICK LUEDTKE ’16 of Appleton, Wisconsin, is in the beginning of his sixth year of his Ph.D. at Iowa. His lab, advised by Christopher M. Cheatum, has recently been awarded multiple years of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) to learn how enzymes work. His approach is to make enzymes that do not exist in nature to better study their atomic motions in the femtosecond timescale, or one millionth of a billionth of a second.

RACHELLA BENNETT ’16 of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, will be welcoming a baby boy in October!

SAMANTHA DEY ’16 of Union Center, Wisconsin, welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world with ALEX SNELL ’16. James Alexander Snell was born May 2021 at 10 lbs, 7 oz.

SARA DRIEBEL ’16 of New Berlin, Wisconsin, had a blast seeing elk, whales, porpoises, seals, and so many birds on a trip to Washington with KATIE TREDINNICK ’16. She has taken every opportunity to get outside this summer and practice her wildlife photography skills (mostly squirrels). Her nosedive into plant parenthood has turned into a lifestyle and she spends her time after work caring for her plants and pets. 

STEPHANIE ROSENOW ’16 of Appleton, Wisconsin, got engaged in August and now gets to have a lot of fun wedding planning!

TY KETZ ’16 of Clayton, Wisconsin, is coaching men’s basketball at Ripon College and just started his own basketball training business!

TYLER SHIMEK ’16 of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is now teaching at West Allis Central.

ZACH BRAYER ’16’s life has become the plot of A Picture of Dorian Gray. Also, he is definitely not collecting art. 

Thank you for sharing your updates and news with us! Keep them coming! We would like to add one additional Class Agent to our team, and we are seeking an additional classmate to volunteer to work with us as a Class Agent. Since we just celebrated our Reunion, the time commitment will not be extensive, and it’s a great opportunity to stay connected with classmates and directly serve Ripon College. The new Class Agent would help us write our Class Letter that is published twice a year. Please email Sara Driebel at [email protected], or email [email protected], to state your interest in becoming a new Class Agent for our class.

Sincerely,

SARA DRIEBEL ’16

ELIZABETH KONIECZNY YAMAT ’16

Submitted by: Class Agent: Sara Driebel

2020 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class agents:

ADAM WRONSKI ’20

(651) 301-9390 / [email protected]

KAILEE BETLER ’20

(920) 290-1327 / [email protected]

MITRA KERMANI ’20

(303) 807-3662 / [email protected]

HALEY STOWELL ’20

(715) 214-8025 / [email protected]

Fellow 2020 classmates, 

It comes with great pleasure to celebrate and share all of life’s exciting updates with each of you. Receiving great news about all that our graduating class is accomplishing is both uplifting and inspiring. As we reconnected at the beginning of August to celebrate our long-awaited Commencement ceremony, we were able to reflect on the memories that made our Ripon experience special, as well as celebrating all that we have accomplished as individuals since our last day on campus. As you read through the updates given by our classmates, know that all of Ripon is celebrating with you on this journey. 

ERIN BARRIE ’20 is now living in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, working for Gordon Flesch Company as a leasing coordinator. She recently became the proud dog mom of Moose and Lucy.

MORGAN DEVINE ’20 of Colby, Wisconsin, has accepted an offer from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington for a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health. In preparation for graduate school, Morgan had been selected to the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) GSEF-Graduate School Exploration Fellowship program, which offered a compensated summer research experience at a Big Ten university in summer 2020. Only two students from each ACM school are typically accepted to the GSEF program.

ERIC DOLL ’20 of West Bend, Wisconsin, will be starting his teaching career at West Bend West High School! 

FORREST GRADE ’20 thoroughly enjoyed Alumni Weekend and our commencement ceremony and looks forward to seeing more of our classmates at Alumni Weekend 2022 (June 23-26, 2022).

AUSTIN HEISELMANN ’20 of Burlington, Wisconsin, is spending post-graduation life flying helicopters as an Officer of the Army. We appreciate you and your servant heart, Austin! 

