R Connections

1993 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

MELINDA TRAINOR HUTCHINSON ’93

(215) 704-6478 / [email protected]

Hi All,

I hope you are all still doing well, staying healthy, and keeping busy. School has started, and once again the summer flew by. Check in on www.ripon.edu and/or social media for the latest College updates. If you’re not part of the Ripon College Class of 1993 Facebook page, please join! 

Here’s some news from our class:  

• Well, I checked all my messages and only one person sent me (or Ripon) anything this time (hint, hint), so you get to hear about me! I completed my Certificate in American Sign Language Studies in May and I’m hoping to keep up my skills so I don’t forget the new language I learned! I also want to advocate more for the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. 
• DANIELLE STREBER VARNELL ’93 of Davidsonville, Maryland, joined Bracewell LLP in June 2020 as a partner in the firm’s power practice. She represents a broad range of clients on M&A transactions and project development in the energy and infrastructure sectors, with a particular focus on renewable energy.

News from Ripon:

• Alumni Weekend took place August 6-8. Alumni from the classes of 1961-2023, coming from 29 states, were on campus. Save the date for Alumni Weekend 2022, which will go back to the traditional end of June date: June 23-26, 2022.
• The Class of 2025 started on August 27 and is 250 students strong. Ripon also welcomed nine transfer students. 
• This year’s #OneDayRally had a record-breaking 2,087 donors from around the world! Thank you if you were one of the donors, or if you were one of the over 3600 donors who supported Ripon this past fiscal year. 
• 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. 

Links for additional reading about Ripon College:

• The College’s COVID-19 response and current procedures: ripon.edu/coronavirus-information/.
• The latest Ripon Magazine: https://ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications/.

Make sure you keep your contact information updated so you don’t miss any Ripon news. Contact the Alumni Office directly with changes at [email protected] or via U.S. mail to Alumni Office, Ripon College, 300 W. Seward St., Ripon, WI 54971.  

Thank you and stay well!

MELINDA TRAINOR HUTCHINSON ’93

Submitted by: Class Agent: Melinda Trainor Hutchinson

2002 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

CORRYN SIEGEL GREENWOOD ’02

(502) 269-5577 / [email protected] / [email protected]

Dear Class of 2002:

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Alumni Weekend and 20th Class Reunion: June 23-26, 2022. Your help in planning our Reunion would be greatly appreciated. We are looking for classmates to be on our planning committee, as well as to help reach out to classmates to get them excited about attending our Reunion. Please email [email protected] if you can help. The more the merrier!  

As all of you read in our last Class Letter, LEIGH MLODZIK ’02 has accepted a position at Simpson College as their Vice President for Enrollment. He has since expressed that he would like to have someone else take over the role of co-Class Agent, and we are actively seeking one or two interested individuals. As his fellow Class Agent, I want to thank LEIGH for doing a wonderful job of helping to keep us all connected over the years. Thank you, LEIGH, for your service and we hope we will get to thank you in person at our Class Reunion in June! 

What does it take to be a Class Agent? We write a Class Letter each fall and spring, and we include updates from classmates as we receive them. Being a Class Agent gives us a direct line of communication with a staff member at Ripon College, and we collaborate closely with the Office of Constituent Engagement to write Class Letters. The College will take care of sending out Class Letters both through email and through snail mail.  

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 JOLENE RUEDEN SCHATZINGER ’07, associate director of engagement at [email protected], or you can call her at (920) 748-8354. You can also email me (CORRYN) directly to inquire about the Class Agent position at [email protected]. Because we are celebrating a Class Reunion this summer, I am really hoping that we can have the co-Class Agent position filled as soon as possible. Thank you for considering this opportunity. 

Now for some general College updates.

Previous fiscal year review:

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, including those of you from our Class of 2002!

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: 

The College’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. More information on the College’s COVID-19 response and current procedures can be found at this link: ripon.edu/coronavirus-information/.

Links that may be of interest:

News stories published by the College: ripon.edu/news/ 

The latest Ripon Magazine, which includes features of alumni and faculty: ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications/

Class of 2002 Class Notes: 

JOHN BITTER ’02 of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, held a rockin’ fundraiser called “Perms for Preemies” to support the March of Dimes. Spoiler alert: He did get a perm!

CORRYN SIEGEL GREENWOOD ’02 of Orland Park, Illinois, writes “I will start the new year in a new role as medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Illinois. This is the closest hospital to our house and I will be leading the team as we apply for designation as a level III NICU, the highest designation that Illinois recognizes. I look forward to a shorter commute and the challenges my new role will bring. In sad news, our nearly 11-year-old vizsla, Otis, died this spring. Fortunately, we were able to get a new puppy to keep our other dog, Cooper, company. Nash is now six months old and he is crazy.”

TARIK LEBBADI ’02 of Vancouver, Canada, became the Chief Operating Officer of MINDCURE Health Inc. in March. MINDCURE is a leader in advanced proprietary technology for psychedelic therapy. Read more at www.mindcure.com/news/mindcure-names-tarik-lebbadi-as-chief-operating-officer. 

MELISSA KUBAI ’02 of Ames, Iowa, shares “I recently accepted a position in April 2021 at Iowa State University- College of Veterinary Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. My position involves training ophthalmology residents, interns, and veterinary students. I have enjoyed returning to my Midwestern roots and the four seasons after spending seven years in Tucson, Arizona. I continue to remain active by participating in Triathlons. My next goal is a full Ironman after successfully completing a half Ironman in 2019.”

RYAN RADTKE ’02 of Chesterfield, Virginia, and his family moved from California to Virginia in August of 2020. He is the pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Mechanicsville.

I look forward to hearing from all of you. Whether you want to submit a news note, or you would like to become our newest Class Agent, or you are interested in volunteering for our Class Reunion, I would love to hear from you. Keep in touch!

Your Class of 2002 Class Agent,

CORRYN SIEGEL GREENWOOD ’02

Submitted by: Class Agent: Corryn Siegel Greenwood

1980 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

PEGGY GERO DAVALT ’80

 (608) 658-3779 / [email protected]

Dearest Friends and Classmates of the Ripon College Class of 1980:

As I recall, it was Sunday, August 22, 1976, that over 250 young students from all over the world showed up at this small, rural Wisconsin community we know as Ripon, Wisconsin to attend Ripon College. I’m being somewhat nostalgic because it is important to me to share with you how I have been navigating some of the changes that this world has brought to us over the past couple of years and the changes that I have seen as it affects me and my relationship with Ripon College. This is something that I need to share. My journey through the past many years as your Class Agent has brought me to this edition. 

One of my very most favorite books is Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life by Sarah Ban Breathnach who created this #1 New York Times best-selling book back in 1995. In 2019, she revisited and revised her work to make it more contemporary. 

