R Connections

Richard (Dick) A. Christensen passed away peacefully on November 8, 2021 at the age of 85 in Reston, VA after a short bout with pneumonia. Dick passed in the presence of his loving daughters, Karen and Courtney. He was predeceased by Rhoda, his beloved wife of 49 years.

Dick was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, the son of George and Sylvia (Peshek) Christensen. He was an Eagle Scout, a graduate of Horlick High School and held a lifelong interest in music, starting at the young age of 9 when he began playing the accordion. He toured with the Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps in his youth, which sparked his interest in travel and exploring new places.

Dick was educated at Ripon College, where he earned a BA in History and at The Fletcher School of Tufts University, where he received a MA in Law and Diplomacy. During summers in college, Dick worked at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California, an experience which almost led him to a career as a Park Ranger, and which he held dear throughout his life. He spent two years on active duty as an officer in the US Army and later as a reservist.

Inspired by a fascination with different cultures and a civic commitment to service, Dick joined the US Foreign Service where he served as an Economic Officer for over 20 years. He held postings in Caracas, Venezuela; Bucharest, Romania; Zagreb, Yugoslavia; and Prague, Czechoslovakia. His facility with languages and genuine interest in people opened many doors for him. After retiring from the Foreign Service, Dick worked at Meridian International Center, where he was known for putting together programs on short notice that introduced emerging international leaders to both official and unofficial America and helped build mutual understanding and practical solutions to our global challenges.

Dick will be remembered by the many whom he touched as a good, kind and generous man, deeply interested in others and in the world around him. He lived everyday Christian values, always giving generously to his family and community, and sparing others criticism and complaints. Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings in his hometown, he developed a love of modern architecture which he passed on to his family. Always intellectually curious, Dick knew “something about everything” and remained proud of his appearance on Jeopardy in the 1960s.

He, and his late wife Rhoda, were among the early residents of Reston where Dick was active on the Inlet Cluster board throughout his 50 years in Reston. His later years were filled with volunteer activities to enrich his community — at Travelers Aid at Dulles Airport, as an active member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, a stream monitor, a regular blood donor, an usher at Arena Stage in Washington, DC and an election officer in his local precinct.

Dick is survived by his daughters Karen Christensen of Arlington, VA, and Courtney Christensen, and her husband Jay Michaud most recently of Lexington, MA as well as 5 grandchildren, Ian Christensen-Gibbons, Quinn Christensen-Gibbons, Greer Christensen-Gibbons, Caroline Michaud, Benjamin Michaud, and two step grandchildren, Claire Michaud Collins and husband, Dr. Richard Collins and Jack Michaud.

A service is being planned at St. Anne’s Episcopal church in Reston. In lieu of flowers, please honor Dick by making a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association, The National Park Foundation, or to a charity that is important to you.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

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

2010 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

NICHOLAS BAKER ’10

(931) 444-4466 / [email protected]

TOMISSA PORATH FREISLEBEN ’10

(715) 853-6104 / [email protected] 

Greetings, Class of 2010!

We hope that this Class Letter finds you and your families healthy and safe during this time. We know we can all agree at this point we would rather move on from 2020 and 2021 and hope 2022 turns out to be the year we are all hoping for!

As you know we had our annual Alumni Weekend from August 6-8. Alumni were present representing classes of 1961 to 2023 and it was a great weekend gathering. From the reminiscing of lounge parties in the Brockway Theta Chi lounge to eating frozen cocktails in the Commons, it was a weekend to remember. Besides the rain (we all got soaked), it was amazing seeing classmates many of us have not seen since we graduated. Any interaction felt like an old habit, as if we had just hit the Pub (now The Spot) for breakfast before a long day of classes. 

In regards to campus, we know many of you have seen that the College is open for in-person instruction and students recently moved on campus as we write this letter. We are hopeful they have a great year making many of the same memories we did at Ripon College. It is because of generosity like yours the College continues to thrive today.

Class Notes:

HANNAH WENDLAKE DUFFEY ’10 of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, welcomed her daughter, Margot, to the family on June 1, 2021.

TOMISSA PORATH FREISLEBEN ’10 of Monona, Wisconsin, began a new job as an IT Product Owner at American Family Insurance. She’s excited about the new role, but she must make sure she calls it American Family Field instead of Miller Park whenever talking baseball with her coworkers. 

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

AXEL OWEN ’10 of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, is serving as the Deputy Coordinated Campaign Director for Forward 2021. 

DANIELLE SCHOLFIELD ROCCO ’10 and VINNY ROCCO ’11 of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, welcomed their second child, Lucy, to the family on August 22, 2021.

SARAH GUSTAFSON RUMPF ’10 and KASEN RUMPF ’12 of Brookfield, Wisconsin, welcomed their second child, Rollins, to the family on June 21, 2021.

KATHERINE STOTIS ’10 and William Dooling were married in June 2018. William is a criminal defense lawyer in Minneapolis. Katherine is the processing archivist for the Hennepin History Museum. They have a King Charles cavalier spaniel called Conan (after the Barbarian) and are house hunting.

ELIZABETH WEIGLER ’10 of Santa Barbara, California, writes, “I graduated with a Ph.D. in Anthropology and started as an Associate User Experience Researcher at AppFolio in February. I live in Santa Barbara, California, with my husband Tyler and dog, Pilot the Dog.”