NOAH HERRIED ’20 of Necedah, Wisconsin, was recently accepted into a Master’s Program at Wisconsin Lutheran and has also accepted a Graduate Assistant coaching position with their baseball program.

BAILEY JERRICK ’20 of Stoughton, Wisconsin, has been working as a set builder for American Girl, in addition to making DIY crafts for their YouTube channel.

ANDREW JOHNSON ’20 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is looking forward to his new role teaching chemistry at St. John’s Northwestern Academies, where he is also the assistant cross country coach.

LINDSEY KARRAS ’20 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has begun her teaching career as a third-grade teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

ABBY KORB ’20 of Washington, D.C., just started the second year of her MA in Political Science at American University in Washington, DC. She recently moved into Washington, D.C. from Maryland, and is going into her second year working at NGPVAN as a Political Research and Sales Coordinator.

MIYE AOKI-KRAMER ’20 recently moved to Seattle, Washington, with her fiancé, STEVEN LANPHIER ’17. She is looking forward to starting her role as an 8th-grade science teacher for the upcoming school year.

ALAURA LEMIEUX ’20 of Luck, Wisconsin, recently accepted a research technologist position at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

MAX MINDIOLA ’20 has started his second year of dental school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. So far, he has thoroughly enjoyed the various spectacles upon which Omaha prides itself, especially the College World Series.

RACHEL MYERS ’20 of Kansas City, Missouri, will begin her first year of teaching in an elementary school as a music teacher. Additionally, special congratulations to Rachel and her fiancé on their recent engagement! 

ALEXIS RIGGS ’20 of Ripon, Wisconsin, has accepted a graduate school offer from UW-Madison for a Master’s degree in Clinical and Rehabilitation Counseling through the School of Education. Alexis prepared for this next step by focusing academic research on several areas related to accommodations for persons with disabilities and working in an organization offering opportunities for persons in the disability community.

ABEL GONZALEZ RODRIGUEZ ’20 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was recently hired at Ripon College as a Technology Support Specialist/Programmer in the Office of Information Technology.

MACKENZIE SWART ’20 of Brookfield, Wisconsin, has been working at the happiest place on earth as a lifeguard at Blizzard Beach through Walt Disney’s College Program. 

EMILY TETZLAFF ’20 has started her second year of Optometry School at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. 

LARYSSA VACLAVIK ’20 of Portage, Indiana, is student-teaching in Portage, Indiana, where she is also the assistant coach of the high school swim team.

ADAM WHITE ’20 of Lombard, Illinois, recently finished an aquatic invasive species removal job in Minocqua, Wisconsin. He is moving to Gainesville, Florida, in the near future to work for GSE Engineering as a construction materials field testing tech.

ZEA WOODS ’20 of Madison, Wisconsin, is taking classes at Colorado State University Online, in addition to working at UW Health University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

ADAM WRONSKi ’20 has started his first year at Baylor University Graduate School in Waco, Texas. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in Environmental Science. He also thoroughly enjoyed the festivities of Alumni Weekend and greatly looks forward to next year’s events.

CARLEE ZANDER ’20 previously of Manawa, Wisconsin, recently moved to Springfield, Massachusetts to complete her MS in Forensic Psychology at American International College.

We congratulate KAYLIE MARKS WILCOX ’20 and DAKOTA WILCOX ’19 on their marriage! We are so lucky you included Ripon in your special day!

Moving forward we wish you all of the very best! Your Class Agents, along with all of Ripon College, are celebrating throughout all of your accomplishments! We look forward to seeing and experiencing the “life well lived” with all of you. 

Best wishes, 

ADAM WRONSKI ’20

KAILEE BETLER ’20

MITRA KERMANI ’20

HALEY STOWELL ’20

Submitted by: Class Agents: Adam Wronski, Kailee Betler, Mitra Kermani, and Haley Stowell

2019 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agents:

ERIC FELS ’19

(262) 365-9726 / [email protected]

RACHEL HAWLEY ’19

(224) 688-3049 / [email protected]

OLIVIA HECK ’19 

(262) 408-3785 / [email protected] 

TYLER STURZL ’19

(715) 889-3672 / [email protected]

Greetings, friends! 