Pearl Bailey, an American actress and singer said this, “You never find yourself until you face the truth.” In Sarah Ban Breathnach’s February first entry, she shares what it is like for her to write. “Making the absolute best of ourselves is not an easy task. It is a pleasurable pursuit, it is the reason we were born, but it requires spiritual moxie, the quixotic blending of passion, patience, persistence, and perseverance. For many of us it also requires prayer. That’s because we find it far easier to learn to live by our own lights when we access a Higher Source of Power to illuminate our path.” She continues on in the entry, “So I started to ask for the Power to be switched on in my daily life: as a mother, a writer, an artist and a friend. When I asked, it was turned on. When I didn’t, I stayed in the dark. You don’t have to be a master electrician to understand what is going on here. Someone must turn on the switch. Asking is the only way to activate spiritual electricity. When there is Light, we see remarkably well. We see with clarity. And what we can see if we look deep within is that the Authentic Self is the Soul made visible.”

As Sarah wrote her original book, she decluttered her life of more than just objects that no longer serve us, but the clutter of other people’s opinion: about our lives, our jobs, our partners, our wardrobes, our weight, our children, our decorating style. Her conclusion as we try to wade through those thoughts every day to level a playing field just to find space for our own thoughts which does cause us to tire. The last portion of this entry shares this profound information, “Don’t try to remake yourself into something you’re not. Just try making the best of what the Great Creator made in you. The sacred art of nurturing our soul is the artisanal craft of Simple Abundance. Begin today by flipping the switch to turn on the Light.”

As I have shared over the years with all of you, my dad, Bob Gero, used to say that the only thing constant in life is change. His wisdom is totally evident in this present moment. He was very smart, and his words still echo in my mind. In being my authentic self, I will admit that I do not like change because it tends to not allow me to “control” my life in any given moment.

As my classmates, you may ask, “Why are you reflecting on this?”

My reasons are many but the biggest one is that I must speak my truth as I share with you how I have felt over the past couple of years. As many of you know, I have been one of the biggest fans of Ripon College. The time spent there had been four of my best years of life. I supported the College and did my best to contribute as a Class Agent, volunteer, and a silent recruiter of future students. I also supported the College financially, including through estate planning and hosting the Class’s Facebook group. I do my best to keep alumni up-to-date on the news of our classmates.

What has bothered me the most (my opinion only) is that I have realized my medical and health freedoms, as well as sovereign rights, are being eroded before our very eyes. This has especially impacted me as a State of Wisconsin employee considered an “essential employee” and having to work every day in person due to the facility that I am employed at. I am grateful for my job- that has never changed. What has changed for me is being forced to make medical decisions that never ever had to be made in this job. 

I have found there is comfort in finding people of like-mindedness, because I have found that the ability to agree to disagree is not often possible. I will say that from the political, socio-economic, and medical issues plaguing this world, division is what is happening between families, friends, and co-workers.

For me, I have stepped back. Normally, I am a very extroverted person, yet I have withdrawn and kept to myself only to protect my soul as it processes these changes that I’m seeing. I must watch myself as I go through days that I do actually stand up for what I believe even if many people in my work-world do not.

Earlier this year, Ripon College, put out an issue of the Ripon Magazine which caused me just to step back and say, “WOW” is this the Ripon College that I used to love? Is this the College that I was proud to be associated with? The resounding answer to me was no it was not. My instant thought was, I need to share with them how I am feeling and that something could be done, because I am not 100% sure that I am the only one who is feeling that angst about what I was seeing in the College’s major communication tool for alumni.

I have done the best I can to support the College. I do my best to recruit students, volunteer my time and energy and share the incredible experience I had while I was a student and now an alumna of Ripon College. I have also been a Partner in Legacy and have contributed a portion of my estate to Ripon College, but now I have had serious thoughts about cutting this back, as it is something I can choose to do. I feel that there is only one “side” presented in the Ripon Magazine. 

To problem-solve, I felt there would and could be an amicable solution to this situation I saw (as well as others who have shared with me their concerns). At this moment in time (11.14.21) I have been able to schedule a meeting with the College Administration to discuss some of my views on how the Ripon Magazine has been published of late. In the past, I always felt that there were other viewpoints and options shared in the Ripon Magazine and not strictly one. I contacted the College to update my Class Letter, and I am writing to let you know that I have reached out to the Administration and I did meet with Vice President of Advancement Shawn Karsten ‘09 on November 16 by phone and he has addressed my concerns from the College’s perspective. It was a very good conversation.

That’s why it has taken me so long to write this letter. Now writing this, I feel as if I have been authentic and not just hiding how I view and perceive things in this crazy, changing world we live in. 

Ripon College News and Events

President Zach Messitte announces that he will be stepping down as Ripon’s 13th President. He has served the College from 2012 and will be ending his tenure at the end of this Fall Semester 2021. 

For the complete report, you can check this out on the website – 

https://ripon.edu/2021/09/22/ripon-college-president-zach-messitte-to-leave-in-2022/?fbclid=IwAR17MuQ8sL_ZZxWAFqH0dxdEJ2Xyy1J0sXtAz_xJlbKWYXIbfVrokLrO4TA

Dr. Andrea Young has been appointed Ripon College’s interim president. A national search committee to find President Messitte’s replacement has been formed. Watch for more news as soon as someone has been hired.

https://ripon.edu/2021/09/27/dr-andrea-young-appointed-ripon-colleges-interim-president/?fbclid=IwAR3Br_KgIXbc9I4AOYAchbs51seDC_J9cof_KlEahNzY1eBaIVdNvEAKVbQ

Class News, Notes, and Announcements

For those of you that are on Facebook and have not already joined, I have a Ripon College (WI) Class of 1980 Facebook page that you are welcome to become a part of. 

Another reminder for those of you interested, there is a permanent Zoom meeting on Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. (CDT). Please join. Join regulars, KATHY GOODBOUT ’80, ROBERTA KOHLHAGEN ’80, and PEGGY GERO DAVALT ’80 for a most interesting chat. See you soon!!

The information to join is here:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86022070250

Meeting ID: 860 2207 0250

Password: 733821

ELLEN BARTH ’80 of Omro, Wisconsin, recently retired from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, after 30+ years of employment where she worked most recently as a Wildlife Biologist Supervisor. She is enjoying retirement. 

In loving memory of MARY E. BRANDT ’80 – January 21, 1958, to July 24, 2021 – 

For those of you in the Class of 1980, she was a good friend to me as well as to her Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters. Her love of teaching took her to Arizona where she lived for many years. You will be missed by all who loved you!

The celebration of her life was held in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Saturday, October 2.

https://www.hansenmortuary.com/obituary/603750/mary-elizabeth-brandt/?fbclid=IwAR3khsGwI6pQ5hYAyjagIEd-iZbUdURh9s6bzTQsufP49ntZVMER9nd03Pc

KATHY GOODBOUT ’80, LISA HEIMLER ’80, and SARA MAURER ’80 all met for dinner in late October, as SARA was traveling in Wisconsin for a conference. 

That’s it for me. Have a great autumn and winter season. How fast time flies!! Keep sending me information for your next Class Letter.