As we close this letter, remember Alumni Weekend 2022 is June 23-26, 2022. We hope to see you all there and please take care and stay safe.

Be well,

NICHOLAS BAKER ’10

TOMISSA PORATH FREISLEBEN ’10

Submitted by: Class Agents: Nick Baker and Tomissa Porath Freisleben

2012 – Fall 2021 Class Letter

Co-Class Agents:

ERIN SCHAICK ’12

82 Warren St. Apt. 3, Concord, NH 03301

(920) 312-3825 / [email protected]

BRANDON TAYLOR ’12

2162 43rd Ave., San Francisco, CA 94116

(406) 274-4708 / [email protected]

Hello, Class of 2012! 

I’m sure you’ll all agree that it’s been a long year (going on two) but it’s been really great to connect with those of you in our Facebook group and beyond. Despite the pandemic, Ripon College has stayed busy and recently hosted hybrid Alumni Weekend activities. Can you believe our ten-year Reunion is next summer?! Please save the dates of June 23-26, 2022, and we hope to see you on campus to reconnect in person and see the numerous upgrades around campus. We are also actively looking for classmates who would like to help with our tenth Class Reunion celebration, which would include classmate outreach. Please email Erin and me to let us know you are interested. 

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 everyone who contributed! 

In-person classes started in Ripon on Monday, August 30 and whether school seems like a distant past, you’re a teacher, or you have kiddos entering a new semester, we hope you’re all safe, healthy, and ready to take on whatever you encounter in this new season! 

Without further ado, here are the life updates and class notes you’ve shared with us recently: 

CHAD KRUEGER ’12 of De Pere, Wisconsin, is making a career with FedEx Express as a courier. He married his wife, Jackie, on May 28 of this year.

SARAH WEINBERG HILL ’12 of Saint Paul, Minnesota, got married last Halloween to her best friend, JORDAN HILL ’11 and hopes to see some Ripon friends at their vow renewal on their one-year anniversary! Also, she started a job at Oakdale Public Library where she chats with kids (and adults, too) nonstop about the Legend of Zelda, Dogman, animal facts, and lots and lots of books.

KATHARINE SHADLE GAILS ’12 made a huge career change and is now the office manager at a dental office! It’s almost been a year since she started!! 

KATE HAMM FRIEDL ’12 and her spouse, Chris Friedl of West Allis, Wisconsin, welcomed twins to the family on May 14th.

LISA HILLEREN ’12 is still living in Chicago, Illinois, and started a new job as a project coordinator with Adage Technologies.

NYI NYI AUNG ’12 started a new role as a manager at Marubeni Corporation where he has been for over six years.

ARIEL DICKINSON ’12 of Madison, Wisconsin, and her husband welcomed their first child, Dorian Oliver, in July.

SHARON KLAPPERICH DOLL ’12 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is currently working on her second Master’s degree in Education from the University of Glasgow.

SPENCER ’12 and AURORA POLLEI LAMEKA ’12 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, welcomed their baby, Millie Wren, on May 21st.

ELLIE BYLER ’12 of Jordan, Minnesota, welcomed their baby, Genevieve Joan, on June 29th.

KAYLA WALLICK MENDEZ ’12 of Bloomington, Minnesota, welcomed her third child, Xiomara Flor Mendez, on February 3rd. She spent her summer living in Papantla, Veracruz with her in-laws

MEGAN MCGEE NORRIS ’12 of Kenosha, Wisconsin, took a position as Guardian ad Litem in Racine County, Wisconsin, and is still running her own firm doing a lot of juvenile and family law. 

BRYANT VANDE KOLK ’12 of Ellicott City, Maryland, finished his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame in May and was fortunate enough to run into a few Ripon friends at Alumni Weekend when back in town for his goddaughter’s baptism. 

JESSICA BRUNGARDT LARSON ’12 of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is still working for the County Attorney’s Office in Colorado Springs, but will be joining the drug court team doing child protection cases and will be adding in adult protection cases as well. She and her husband are enjoying being the proud parents of our almost two-year-old son, two dogs, and three cats.

AUBREY WEBER ’12 of Middleton, Wisconsin, started a new job as a Salesforce Administrator at Cerity Partners and will be beginning her fourth year on the faculty at Edgewood teaching Introduction to Human Communication. Aubrey just spent four days/three nights paddling in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and recently purchased her first kayak. She is still living in Madison with her elderly cat and dog and partner, Tim.

ERIC SCHUMACHER ’12 of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and his wife welcomed their second child, Ryan, in April. Their family loves to spend time on the golf course and their two-year-old, Jack, might have the best swing of the family!

BRANDON TAYLOR ’12 of San Francisco, California, got married this June in San Francisco and lives with his wife, Christina, and puppy, Waffle, in their home there. He started a new job in April 2021 as a Senior Project Manager on the HR Enablement team at LinkedIn.

ERIN SCHAICK ’12 of Concord, New Hampshire, is AVP, Director of Development and Community Relations at CATCH Neighborhood Housing in Concord, New Hampshire. 

SAM STELMACK ’12 of Chicago, Illinois, is now an operations specialist at School Bags for Kids, LLC in Chicago, Illinois.

Thanks again to everyone for sharing and we hope to see you in person next summer for our Class Reunion!

Be well,

ERIN SCHAICK ’12

BRANDON TAYLOR ’12

Submitted by: Class Agents: Erin Schaick & Brandon Taylor