It is that time of year again when Ripon becomes colder and the campus transitions into a beautiful canvas of reds, oranges, and yellows. For many of us, we too have been in states of transition — moving ourselves to different jobs, cities, and aspirations. During these transitions, you may think back to your college days when the world was much simpler and less chaotic. Remember to reminisce with those fond memories and find comfort in knowing Ripon has prepared you to face whatever transition lies ahead. 

As your Class Agents, we wanted to provide you with a few updates from your ol’ stomping grounds. First, Alumni Weekend took place August 6-8 and we saw alumni from over 28 states come back to campus to enjoy the events. It was a welcomed time to see others again either in person or virtually. 

Second, campus operations continue to move full steam ahead. In terms of fundraising, Ripon College had a record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world who supported Ripon’s fourth annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, reminding us all that regardless of the circumstances, Red Hawks come together. Additionally, Ripon’s endowment recently hit an all-time high and as of Thursday, August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million!

With the colder days nearing closer, we also wanted to reflect on the hard work and sacrifices many of our classmates have made with the global COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination efforts. We want to pass along a sincere thank you to anyone who has provided care and comfort during this pandemic.

Questions related to what steps Ripon College is taking to make sure students attending the Fall semester are protected from the COVID-19 virus can be answered here: ripon.edu/coronavirus-information/.

Class Notes:

CARLY WESNER BOWMAN ’19 of Port Royal, South Carolina, mentions, “I’m working remotely for a company as a website manager! We are currently in South Carolina on the coast!”

JACK CLOUGH ’19 of Burlington, Wisconsin, is currently deployed with the U.S. Army National Guard. 

ERIC FELS ’19 of Hubertus, Wisconsin, states, “I have been interning with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Colorado since late May. This summer, I was serving with the U.S. Forest Service in Minturn on the White River National Forest as a developed and dispersed recreation technician. I am currently in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, helping the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with sign inventory for the fall.”

KIM FRISQUE FOOTE ’19 of Marinette, Wisconsin, mentions, “In June, I started a new job working as a Human Resources and Compliance Support Specialist at Veriha Trucking in Marinette, Wisconsin. Roughly two weeks after starting my new job, my husband and I bought a house near my hometown!”

EMMA HALL ’19 of Derby, Kansas, says, “I am still working as a Patrol Officer in the Wichita Police Department East Bureau and enjoying every second. My partner, Clayton, and I are excited to announce our engagement on 8/28/2021 and the adoption of our new pupper. Fun fact: SoHo (our pup son) was named after the NASA spacecraft SOHO.” 

OLIVIA HECK ’19 of Bloomington, Indiana, mentions, “I am entering the third year of my Ph.D. program in School Psychology at Indiana University. My favorite part of graduate school is conducting neuropsychological assessments on children with various medical and mental health issues!” 

TEARA MORGENROTH ’19 of Greenfield, Wisconsin, says, “I just started the third year of my graduate program to obtain my masters in school counseling. I am currently an intern at Longfellow Middle School in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. I will be working with students to help them improve socially, emotionally, and academically so they can feel prepared for college and careers.” 

KATE MYSZEWSKI ’19 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the band director for Shorewood School District’s elementary school band programs. Kate is also a member of the board of directors of Knightwind Ensemble, Milwaukee’s Premier Wind Ensemble

TYLER STURZL ’19 of Madison, Wisconsin, states, “I now work in IT for Exact Sciences in Madison. My IT team supports the clinical and regulatory affairs division. I also recently built and moved into a new home on the east side of Madison. I’m looking forward to backyard BBQs and baking more.”