Celebrate everything,

PEGGY GERO DAVALT ’80

Ripon College Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Peggy Gero DaValt

1994 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

LISA SPROSTON SUTTER ’94

(608) 347-6543 / [email protected]

KIMBERLY WOOLLEY ’94

[email protected]  / facebook.com/kimbo.woolley

www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-woolley-a903959 

Dear Class of 1994,

I hope this letter finds you well. It comes from me in the heart of “Back to School.” Fortunately, this year I was actually headed back to school after teaching virtually all of the past school year. Teaching with a mask on all day has its challenges, but is definitely simpler than teaching six and seven-year-olds through a computer screen. To make this school year’s start even more exciting, I had to move to another elementary school in Cottage Grove. Sixty-four boxes later, I’m all settled in.

Meanwhile, at RC “Back To School” meant the following:

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

It has been so fun reading posts on Facebook about your children headed off to school, whether that is kindergarten or college. I’m so looking forward to next summer when I’ll take my oldest to visit campuses of his choosing. Of course, there will be a mandatory visit to check out Ripon. But, in the end, it will be his choice. Your classmates and I would love to hear updates on your life. Whether it’s job-related, family news, where you’re living, recent travel adventures, new pets, or alumni sightings. We’d love to catch up with you!

CLASS NOTE:

THERACE RISCH ’94 of Frisco, Texas, has been promoted to executive vice president and chief information & technology officer at American Electric Power (AEP).

RIPON COLLEGE NOTES:

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!

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. 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.

If you’re interested in reading more about RC news and events, please check out the following links:

Here is a link to the news stories published by the College: ripon.edu/news/ 

Here is the link to the latest Ripon Magazine, which includes features of alumni and faculty: ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications/

Here are Facebook pages that you could follow in addition to the main Ripon College page:

Ripon College Center for Politics and the People: facebook.com/RiponCollegeCPP 

Ripon College Center for Diversity and Inclusion: facebook.com/ripondiversity 

KIMBERLY WOOLLEY ’94 will be writing our next class letter in the spring. If you have updates that didn’t make it into this Class Letter, please reach out to her at [email protected] or contact me and I will make sure Kimberly receives the update.

All the best,

LISA SPROSTON SUTTER ’94

Submitted by: Class Agent: Lisa Sproston Sutter

2000 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent:

ANDRE MIKSHA ’00

(317) 219-9275 / [email protected]

Class of 2000,

Even in the midst of a pandemic, Ripon alumni made April’s #OneDayRally a huge success. Over two thousand (a record-breaking number, by the way) donors from all around the world supported Ripon’s fourth annual giving day back on April 28, known as #OneDayRally. Through our support, the College’s endowment is now at an all-time high of $112 million. While it might have seemed a little strange to be getting together for an Alumni Weekend in August, it too was quite a success. Please save this date for Alumni Weekend 2022: June 23-26, 2022.  

This year’s 250-strong freshmen class hail from twenty-four states; seventy-four students hail from outside Wisconsin: 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! I will never forget being around for NATE STILLMAN ’00’s first experiences with snow. Ethiopia and Myanmar are also represented in the class.  Interestingly, the most common names among the class are Emily/Emilie, Isabelle/Isabella, and Jacob. Twenty-one students are legacies; that is, another family member attended or is attending Ripon.

I have been writing these letters for over twenty years, and, unfortunately, my service as your Class Agent is waning. Someone who does not eschew social media like I do would be better suited for the coming years. Staying connected and “in the know” is important to me, but the Class of 2000 deserves a Class Agent who can add more value than I can. If you are interested in learning more about the position and are interested in serving your classmates in this way, please reach out to me or directly to JOLENE RUEDEN SCHATZINGER ’07, who serves as the school’s Associate Director of Engagement. I would also be happy to be a Co-Class Agent with any one of you who may be interested. 

Red Hawks forever,

ANDRE MIKSHA ’00

Submitted by: Class Agent: Andre Miksha

2001 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

NICOLE BAUMANN-BLACKMORE ’01

(608) 513-9078 / [email protected]

DANTE A. C. HOUSTON ’01

(414) 378-4937 / [email protected]

Hi, Class of 2001,

We would like to start by giving a HUGE shout out to the class members who were able to attend our Class Reunion and to those who contributed to our class gift! We know how difficult these last 18 months have been for many, and the fact that many of you were willing to keep Ripon College top of mind is nothing short of amazing. With your help and generosity, we raised $21,600 with 25% class participation!

We have some updates to share but are missing updates from all of you! Please contact us, Ripon College, or join our Facebook group (Ripon College Class of 2001 Reunion) to say hello! 

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.

This past fiscal year:

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: 

Our 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

Here is the link to the latest Ripon Magazine, which includes features of alumni and faculty: ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications/

The article about the Ceresco Prairie is amazing! While the Prairie was in its infancy during our time on campus, it has now become a mainstay in education for students in the Sciences and provides everyone in the area with a beautiful place to decompress. We highly recommend you come back to campus and take a stroll through the Prairie!

Until next time,

Your 2001 Co-Class Agents:

NICOLE BAUMANN-BLACKMORE ’01  

DANTE A. C. HOUSTON ’01

Submitted by: Class Agents: Nicole Baumann-Blackmore and Dante Houston

2004 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agent: 

NICK SPAETH ’04

(262) 227-6097 / [email protected] / [email protected]

Greetings Class of ’04,

Life being what it is lately, this class update will be all Ripon news. We’ll get back to our regularly scheduled programming for the next Class Letter, seeking updates from all of you. For the time being, enjoy this update from our Alma Mater.

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. Be sure to 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!

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. 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

Be sure to send updates to [email protected], and as always, be safe and be well.

NICK SPAETH ’04

Submitted by: Class Agent: Nick Spaeth

2003 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

LIZ MATELSKI ’03

(920) 475-7415 / [email protected]

ELAYNE MONNENS NORWEB ’03

(917) 509-4826 / [email protected]

Happy fall, Class of 2003!

Classes started on Monday, August 30th 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. More information about the new incoming class can be found here: https://ripon.edu/2021/08/31/the-face-of-the-class-of-2025-our-new-first-years.

This past fiscal year: 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. Ripon College’s endowment recently hit an all-time high; as of Thursday, August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million!

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 Ripon’s math and computer science departments. 

For additional updates, consider following Ripon’s main Facebook page as well as these new pages: 

Ripon College Center for Politics and the People: www.facebook.com/RiponCollegeCPP 

Ripon College Center for Diversity and Inclusion: www.facebook.com/ripondiversity 

Class Notes:

GINA COMPITELLO ’03 of Tucson, Arizona, is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Literacy Connects, a Tucson, Arizona, nonprofit that provides free literacy and arts programs to learners of all ages.

LIZ MATELSKI ’03 of Melrose, Massachusetts, is Associate Professor of History at Endicott College. This summer she co-directed a National Endowment for the Humanities three-week seminar for middle and high school teachers titled, “The Salem Witch Trials: Their World & Legacy.”