Cheers,

Your 2019 Class Agents,

ERIC FELS ’19

RACHEL HAWLEY ’19

OLIVIA HECK ’19

Submitted by: Class Agents: Eric Fels, Rachel Hawley, Olivia Heck, Tyler Sturzl

1989 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

MITCHELL ROSIN ’89

 [email protected] 

NICOLE ZENS LINDBERG ’89

[email protected] 

Dear Class of ’89,

With the dark winter of 2020 behind us, we are all looking forward to some sort of return to normalcy in the pandemic. NIKKI is busy opening a new travel business (check it out!) and sending her kids off to the farthest reaches of the U.S. (Tacoma and Anchorage). MITCH is keeping busy with his consulting business (splitting time between the coasts) and in the final phase of completing his doctoral degree. For all other updates, please check out our Facebook group (“Ripon College Class of 1989 + Riff Raff”), which is where you can find the most up-to-date information about our classmates. We do have some sad news to report that we thought we would share here so that all are informed:

PETER W. JOCHIMSEN ’89 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, died April 17, 2021. He had attended Ripon College and Kirkwood Community College. He worked for North Prairie Tile Works and made specialty tiles, some used in historical buildings. He enjoyed biking, camping and studying Gen. George Custer. He participated in the St. Paul Curling Club and Soo Line Community Garden. Survivors include his father, PETER R. JOCHIMSEN ’61 and his mother, Grace; and an uncle, WILLIAM G. JOCHIMSEN ’61.

Something to consider: What doesn’t kill you mutates and tries again. If you are not vaccinated, you are part of the problem. Get vaccinated. 

Stay safe out there!

Nikki

Mitch 

Submitted by: Class Agents: Mitchell Rosin & Nicole Zens Lindberg

 1987 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

DORRIE SMITH SCRANTON ’87

(860) 455-6108 / [email protected]

CHRIS TEMPLETON ’87

(312) 402-6207 / [email protected]

Hello, Classmates!

We hope this newsletter finds you doing well. Here are a couple quick updates about our classmates, but the big news is that our 35th (no idea how that’s even possible) College Reunion is coming up next year, June 23-26, 2022! It would be so wonderful to see as many of you as possible, so please save the date! Also, if you’d like to help plan the event, please reach out to us (CHRIS TEMPLETON ’87 and DORRIE SMITH SCRANTON ’87) – we’d love the help making this Class Reunion our best one yet!

Some updates from your classmates: 

JOHN SWALLEN ’87 of Saint Paul, Minnesota, was named to Ripon’s 100 for 100 in a Midwest Conference’s Centennial Celebration. Ripon selected 100 student-athletes from the last 100 years in the MWC. Such a great honor for a well-deserving guy. Congrats, John! Read the article here: https://riponredhawks.com/news/2021/7/13/mens-soccer-ripons-100-for-100-john-swallen-87.aspx

BILL TOURLAS ’87 of Elmhurst, Illinois, seems to be enjoying early fall weekends in Wisconsin (our favorite time to be there too) visiting old haunts like the Heidel House and Norton’s and meeting up with friends TANYA SCHWARTZ-ROEPER ’88/P’24 and RANDY ROEPER ’88/P’24. 

ALICE LIGHTNER JOHNSON ’87 of Saint Paul, Minnesota, writes that she’s just returned from a beautiful road trip to drop off her youngest at college in Oregon. 

BARRY GOTHARD ’87 of Burlington, Ontario, in Canada, has been on a personal quest to kayak all the lakes of Ontario this year and invites classmates to join him if ever in the Great White North. 

Alumni Weekend:

Alumni and guests from 29 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, were on campus, Aug. 6-8, representing the classes of 1961 to 2023, for the first-ever August Alumni Weekend after COVID-19 put a pause on campus events over the past 18 months. Save the date for Alumni Weekend 2022, which will go back to our traditional end of June date: June 23-26, 2022. All class years ending in the numbers two or seven will be celebrating their Class Reunion this next summer at Alumni Weekend, which includes us!

Previous fiscal year update:

A record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world supported Ripon’s fourth annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, reminding us all that regardless of the circumstances, Red Hawks come together. Thank you to the over 3,600 donors who supported the College this past fiscal year through the Ripon Fund and other initiatives.

Campus upgrades:

The McCullough Family Lounge in Farr Hall of Science — a favorite location of students for studying and collaborative work — recently received an extreme makeover with the intent of making the space more contemporary and technologically friendly. The renovations were made possible by a lead gift from Trustee PHILIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, and his wife, Pat. Also, a new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall, which will be a great asset for the math and computer science departments. 

Endowment: 

Ripon’s endowment recently hit an all-time high and as of Thursday, August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million.

Start of the academic year:

Classes started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety protocols.

Questions related to what steps Ripon College is taking to make sure students attending the Fall semester are protected from the COVID-19 virus:

If you think your classmates are interested, you can provide this link for information on our COVID-19 response and current procedures: ripon.edu/coronavirus-information/.

Helpful links to be aware of:

• News stories published by the College: ripon.edu/news
• Ripon Magazine, including features of alumni and faculty: ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications
• Ripon College Center for Politics and the People: facebook.com/RiponCollegeCPP 
• Ripon College Center for Diversity and Inclusion: facebook.com/ripondiversity 
• Our own Facebook group for the Ripon College Class of 1987: facebook.com/groups/302922556458629

Looking forward to seeing you at our 35th Class Reunion in June!

Your Class Agents,

DORRIE SMITH SCRANTON ’87

CHRIS TEMPLETON ’87

Submitted by: Class Agents: Dorrie Smith Scranton & Chris Templeton

1985 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

HEATHER MCFADDEN BARRIE ’85/P’20

(262) 628-1377 / [email protected]

New school year! New journey! New lifelong friendships!

Fresh start, new beginnings, the Class of 2025 began that journey this fall!

We can all relate to “new.” God knows in the past 18 months that we need “new!” What a great time to reflect on our personal journey as Ripon College alumni, renewing that college spirit we had in our late teens and early twenties!

When I think of my life journey, I can easily sum it up in an acrostic using our alma mater! My College experience further developed my character which is exemplified by each of the words identified below. I am confident you can identify with it as well. 

Let’s remember the Class of 2025 in our prayers as they begin their college journey. May their Ripon College experience continue to build their character by instilling all the words identified below in the life journey that awaits them! 

Resilience “When the going gets tough…the tough get going!” You know it! Be resilient in the face of headwinds, challenges, and struggles that just make you want to throw in the towel! Resilience builds character and helps us endure the unprecedented. 

Individualism At day’s end, we are all individuals that collectively join together to become a community. Individualism is so important to build our own character identifying who we are, what we become, and how we affect others. As we’ve all heard, you have to take care of yourself first before you can take care of others!  

Perseverance Who hasn’t had to persevere in some shape or form on our life journey! Rising from failures, overcoming adversity, and most importantly never giving up!

Optimism Think of all the synonyms for this – hope, confidence, encouragement, faith, positive energy. When we lose optimism, we become doubtful, hopeless, pessimistic, gloomy, or depressed. Keep feeding that optimism through the face of adversity and you will reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

Neighborly We need “neighborly” now more than ever! Taking care of one another like we’re all one big family. This is critical to enduring the challenges we face and the challenges we will continue to face in the future.

And so, in closing, I hope this letter finds you all charged and energized for a new year, new beginnings, new adventures – everything new! New is the key to enduring any challenge we face head on. Shake things up if you’re stuck. Reinvent yourself. Get out of your comfort zone and you will find yourself a master of R. I. P. O. N.!

For those of you who were able to attend Alumni Weekend 2021 and celebrate our 35th Class Reunion – on behalf of Ripon College, we hope you had an amazing time reconnecting with classmates – lifelong friends and enjoyed reminiscing about your College days at Ripon. My biggest blessing of the weekend was my daughter, my legacy, ERIN BARRIE ’20, participating in her graduation ceremony on Sunday, August 8! Best day of 2021 for ERIN and me no doubt!