JAKE PAULSON ’03 of Waukesha, Wisconsin, writes, “The twins are starting 4k this year and our (wife Kathryn and I) daughter started fourth grade. I have a new role for the School District of Waukesha: Secondary Reading Intervention Coach/Trainer.” 

ERIN TRADER STROT ’03 of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, writes, “I am still living out in Eden Prairie, Minnesota with my spouse of ten years, kids (two girls 6 & 4) and two cats (14 & 13) and working as the Training Specialist for the Donor Testing lab at Memorial Blood Centers. In my role, I onboard and train new technicians on the instrumentation and techniques for our lab, revise training materials and SOPs as well as handle staff competencies, continuing education credits, and any training related to major lab changes. In July, I completed my tenth half marathon and on October 3rd, I will be completing the Twin Cities Marathon, my first ever of that distance.”

BRIE TERRELL ’03 of Saint Louis, Missouri, is in her ninth year doing Ortho Trauma in St. Louis, Missouri. She writes, “My oldest just started 1st grade and my baby is in 4K. We adopted a dog earlier this summer – Raven.” Her husband, Jay, remains the only male in the household.

JENNIFER WHITE ’03 of Pasadena, Maryland, writes, “We are ramping up for Landsat 9’s launch, which is currently scheduled for September 23rd! Much of the work is still done primarily from home, but we will be going into the Goddard Space Flight Center to support the launch and commissioning of the spacecraft.” There will be coverage of the launch unless it becomes delayed. Another mission called “Lucy” is going to an asteroid, so if Landsat 9 doesn’t launch by a certain date, the launch team will shift to Lucy. 

ELIZABETH ZIRK ’03 of Portland, Oregon, was promoted to supervisor in June at Road Scholar, a non-profit and leader in educational travel for people over 50. She writes, “Having been hired on in January 2020, and then hanging on through the pandemic, which did result in layoffs, the Contact Center (the whole org, really!) persevered together and chugged along making things work as best we know how! We’re not quite thriving yet, but vaccinated folks are eager to get on the road again with us. It makes for very interesting work in such uneven and uncertain times! But I love my co-workers and I know we’re bringing good into the world!”

Thank you again to everyone who continues to send updates. Remember that you don’t have to wait for the twice-a-year call for updates in order to share your latest news. 

Be sure to check out the online version of R Connections (www.ripon.edu/rconnections) where you can upload updates, photos, and more!

Elayne

Liz 

Submitted by: Class Agents: Liz Matelski and Elayne Monnens Norweb

2005 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

DAPHNE MEYERS LEIGH ’05

(414) 841-7210 / [email protected] 

AMANDA ZAHN PRZYBYL ’05

(920) 299-1081 / [email protected]

Hello Class! 

I (DAPHNE MEYERS LEIGH ’05) hope this letter finds you and your families well. This fall has been a huge shift from the way last year looked like! I am sure that many of you, like me, have learned a WHOLE BUNCH of new skills and strategies for navigating your work and social life — Zoom Happy Hour anyone?!? I sort of hope to never have to do those again, but I also realize how lucky we’ve all been to have the option to do them at all. 

This year’s Alumni Weekend was a bit non-traditional BUT was still a great opportunity for classmates across the decades to come together. 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!

This year, like every year, there have been upgrades and updates around campus. 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. 

Now here are class notes from classmates across the country: 

DAPHNE MEYERS LEIGH ’05 of New Berlin, Wisconsin: Starting school year 17 as a teacher, still learning new things along the way. Major updates here lie in our non-work activities. I’m now volunteering with Wisconsin PTA as Leadership Chairperson. 

LORYN OHLAUG MERRILL ’05 of West Hills, California: We’ve moved! Not far from where we used to live, but we upgraded to a bigger home with a larger yard. We love the new home but are still trying to unpack and settle in. Work is going well, I just celebrated my one-year anniversary at Raytheon. I’m enjoying it and staying very busy. My youngest just started kindergarten so now all four of my boys are in school. Sports haven’t returned to normal, but we are all hopeful that this year the park will open its leagues again. We are staying safe and enjoying what we have!

PAUL NEUBERGER ’05 of Colgate, Wisconsin, writes “I’m hosting a TV Show! I am beyond excited to announce that I’m hosting a new show on RightNow Media! For those who aren’t familiar with the network, it’s basically Netflix for Christians. It has an international audience with millions of subscribers. My show, ‘Faith at Work,’ highlights executives who have brought Christ into the workplace. In each episode, I interview a different leader to get to know them on a personal level, learn about their organization, tour their facility, and see firsthand how they’ve created a God-centric culture. I’m currently looking for leaders to feature in future episodes. Are you a good fit? Do you know someone who would be?”

AMANDA ZAHN PZYBYL ’05 of Ripon, Wisconsin: We’re moving! Not far, just a bit down Hwy 23, but back to my hometown. So excited for my boys to be Ripon Tigers!

Wishing you all a safe and healthy autumn!

Your Class Agents,

DAPHNE MEYERS LEIGH ’05

AMANDA ZAHN PRZYBYL ’05  

Submitted by: Class Agent: Daphne Meyers Leigh

2006 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agents:

NICOLE KLAAS HANDS ’06

[email protected]

ED HANSEN ’06

[email protected]

ANDY KITSLAAR ’06

[email protected]

Hello Ripon friends,

Given the out-of-the-ordinary circumstances surrounding Alumni Weekend 2021, the three of us were pleased to see that the Class of 2006 was well represented in August (and we were equally bummed that none of us were able to participate). Like you, we’re crossing our fingers for more “normal” Reunions in the future.

Speaking of Alumni Weekend: Together our class raised $10,660 as a special reunion gift, and 22% of us participated. We owe a thank you to our Reunion Planning and Fundraising Committee members: KHAATIM BOYD ’06, HAYLEY DOYLE ’06, BECCA NOWAK ENDERS ’06, RACHEL FISCHER ’06, ERIC GALLAGHER ’06, DANIELLE PAIZ GUNTER ’06, and ELIZABETH REIBLE NIELSEN ’06. If you’re interested in helping with future special projects for our class, please let one of us know – the more the merrier.

The Class of 2006 also showed up for April’s #OneDayRally: It was the fourth year of this one-day fundraising event, which has become critical to funding the College’s fiscal year. Our class was fifth among all classes in terms of participation, and collectively a record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world supported #OneDayRally.

In case you’re wondering what it’s like on campus this semester: Classes started (in-person) at the end of August. The College’s information on COVID-19 response and procedures can be found at ripon.edu/coronavirus-information.

We welcome your life news: Unfortunately, our class notes section is sparse for this letter (our fault for not being more proactive). We’d love to see many more names in the next letter. If you have any news (big or small), please reach out to one of us, or you can use this Google Form: https://forms.gle/rSMHMYLjmVFz43NG9.

Class note: 

JENNIFER BAKER SCHILLING ’06 of Pelican Lake, Wisconsin, writes, “Started a new job at the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office as their Finance Technician. My husband and I also participate in professional BBQ competitions around the state for fun.”

Happy fall and take care,

NICOLE KLAAS HANDS ’06

ED HANSEN ’06

ANDY KITSLAAR ’06

Submitted by: Class Agents: Nicole Klaas Hands, Ed Hansen, and Andy Kitslaar

2007 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

ADAM KRUEGER ’07 

(857) 389-8617 / [email protected] 

LINDSEY KREYE HEIL ’07 

(952) 944-7528 / [email protected] 

STACY KRUSA TEACHOUT ’07 

(920) 345-1048 / [email protected]

LIZ LEACH MORRELL ’07 

(920) 279-0779 / [email protected]m

Hello, Class of 2007, 

We hope this letter finds you healthy and safe as we continue to endure the COVID-19 pandemic.  

We cannot believe we are saying this, but next summer will be our 15-year Class Reunion celebration! Stay tuned for more information in the coming months regarding Alumni Weekend 2022: June 23-26. Make your plans now to come to Ripon that last weekend in June because we want to see as many of you as possible and hotels are filling up! We encourage anyone who may be interested in helping to plan our 15th Class Reunion to please let us know. One way to help is by contacting fellow classmates to encourage them to attend our Reunion. We will form a special Reunion-planning committee, and we would love as many of you as possible to be part of it. 

Because this is our Reunion year, all financial contributions to the College during this current fiscal year from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 will be counted toward our special Class Gift that will be presented at Alumni Weekend. 

Read on to find some updates from our classmates as well as College news. Enjoy!    

LINDSEY KREYE HEIL ’07 of Savage, Minnesota, welcomed baby #3 Sawyer Tate on June 25, 2021. He joins big sisters, Piper and Zoey, who absolutely adore him. Lindsey continues to teach high school special education and will be entering her third year of team teaching math alongside BETH WILLIAMS KOEHLER ’04.

AMANDA LIETHEN GLASS ’07 and her husband, Michael Glass of Random Lake, Wisconsin, welcomed a baby girl, Edith Rose, on Sunday, August 1, 2021. Edith joins big brothers Matthew (age 15 and learning to drive) and Theodore (age 3 and just starting preschool), who both love having a baby sister. Amanda is the Associate Director of Advancement Services and Data Analyst at Ripon College and has been working almost entirely remotely since March 2020. While grateful to not have a nearly three hour round trip commute to the office, she misses seeing people outside of Zoom meetings. 

TYLOR LOEST ’07 of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is the Associate Vice President of Advancement at Lakeland University.

JOLENE RUEDEN SCHATINGER ’07 of Ripon, Wisconsin, continues to work at Ripon College as the Associate Director for Engagement in the Office of Constituent Engagement and she is really hoping to see as many of you as possible back in Ripon for our Class Reunion. She thinks this will be an event for the memory books and that you will not want to miss out. Feel free to contact her at any time if you want the latest updates on what is happening in Ripon — both on campus and in the community.

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.

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. A special thanks to all of you who supported Ripon College from the Class of 2007.

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

Remember, don’t be shy! We always love to hear and share updates about your life. Thanks for continuing to support our Alma Mater. Stay safe. 

Be well, and we look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Your Class Agents,

ADAM KRUEGER ’07

LINDSAY KREYE HEIL ’07

STACY KRUSA TEACHOUT ’07

LIZ LEACH MORRELL ’07

Submitted by: Class Agents: Adam Krueger, Lindsay Kreye Heil, Stacy Krusa Teachout, and Liz Leach Morrell

2008 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agents:

LEAH HOVER-PREISS ’08

(608) 432-2399 / [email protected]

ZAC SCHWANDT ’08 

(414) 312-3531 / [email protected] 

STEPHANIE SOMMER FAULDS ’08 

[email protected] 

Greetings Class of 2008!

We hope this letter finds you well! As this letter is being written, the newest Red Hawks are starting their first week of classes. This class of 250 students (plus nine transfer students) are having those first-year experiences that we now look back on fondly– figuring out the best meals to get in the cafeteria, learning how to live with someone new in a dorm room, finding organizations and clubs to join, and so much more. Although 71% of the class hails from Wisconsin, students also come from as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, and Tennessee (along with 19 other states). While COVID-19 restrictions limited the number of foreign students who could join the class, young people from Ethiopia and Myanmar are now Red Hawks. Included in the class of 2025 (how strange is it to think this class will be graduating in 2025 when 2008 doesn’t seem that long ago!) are 159 recruited athletes, 21 legacy students, and 100 first-generation students. We wish this class luck as they begin their journeys at Ripon College! 

Before the new academic year began, Ripon College welcomed alumni and guests for the first campus event for over 18 months. During the first-ever August Alumni Weekend, visitors representing 29 states and the classes from 1961-2023 enjoyed coming back to our Alma Mater for celebrating, remembering, and developing new and old connections. Alumni Weekend will be held from June 23-26, 2022. Even though it is not our reunion year, we would still love to see you there so mark your calendars now! 

We would also like to take this time to thank everyone who donated during the #OneDayRally and at any other point during the fiscal year. 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 2008 really supported the institution that gave so much to all of us. Once again, thank you!  

As you finish reading, make sure to check out the class updates shared below. As always, if you have any updates you would like to share with the class, please contact your Class Agents listed above anytime throughout the year. You can also post your update on the Class of 2008 Facebook group. Updates can include births, adoptions, new jobs, new pets, continuing education, promotions, moves, run-ins with other Ripon Alums…. your classmates want to hear what you are up to! Please let us know if you have any information to share. 

Class Notes:

LEAH HOVER-PREISS ’08 and her family recently moved to Friendship, Wisconsin. Leah is starting her 13th year of teaching high school math and her third year as an Associate Professor for Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota where she teaches master’s level education courses. 

TYLOR LOEST ’08 of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, shared, “After three years, I left the John Michael Kohler Art Center. I am now the Associate Vice President of Advancement for Lakeland University.”

RACHEL RESOP ’08 of Washington, D.C., will be moving to Zambia in early 2022 to begin an HIV research fellowship funded by the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health. She will be based in Lusaka and will be researching preterm birth in women living with HIV. 

ALEX ROYZEN ’08 of Lindenhurst, Illinois, has been promoted to Managing Director, Head of Merchandising and Supply Chain at Ecentria after celebrating 12 years with the company. He now leads the Merchandising and Supply Chain Department for all business units.     

DAVID CZARNECKI ’08 and JORDAN ANDERSON ’08 of Waukesha, Wisconsin, write, “We welcomed our third child, Hollyn, in October of 2019. Her big brother, Enoch, and big sister, Eadie, absolutely love her!”

Go Red Hawks! 