Stay healthy! Stay safe! Be good to yourself!

HEATHER MCFADDEN BARRIE ’85/P’20

Submitted by: Class Agent: Heather McFadden Barrie

1984 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

VICKI VICHA ERICKSON ’84

(224) 656-3442 / [email protected]

CONNIE HERBON MOSER ’84

(847) 372-5410 / [email protected]

Happy Fall, Class of 1984!

I hope this message finds you all well, safe, and healthy. These last 18 months have been crazy for all of us; both happy and sad. COVID has impacted many of our lives and we have not done much in the way of travel, reuniting with family and friends, etc. As a result, there is not much to report on the class of 1984. VICKI VICHA ERICKSON ’84 and I spent the Fourth of July weekend with DONNA REARDON GOLDBERG ’84 and had much fun with wine, good food, and great friends.

I did speak with MIKE FRANCOLUCCI ’84. VICKI and I were going to attend the College’s golf outing with him and MARK SPRAGUE ’84 in June. But, I ended up buying a home in Franklin, Tennessee so I began the onerous move process and was unable to attend. I heard from MIKE that they had a great time while in Ripon.

Other stats from Alumni Weekend: Alumni and guests from 29 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, were on campus, August 6-8, representing the classes of 1961 to 2023, for the first-ever August Alumni Weekend after COVID-19 put a pause on campus events over the past 18 months. Save the date for Alumni Weekend 2022, which will go back to our traditional end of June date: June 23-26, 2022.

On another note, we cannot thank everyone enough for the generous donations committed to Ripon College in the last fiscal year. These donations allowed us to ride the COVID wave to a record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world to support Ripon’s fourth annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, reminding us all that, regardless of the circumstances, Red Hawks come together. Outside of #OneDayRally, Ripon had over 3,600 donors who supported the College through the Ripon Fund and other initiatives. THANK YOU!

In addition to allowing us to move through COVID in a financially healthy way, the Administrative team, staff, and many others focused on much-needed campus upgrades. The McCullough Family Lounge in Farr Hall of Science — a favorite location of students for studying and collaborative work — recently received an extreme makeover with the intent of making the space more contemporary and technologically friendly. The renovations were made possible by a lead gift from Trustee PHILIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, and his wife, Pat. Thank you, PHIL! Also, a new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall, which will be a great asset for the math and computer science departments. 

Another amazing feat accomplished with the generous giving: The Ripon endowment recently hit an all-time high and as of Thursday, August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million. 

Start of the Academic Year: The new class is at 250 freshmen with nine transfers. Over 70% of the new students hail from Wisconsin. The rest represent 23 other states and two countries. Ripon maintains its reputation with an incoming class holding an average GPA of 3.42. Classes started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety protocols.

For other news about the College:

1. Link to the news stories published by the College: ripon.edu/news/ 
2. Link to the latest Ripon Magazine, which includes features of alumni and faculty: ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications/
3. Facebook pages that you could follow, in addition to the main Ripon College page:

1. Ripon College Center for Politics and the People: www.facebook.com/RiponCollegeCPP 
2. Ripon College Center for Diversity and Inclusion: www.facebook.com/ripondiversity 

This is a short note, but VICKI and I are all hopeful that you are happy, healthy, and safe. Would love to hear from each of you. 

Please make sure you are are receiving emails from Ripon College. Much of the College’s communication, including the monthly newsletter and our Class Letters are sent out electronically. Email [email protected] with your preferred email address to ensure that you are in the loop when it comes to our class as well as any news and events from Ripon College. 

More to come next time,

CONNIE HERBON MOSER ’84 

VICKI VICHA ERICKSON ’84

Submitted by: Class Agents: Virginia Vicha Erickson & Connie Herbon Moser