LEAH HOVER-PREISS ’08

STEPHANIE SOMMER FAULDS ’08

ZAC SCHWANDT ’08

Submitted by: Class Agents: Leah Hover-Preiss, Zac Schwandt, Stephanie Sommer Faulds

2009 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

EMILY MEYER ’09

(920) 369-8707 / [email protected] 

JOSH LEGREVE ’09

(414) 839-7222 / [email protected]

Hello All!

We hope you all had a chance to relax a bit during this past summer and enjoy the weather wherever you may be. We both had the opportunity to attend the August Alumni Weekend activities and it was great to see some of you there. It was a smaller event than normal considering everything, but it was still nice to get back on campus and see other alumni (even with the pouring rain during some of it).

It is amazing to realize that this year’s incoming Ripon College students are the Class of 2025! Here is an interesting snapshot of what our future fellow alumni look like: https://ripon.edu/2021/08/31/the-face-of-the-class-of-2025-our-new-first-years/

It is never too early to start planning to attend Alumni Weekend 2022. Next year the event will be held from June 23-26, 2022. This means Alumni Weekend starts on EMILY MEYER ’09’s birthday, so plan to come to help her celebrate while reuniting with your classmates!

As we write this, JOSH LEGREVE ’09 of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, is gearing up for his twelfth year in the classroom. He is still teaching Spanish at Green Lake School District, but this year he is also taking on the role of the district’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Coordinator. In this role, he will be working with juniors and seniors as they pursue the rigorous full IB Diploma. 

EMILY MEYER ’09 of Fargo, North Dakota, has entered a new phase of life as the mom of a kindergartener. There is a HUGE learning curve to this phase of life, and lots of things to remember (like sending a snack every day). Aside from that, Emily is entering her fifth year in her position as the Assistant Director for Residential Education and continues to support the COVID Student Helpline at her institution. She also continues to serve as an advisor for the local Kappa Delta chapter, and is extremely excited to see what their new sorority house will look like once construction is complete next summer. 

Here are some updates from the 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. 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, including those of you from our class of 2009, 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.

Class notes: 

JOSH FREY ’09 of West Point, New York, is a Nuclear Engineer with the U.S. Army.

SHAWN KARSTEN ’09 and CARISSA ZUERCHER KARSTEN ’10 of Ripon, Wisconsin, welcomed a baby boy, Luther James Karsten, to their family on April 19, 2021.

NICK KRUEGER ’09 of Watertown, Wisconsin was a candidate for the State Assembly’s 37th District. 

BRITTANY KAUFMAN PRATT ’09 of Nixa, Missouri, shares that she has been riding out the pandemic with copious amounts of ice cream, online shopping, Brene Brown, and Bailey Sarian. If you have completed all of the popular bingeable shows, please consider Last Kingdom, Alone, MASH, or Zumbo’s Just Desserts for your viewing pleasure. And, if anyone else has memorized Dinosaur Train’s “Dinosaurs A-Z,” she’ll be happy to sing with you at the next Class Reunion! Brittany’s recently graduated pre-doctoral interns gifted her an MTV board game in honor of “all [her] old school references.” Just in case you wanted to feel like a true elderly millennial today. Brittany would like to give a special shout out to Joe Hatcher P’16, Kristine Kovack-Lesh, TIM PETERSIK ’73/P’10, and Bob Otis for fueling her love of psychology. As President of the Missouri Psychological Association, she is proud to represent her Ripon College roots and is immensely grateful for the way our professors set us up for success. Brittany writes, “Shout out to ABBY KAUFMAN ’12 because it is awesome to go to college with your sister! Also, pretty sure she doesn’t send in class updates, but she’s back in the Fox Valley if y’all wanna hang out. All jokes aside, hope everyone is doing well. Take care of you and looking forward to seeing you when all of this is over. Give a shout if you’re ever in southwest Missouri!”

VANESSA SIEBERS ’09 is the YMCA School Age Coordinator in Appleton.

We are always looking for more updates! You can send your updates to either of us and we will make sure it is included! 

Be well,

EMILY MEYER ’09

JOSH LEGREVE ’09

Submitted by: Class Agents: Emily Meyer and Josh LeGreve

2013 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agents:

CHARLOTTE LEE WAHLE ’13

(971) 222-5905 / [email protected]

LAUREN ANN OTT ’13

(651) 399-4363 / [email protected]

ALI PELTIER ’13

(608) 228-0733 / [email protected]

Dear Class of 2013,

When I (ALI PELTIER ’13) was writing this Class Letter, I looked back on what I wrote for the Fall 2020 Letter. Reading it, I thought for sure we would be living in a world without masks, quarantining, working from home etc. by the time this was written, but I promise you I won’t dwell on the “new normal” (sorry, had to say it…) too much, and will move directly on to college updates and classmate’s news! 

Personally, not too much has changed since our last letter in my world. I am still working from home but starting to travel more (yay!) and still very slowly working my way through my MBA at the University of Iowa. My wedding is a year away, so my Type-A self is in full planning mode over here. So far, the highlight of the summer has been meeting up with some of my best friends in central Wisconsin for a week on the lake including SARA WIMMER KRAUSE ’12, LEXI GLISE HATLAK ’12, MARA JENSEN POULLETTE’14, ALLY BRETL ’14, and SARAH CARBALLO ’13.

Updates from Campus:

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!

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 our math and computer science departments. 

Endowment: 

Our 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

Now, let’s get down to the fun stuff… and the reason you all (honestly) check out this Letter.

Class notes: 

AMIE PRUDHOMME DWYER ’13 of Watertown, Wisconsin, writes, “My husband, MATT DWYER ’10, and I moved to Watertown with our daughter in August 2021 after being in Missouri for seven years. MATT is a PE and Health teacher at Mayville, and I am a special education teacher at Fort Atkinson.”

SARAH CARBALLO ’13 of Cincinnati, Ohio, writes, “I finally completed my four-year ophthalmology residency with Rush University in Chicago in June! I then successfully moved to Cincinnati with the help of FLYNN MORONI ’13, who braved a broken elevator on the sixth floor and a motley last-minute moving crew led by the mysterious (but effective) “Big Rob” all in the name of best-friendship. I started my LAST YEAR of training (aka 25th grade) completing a one-year cornea and external disease fellowship with my first choice of match – The Cincinnati Eye Institute. Next, I’ll be heading back home to sweet Milwaukee for my first big girl job in 2022, still ‘single as a Pringle’ with a great plant collection.”

KAYLYN FREEMAN MACKIN ’13 was married in April 2021, and hopes to start a family soon. 

CHRISTINA MOONEY ’13 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin writes, “Still single, and looking to mingle.”

MAYNA MUENCHOW ’13 of Westchester, Illinois, was promoted at work and, most importantly, got another fur baby!

ANDREA SLOSSER WORTH ’13 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin writes, “I completed my Doctoral Internship at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wyoming! (Now to start paying off student loans…) My spouse, our dog, and I relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I am now the Inpatient Geropsychology Postdoctoral Fellow at the Milwaukee VA Center Center.”

JEREMIAH RIDDILE ’13 writes, “I got married! This past March, I married my long-term girlfriend WanRu, also known as Ruby. We had a small celebration in her hometown and we hope to have a more formal wedding next summer when Chinese borders open up for friends/family. This fall, I’ll start a new teaching position as a high school social studies teacher in the Chinese public school system. Otherwise, my last couple of years have been busy learning some Mandarin, traveling around China, and of course playing a little soccer when I can.

MATT ROHRBECK ’13 and DARCIE FIRST ’13 of Columbus, Wisconsin, recently got a rescue dog and named her Callie!

KATIE WILLIAMS ’13 earned her Reading Teacher 316 license and is putting it to good use working as a Reading Teacher for grades 3-5 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. She lives in Portage, Wisconsin with TIM HOLME ’14.

JENNA OSTROWSKI WRIGHT ’13 of Marshfield, Wisconsin, was married this summer after postponing twice last year due to COVID.

Stay safe and stay well, classmates!

ALI PELTIER ’13
(608) 228-0733

CHARLOTTE LEE WAHLE ’13
(971) 222-5905

LAUREN OTT ’13
(651) 399-4363

Submitted by: Class Agents: Ali Peltier, Charlotte Lee Wahle, and Lauren Ott

2017 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Class Agents:

ERIN CANON ’17

414-469-5945 / [email protected]

KONNER FELDHUS ’17

303-280-5835 / [email protected] 

WINONA HOLMES ROBBINS ’17

650-274-9231 / [email protected]

Hey, classmates!

We hope everyone shared in the joy of seeing pictures and videos of bright-eyed first years move into the dorms at Ripon this past August. It truly brings back so many exciting memories. For our class, that was merely eight years ago! Sometimes that feels like it was just yesterday, but at other times it seems as though it’s been decades. On that note, our FIVE-YEAR CLASS REUNION is coming up next summer! Make sure to mark your calendars for our Class Reunion and Alumni Weekend 2022: June 23-26, 2022. Hoping to see you all in person then! Please contact us if you would like to help plan our Class Reunion. 

Class Notes:

SARAH CONJURSKE ’17 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, received her doctorate of pharmacy in May of 2021 and is now working as a registered pharmacist for Walmart pharmacy in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She also got engaged to her now-fiancée Joe Glasheen shortly after graduation from pharmacy school!

MARIAH EVERTS ’17 of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is working on year three of her naturopathic medical doctorate. She’s enjoying learning more about fertility, pediatrics, and hormone health in her studies and out in the field! 

KONNER FELDHUS ’17 of Des Moines, Iowa, is finishing the last few requirements of medical school and will graduate in May of 2021!

AMY FELS ’17 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is the Archivist of the Oshkosh Public Museum. Amy graduated from UW Milwaukee with a Masters of Arts in History, Master of Library and Information Studies with an Archives Specialization.

STEVEN LANPHIER ’17 of Seattle, Washington, recently relocated from Madison, Wisconsin to Seattle, where he now works as an air chemist. He made the move with his awesome fiancée MIYE AOKI-KRAMER ’20!

TY SABIN ’17 was named to D3hoops.com All-Decade Team. The voting considered anyone who played at the Division-III level at any point from the beginning of the 2009-10 season to the end of the 2019-20 season.

BEN VORPAHL ’17 of Detroit, Michigan, recently announced that he will begin practicing dentistry in his hometown of Portage, Wisconsin after he graduates from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in May of 2022! 

ALLY WILBER ’17 of Port Washington, Wisconsin, writes, “I am now Curator of Public Programs at the Museum of Wisconsin Art (West Bend) as well as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Visual Artists. I’m announcing my first exhibition as part of the Museum of Wisconsin Art’s curatorial team, ‘Claiming Space: A New Century of Visionary Women.’ The exhibition opens July 24th and runs through October 3rd, 2021, featuring 27 contemporary female artists in honor of the museum’s anniversary year and female founder.”

Take care!

Konner

Winona

Erin

Submitted by: Class Agents: Konner Feldhus, Winona Holmes Robbins, and Erin Canon

1990 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

ROBERT E. CORKERY, JR. ’90

(508) 930-9027 / [email protected]

CHRISTINA L. MAGGIO KELLERSTRASS ’90

(708) 764-1881 / [email protected]

Greetings Classmates☺!

We hope this message finds you healthy and doing well!

Many of you may have seen each other this summer for our delayed 30th Class Reunion. Although it was a different format than in year’s past it was great that Ripon found a way to have a safe and fun gathering. Hard to believe 30 years has gone by and many of us have our own children now in college or in some cases even graduated and off doing their own thing. 

Be sure to check out the “Ripon College Alumni Group” on GOODREADS.com. It’s open to any Ripon College alumni, and includes a comment section on things such as “What was your favorite book read at Ripon College?” If you’re looking for recommendations, it’s a good place to start☺! 

Be sure to share news about your own personal happenings so we can include them in our next Class Letter. In the meantime, here’s the latest Ripon news. 

RIPON COLLEGE NEWS

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.

This past fiscal year:

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 more than 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 our math and computer science departments. 

Endowment: 

The College’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.

Links you may be interested in exploring: 

• News stories published by the College: ripon.edu/news 
• Latest Ripon Magazine, which includes features of alumni and faculty: ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications

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

May you all have a safe and great fall and holiday season!

Your Class Agents,

CHRISTINA

BOB

Submitted by: Class Agents: Robert Corkery, Jr. & Christina Maggio Kellerstrass

Andrew Limouris is the recipient of the 2021 Hellene of the Year Award from the Hellenic Bar Association Foundation (HBAF).

Limouris is the President and CEO of Medix and Talentoday, a family of companies specialized in connecting talent to the right career opportunities and supporting employers with the right workforce solutions.

Limouris founded Medix in 2001 based on the mission and purpose of positively impacting lives and strives to recruit others who live the company’s core values.

Medix has been featured on such prestigious lists as Staffing Industry Analysts Largest and Fastest Growing Staffing Companies in the United States, Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation and Clearly Rated’s Best of Staffing Client & Talent Awards. Limouris won EY’s Midwest Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2017 in Technology and Talent Services and released his first book, “Won with Purpose.” Invigorated by Medix’s and Talentoday’s purposes, both teams have worked together to launch a foundation called Talentomorrow to impact students, job seekers and those looking to further their careers, so they can achieve their true potential.

Limouris believes purpose can lead to satisfied employees and unified teamwork, and he now helps others find purpose, too. Outside of Medix, he mentors a child at the Raining Season orphanage in Freetown Sierra Leone, is a youth football coach and is board member of Camp Hometown Heroes, Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors.

Andrew is a proud Hellene and supporter of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago. He and his family are parishioners at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Elmhurst, IL. Andrew served on Metropolitan Nathanael’s transition team and as a member of the Metropolis Council of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago from 2018-2019. Andrew is also a frequent speaker for young adult ministries in the Metropolis focused on inspiring leadership in our youth.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

MARY PURDO PEKSA ’85 of Ringle, Wisconsin, died Oct. 17, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in physical education and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi. She received a degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She worked for 30 years in cardiac health and rehabilitation at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. On her hobby farm, she raised sheep, chickens, and yellow Labradors, and tended apple trees, a pumpkin patch, and many gardens. She enjoyed biking, cross-country and downhill skiing, and hiking. She also was a member of golf and curling leagues. She was active in St. Michael’s Catholic Church and enjoyed cooking and baking. Survivors include her husband, JAMES PEKSA ’85; one son; and a brother-in-law, RICHARD PEKSA ’83.

Full obituary:

Mary Martha Peksa (Purdo) passed away on October 17th, 2021, at the age of 58 after a courageous 7 year battle with breast cancer.

Mary Martha Peksa (Purdo) was born in Milwaukee, WI on May 6th, 1963, to parents Edward Dane Purdo and Irene Judith (Szczygiel).  They precede her in death.  Mary was raised in Appleton, WI where her father, a world-renowned metalsmith, taught at the Art Department at Lawrence University.  She graduated from Appleton Xavier Catholic High School in 1981 and went on to Ripon College where she earned a BA in Physical Education.  It was there that she met her future husband, Jim Peksa.  After Ripon Mary attended UW-Oshkosh where she earned a BS in Nursing.  Jim and Mary were united in marriage on June 23, 1990, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Appleton.  Together their life was a beautiful adventure.  They were blessed with son Richard Jacob on August 23, 1993.

Mary worked for 30 years at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, dedicated to Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation.  Her patients and colleagues were her family.  Mary truly lived in the moment and filled every day with happiness, never letting worries of tomorrow distract her from the many joys of today.  After living in Wausau for 10 years she moved with her family to a hobby farm near Ringle in 2000 where she loved raising sheep, chickens, Yellow Labradors, and tending her apple trees, pumpkin patch, and many gardens.  She was passionate about health and lived an active life with her family. She loved the silent sports of biking and cross-country skiing.  She was an avid hiker and trail section owner of the Ice Age Trail for many years.  She was an accomplished downhill skier and genuinely loved her golf and curling leagues where she met some of her dearest friends.  Mary rarely paid attention to the score.  She had a life-long strong faith in her Lord and was active in St. Michael’s Catholic Church where she helped in the kitchen with special events and Lenten Fish Fries for many years.  She was a fabulous cook and baker.  You knew she loved you when she made you a fruit pie from her garden.  She made many, many pies.  Mary had a great appreciation for the fine arts and theater but found real joy in the simplest of things.  Most of all, Mary loved to be with those she loved.  She was a devoted wife and mother, a doting sister, aunt, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law, and the most caring friend you could ever have.  No reason was too small for her to gather friends and family around her to share a celebration of any kind with good food, beer, conversation, and togetherness.

She is survived by her husband of 31 years James Alex, son Richard Jacob (Jennifer), sister Melanie Bomier, brother Michael Purdo (Cindy), nieces Alexandra Peksa and Carly Bomier, nephews Ben and Daniel Bomier, mother-in-law Barbara Peksa, sister-in-law Margaret Durkin, Brother-in-law Richard Michael Peksa (Juliette), cousins, and many, many dear and loving friends.

Through her long battle with cancer Mary endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty, and faced it with a resolve to celebrate her life and blessings every day.

The family would like to thank Dr. Chris Peterson and the entire staff at Aspirus Oncology, and all her care-givers, for their tireless care and compassion through Mary’s long battle.  They truly are angels walking among us.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday October 25, 2021 at St. Michael Catholic Church, 611 Stark Street, Wausau.  The Rev. Msgr. Mark Pierce and Rev. William Grevatch will concelebrate.  Private interment services will take place at Forestville Cemetery.  Visitation will be Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the services at the church.  In lieu of flowers a memorial fund is being established in Mary’s memory to be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home is providing arrangements.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

As Mark Twain would say, the news of his death was greatly exaggerated! An obituary for George Charles Anastos ’76 ran in the summer issue of Ripon Magazine, but George is still with us! He called to tell us that he is very pleased to report that, no, he has not died and is alive and well.

The obituary that had been forwarded to Ripon College was for a different George Charles Anastos, whose wife has a very similar name to Ripon’s alumnus.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

RUTH CARWITHEN SATTERTHWAITE ’65 of Palo Alto, California, died July
19, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in English and music, participated in music and student government, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She worked for the publisher Houghton Mifflin in Boston and Palo Alto. She was a frequent parent volunteer and substitute librarian in local schools. She was also a prominent participant in Palo Alto’s emergency response program, earning her amateur radio license and donating many hours. She also organized and moderated an early neighborhood news group and was a talented musician, writer, editor and genealogist. She participated in many musical groups and choirs and had a special interest in early vocal music. Survivors include her husband Ed; and two sons.

Full obituary:

Ruth C. Satterthwaite, a resident of Palo Alto for 50 years, died peacefully at home on July 19 of pancreatic cancer. Ruth was 78 years old. To her family, Ruth was a loving, loyal and dedicated
wife and mother. As a mother, Ruth not only unconditionally supported her sons in their academic pursuits and hobbies but immersed herself in them, inspiring in her children a sense of confidence and community. Among her friends, she was known for her cheery disposition, lilting speech and pixie sense of humor.

Ruth was also a talented musician, writer, editor, and genealogist. She was born in Doylestown, PA, to Walter M. Carwithen Jr. and Ruth Leech Carwithen. Ruth attended Ripon College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1965 with degrees in English and music. After college, she worked in Boston for the publisher Houghton Mifflin. Ruth married Edwin H. Satterthwaite, Jr. in 1966. They moved to Palo Alto, where Ed was pursuing a PhD at Stanford. In 1971-72, they lived in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, where Ed taught at the university. That experience cemented Ruth’s life-long interest in British history and in her own family roots in the Devon-Cornwall area.

Ruth and Ed subsequently returned to Palo Alto and have lived there essentially ever since. In addition to raising two sons, Rob and Will, Ruth became the consummate community volunteer. She was a frequent parent volunteer and occasional substitute librarian in the Palo Alto school system, for which she received several special recognition awards. She was also active in the PTAs. Ruth later became a leader in the city’s Community Emergency Response Team, earning her amateur radio license and donating many hours. For such service, she received further community recognition including a Mick McDonald Volunteer of the Year award in 2007. Ruth also organized and moderated an early neighborhood news group. Ruth ardently pursued her passions for music and genealogy. In addition to joining several musical groups and choirs, she sang for fifty years with a group of friends who gathered weekly to read and enjoy early music. She also gained a reputation as an expert amateur genealogist and became active in the San Mateo County Genealogy Society as well as a writing group and several writing collaborations.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Ed, her brother Thomas, her two sons, Robert (Elizabeth) and William, and two grandchildren, Ella and Conner. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to a favorite charity in honor of Ruth.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement