From The Nurse in ROMEO & JULIET @Ripon to 5x professionally! Off Broadway and moved to the Bay area 2018 with a BATCC (Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle) Nomination for Best Principal Actress in San Francisco premiere of THE CAKE

J.J.’s passion and profession as an actress and a Text Coach is the Bard…and she still vividly remembers her very first Shakespeare, playing the Nurse in ROMEO & JULIET her junior year at Ripon. She has played the role 4x since, professionally, and was slated to play it again, her first West coast Shakespeare since moving to the Bay area in 2018 with Marin Shakespeare Company this Summer, but it has been postponed to 2021 due to the virus. Other work…
Off Broadway: Sinclaire/SEALED FOR FRESHNESS-New World Stages, garnering outstanding reviews and a caricature in The New Yorker and Bertie/MOTHER TONGUE-GayFest NYC, Abingdon Theatre. J.J. was a core company member of The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre for 20 years as character actress and Text Coach mentoring under former RSC (Royal Shakespeare Co, London) actor David Howey, and performed with him on stage in her favorite role and play, Paulina/THE WINTER’S TALE.) Also performed and Text Coached at Delaware Shakespeare, Commonwealth Classics and many others. FAVS of the Bard: Baptista/THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Emilia/OTHELLO, Goneril/KING LEAR, Maria/TWELFTH NIGHT, Cerimon & Bawd/PERICLES, Witch/MACBETH. She has also worked with many contemporary companies and new works. Since moving to the Bay area, CA in 2018 primarily for the strong Shakespeare community, she has been cast in 5 plays, recently receiving a BATCC (Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle) nomination for Best Principal Actress in the San Francisco premiere of THE CAKE.

Submitted by: J.J. Van Name

Hello everyone!

It’s been a few years since I graduated from Ripon College. Life has not been anything short of exciting. I moved to Chicago after graduation, and I am just about to start my 3rd year teaching in the city. I have worked in predominately low-income neighborhoods with at-risk students. Previously, I worked in high school, however I get to work with wonderful 4th grade students this year. This year has been especially hard due to the virus, and school have been closed since March. We learned a few weeks ago that we are starting remotely, and our students are at risk for falling further behind if we don’t get them the help they need.

I would really appreciate if people would take the time to check out my Donors Choose. I have requested many supplies for our students this year to help them learn remotely, but also to help them prepare to come back to the classroom. Currently, any donation up to $50 dollars will be doubled if you use the promo code LIFTOFF when checking out. It would really mean so much to my students to be able to have these resources, and you could really help these kids get a quality education if you share/donate.

Donors Choose Link: https://www.donorschoose.org/project/teaching-remotely-learning-virtually/5106444/?rf=facebook-dc-2020-08-tpc_complete-teacher_7412516&challengeid=21636245&utm_source=dc&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=project&utm_term=teacher_7412516#_=_

I wish you all the best! Stay safe!

Submitted by: Sarah Johnson

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

Rev. Paul Nancarrow ’78 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis with sisters-in-law Judy Smoot Johnson ’70 and Meredith Valentine Johnson ’78.

Submitted by: Gregg Petersen

Well my daughter Sophie and I are weathering out the virus. Fortunately my gym has an outdoor facility so I can burn up my frustrations there.

I have passed 30 years with Merrill Lynch and still going strong with  a four person team keeping my clients on course. Missing my friends like crazy in Costa Rica.

For your viewing enjoyment, here’s the link to the trailer Eleven Eleven which I was a small part of producing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X633pLeClM&t=19s

Be safe! JVH

Submitted by: John Heflebower

Bob Ainsworth—A Memoir

Class of 1957

During high school in Racine, WI, Bob Ainsworth raised money to attend Ripon by organizing a dance band which performed for hire in the Racine area.  At Ripon College, 1953-1957, Bob organized another band that performed at college and student events.  As a music major, Bob was a member and Assistant Director of the excellent Ripon College Concert Choir which performed concerts in the Chicago-New York corridor, including nationwide radio broadcasts through CBS.

One afternoon during a concert tour, the choir had finished its performance at a large high school in Illinois.  Though the curtain had closed, the audience of students had to remain in their seats until their next class period started. Backstage, we were getting our gowns off and heading out to our bus, when it was discovered that Bob was missing.  The Director and a couple of us students searched for Bob.  We discovered that Bob, realizing that the students were still in the auditorium, could not ignore a live audience.  Bob had peeked through the curtain, made a funny face to the bored students and shoved the piano out on to the stage, to an explosive cheer from the students. He sat down and accompanied himself in singing funny songs and telling crazy jokes to the applauding students—classic Bob!

One day at Ripon, Bob was asked if he knew any dog jokes.  Bob proceeded to reel off about 6 or 7 jokes in 30 minutes- all were dog jokes- and all were good ones. Bob would say, “Pick a random subject, any subject.” Then he would proceed to tell us eight or ten jokes on that subject.

After graduation Bob entered the Army as an officer (retiring as a Major).  Bob was assigned as a battalion tank commander in Germany.  In 1961, he was the head of a tank battalion which confronted a Russian tank group in downtown Berlin at Check Point Charlie.  The Russians were attempting to take over the U.S., British, and French Sectors of the city to isolate Berlin from Allied troops and supplies. In a very dangerous international crisis, the Russian tanks backed down to Bob’s battalion-to Russia’s embarrassment and to the Allies’ relief.  It was an extremely dangerous situation in a cold war about to get hot.  Bob waived off praises for his role by telling everyone that he was so scared he started singing Ripon College songs…

After 20 years of service, Bob retired from the Army and promptly volunteered to serve as a foreign missionary of World Vision International, for the next 43 years of his life.  He was the first American allowed into Cambodia, helping to provide food and medical services and supervising construction of vast improvement programs in several Asian countries.

World Vision sent Bob and his team to help in remote islands in Southeast Asia, which contained tribes of Cannibals and other unfriendly people.  He was confronted by an angry, threatening Chief of a tribe reported to ambush outsiders.  Nevertheless, Bob tried to calm down the Chief by showing him an L-shaped flashlight that had several colored lenses.  The Chief was stunned to see the bright light with flashing colors.  Bob promptly gave the flashlight to the Chief and quickly departed.

Several months later Bob returned to the same area and was happily greeted by the chief, who proudly showed Bob the colorful flashlight, which the Chief had strapped to his penis.

First in the Army overseas and then as a missionary for World Vision, Bob’s post-graduate life for 63 years confirm his long service to America and to Ripon College.

Ray Besing

Class of ‘57

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

BOB MARTIN ’68 enjoyed breakfast at the White Dog Café in Philadelphia last fall with his wife Janet and BILL ’69 and DIANE KING MIKOLYZK ’68. Bill and Diane also ate at the first “Bud and Marilyn’s” while visiting the city.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

PETER UHRIG ’68

[email protected]

Dear Classmates: For the last 51 years, I, like you, have opened and read our class letters and noted the goings on at the college and in the lives of our classmates. I did not give much thought to the process of being the class agent or how they did what they do. With this letter I begin that process but not without thanking BOB MARTIN ’68 for his years of service to our class and for his confidence in me to do the same. This thanks also goes to those who came before Bob as class agent.

As I write this, Ripon has just celebrated it’s 169th birthday on Founders Day, January 29th. While the College was founded in 1851, a little over one hundred years later Fred Pinkham became Ripon’s eighth president and served from 1955 to 1965. He was our president as we arrived as freshmen in September of 1964. Doctor Pinkham recently passed away at age 99. When he became president at age 34, he was one of the youngest college presidents in the nation.

If you did not make it to our 50th class reunion, you may not yet have seen the Wilmore Center. This state-of-the art athletic facility is a wonderful addition to our campus. Back in the day, I remember how impressed we were with the opening of the Storzer Center during our senior year. 

Last fall, President Zach Messitte reminded us “Ripon College is doing something remarkable. We are delivering a private school education at a public school price”. This is thanks to a community effort and a big part of that community is you, Ripon’s loyal and generous alumni. 

Fundraising is an ongoing activity at Ripon with the Ripon Fund as the annual centerpiece. In 2018-2019 the more than 2.6 million raised was the largest total in more than two decades and the #OneDayRally pulled in $1,085,314 from 1,446 donors. Thanks to all class of ’68 members who contributed. We always make a strong showing!

“The Spot” lives! Well, sort of. “Bud & Marilyn’s” opened a second location in September of 2019, this one at Philadelphia International Airport. The Midwest supper club concept restaurant is co-owned by Marcie Turney, granddaughter of Bud and MARILYN FORTNUM BRIESE ’43, who owned and ran “The Spot” in our day. It includes some old “Spot” paraphernalia on the walls. I still remember Marilyn at the foot of the steps every September with her “Green List” in hand checking the ages of the new crop of freshmen and turning away a few.

Obituaries: We recently learned of the August 2018 passing of HARVEY B. FULLER IV ’68. At Ripon, Harvey was a Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Sigma Iota English major.

More recently, DIANN WATERBURY GRAEBER ’68 passed away on October 17, 2019. Diann is survived by her husband, our classmate, Dr. Charles Graeber and two sons, Charlie and Matthew and their families. 

When you have news to share, just send it to me or to the Office of Constituent Engagement ([email protected]) or online at www.ripon.edu/rconnections.

DAVID C. SMITH ’68, of Kennebunk Maine, writes, “Teaching Financial Literacy, City Planning and Entrepreneurship to 41 3rd graders at Sea Road School, Kennebunk, ME. Very involved, too busy”.

BOB MARTIN ’68 sent a photo, which will be uploaded as a separate post in R Connections, from a breakfast at the White Dog Café in Philadelphia last fall with his wife Janet and BILL ’69 and DIANE KING MIKOLYZK ’68. Bill and Diane also ate at the first “Bud and Marilyn’s” while visiting the city.

Best Wishes,

Peter

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

Shane Roeber ‘11

262.617.7707 / [email protected]

Dear Class of 2011:

I bet some of you are surprised to see my name associated with this class letter. Indeed, some of you even asked me how I ended up becoming the Class Agent. Well, your guess is as good as mine. But here I am so you’re all stuck with me for the time being. I’ll try to bring some humor (disclaimer: I’m not funny) and reflection to our class letters. No promises though.

This year is probably the first year I’ve felt like an “adult.” Certainly, part of the delay of feeling like an adult is that I’ve been living the bachelor life in Milwaukee for a while now. But a lot of other adult things have happened this year. Some people welcomed new additions to their families and some people said goodbye to loved ones. Some people got promotions, started their own business, or started a new career. And some people lost jobs and have been trying to find their way since. The point is that life, from what I’ve been told, is supposed to have ups and downs. This year has certainly shown me evidence of that statement’s truthfulness.

Alumni Weekend this year is June 25-28^th and I hope to see a lot of you there. It’s a fun way to reconnect with old friends and drink a few (or a lot) of cheap beer just like we did in college except this time it’s free. Further, remember that Ripon depends on its alumni for financial support. No amount is too small and if I can donate after how many times Ripon fined me I hope you can too.

Finally, what follows is our class updates. Thank you to everyone who provided one – it was a pleasure reading about your accomplishments. Beating Final Fantasy VII or getting a Ph.D. in Sasquatch Studies are not easy tasks. As someone who is terrible at reaching out to friends and colleagues, getting the class updates was probably my favorite part of this whole thing.

Cheers,

Shane

Nicholas Osenberg ’11 – completed his Masters in Theatre Studies: Production and Design from Southern Oregon University in July. Additionally, his senior theatre students competed for theatre scholarships at the Michigan Thespian Festival. Collectively, the students were awarded $1.9 million in combined scholarship offers. The scholarship awards totaled $25 million in combined offers. This makes it the largest single-day scholarship event for the arts in America. Lastly, one of his lighting design students was honored as one of the Top 10 theatre artists of Michigan. I’d like to thank Ripon’s liberal arts background because my student’s accolades made this possible.

Patricia Takawira ’11 – she is still best friends with childhood friend Mary.

Taima Kern ’11 – she is directing her first community theater show after several runs as assistant director. The show is the Wizard of Oz. She also participated in breaking the world record for most people dressed as penguins – she was one of the 373 people.

Alexandria Fladhammer ’11 – she finished up her Ph.D., bought a house and is planning a wedding. She also traveled to the asteroid belt last August with her cat, Supernova.

Carlos Soto ’11 – he finally completed Final Fantasy VIII.

Darin Fazzino ’11 – he spent a portion of the last year traveling the waters off the coast of Somalia interning as the poop-deck swabber on the pirate ship “Not-A-Pirate-Ship.”

Amanda Hassen ’11 – she is living her best cat lady life, just bought a condo and got a promotion. She recently bought property in France in the hopes of opening up a bed-and-breakfast that solely serves crepes.

Zach Smith ’11 – he spent 214 consecutive days meditating on the purpose of throw pillows. Like, why are throw pillows a thing? They’re not even comfortable and add very little to the decorative ambiance of a room. He was unsuccessful at coming up with an answer.

Patrick Shunk ’11 – he bought a 4-pack of boxer briefs from Target only to find out that someone had taken one of the four pairs. He now owns three pairs of boxer briefs and is quite upset about it.

Callen Marx ’11 – got his Ph.D. in Sasquatch Studies from the University of Oregon. He is ranked in the top 7 Sasquatch hunters in the world but has yet to find the majestic, though elusive, creature.

Melissa del Ponte ’11 – finished her Ph.D. and her and husband Matt bought a house. She works for the department of corrections and Matt works for UW-M Washington County.

Liz Shadle ’11 – she went on an African Safari and met the famed lion Aslan. They became great friends and shared many stories around the campfire. After a rather rambunctious night of s’more making, Aslan got indigestion and had to take a leave of absence for the remainder of the safari. She also got engaged and is working in private practice as a therapist.

Sarah Marie Verstegen ’11 – she is currently the Associate Principal for the Princeton School District. Her son Levi turned one in September and she and her husband, Connor, just welcomed Landon Douglas on January 18, 2020.

Holly DeVore ’11 – she is graduating with her Bachelor’s for Nursing in December 2020, and is working on the Transplant Unit and the Surgical ICU at Froedtert Memorial Hospital as a CNA/Critical Care Technician.

Carissa Lee Erickson ’11 – her and Grant Erickson, ’09, have two sons Samuel (3) and James (2) and are expecting their third son in March.

Christopher Kochanksi ’11 – he is a Lieutenant in the Navy and just wrapped up a tour aboard the USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), homeported in Everett, WA, where he served as the Information Warfare Officer for the past two years. He will be transferring to his next command, Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group, in Washington D.C. in April 2020.

Jordan O’Brien ’11 – she approves Patricia Takawira’s (’11) message.

Erin Bavery ’11 – she and Matthew Theis ’11 welcomed a son, Arthur, in December and a second doggo in February 2019.

Sara Sisco ’11 – she bought a new home in Seattle, WA, along with her husband Mike, whom she married in 2020. She also obtained her Masters of Nonprofit Leadership and works with a local nonprofit. Together her and Mike have a dog named Dexter.

Kelly Biallas Miksche ’11 – she married her husband Mike Miksche in August 2019. She also recently started a new position at the DuPage County Health Department as a Public Health Nurse.

Ashley Retzlaff ’11 – she got engaged and is currently directing her first musical, Fiddler on the Roof, at Oak Creek High School in Wisconsin. She is also teaching AP Language and Composition, American Literature, and Theatre Arts at the high school level. Basically still living the “can’t get enough of school” life.

Jordan Hill ’11 – he and Sarah Weinberg (’12) moved home to Minnesota from South Korea in March. They’ll be married in October 2020. He is excited to get back into the college classroom and never teach another elementary-schooler again.

Jolinn Ennis ’11 – her and her husband, Dan, recently welcomed their son James in September. Jolinn is currently teaching elementary music in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and coaching the Fond du Lac Cardinal Skippers jump rope team.

Catie Pfeifer ’11 – she lives in Madison with her husband Jacob whom she married in 2018. She currently works at PBS Wisconsin as a closed captionist.

Robyn Zajac-Elsbecker ’11 – her and Chase (’11) welcomed their daughter, Alice, in January 2020. They live in Pulaski, Wisconsin.

John Lightfield ’11 – he worked as an elder rights attorney in Wausau, Wisconsin and held a koala. He’s currently regulating health care professionals for the state of Wisconsin.

Submitted by: Shane Roeber

1982 Spring 2020 Class Letter

Select the link above to view the class of 1982 Spring 2020 Class Letter.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

Denise Shadrick-Olstinske ’94 honored with the 2020 UW System Board of Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award

The story can be found at the following link.

https://www.uwp.edu/explore/news/denise-olstinske-academic-staff-award-2020.cfm

SOMERS – The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents today announced this year’s recipients of the Academic Staff Excellence Awards. Denise Olstinske ’94, Administrative Program Manager III in the College of Social Sciences and Professional Studies at UW-Parkside was among those honored this year.

These awards recognize exceptional service to the university and are the UW System’s highest recognition bestowed on members of its academic staff. The recipients were originally to have been honored at the Board of Regents June 2020 meeting. However, because of COVID-19, the ceremony will be rescheduled.

Olstinske develops innovative higher education programs to recruit and support both traditional and working adult students. She established and directs a concurrent enrollment program called Parkside Access to College Credit (PACC), which enables area high school students to earn both high school and college credit for certain classes in their high schools. She received a $1.4 million grant from the US Department of Education to create a three-year US history and civics program for high school students and social studies teachers. In collaboration with the college dean, she created two associate degree programs, one in professional studies and another in military and security studies. For working adults, she helped create the Master of Arts in Applied Professional Studies, and co-directs the program.   In line with her involvement in the development of a graduate certificate in smart city policy, Olstinske coauthored a chapter on smart cities for a Springer-Verlag volume on Smart Cities. Olstinske serves on a variety of campus committees, including the Course and Curriculum Committee and the Adult Education Committee.

Olstinske’s service goes beyond the immediate Kenosha and Racine area. Responding to the need of a Milwaukee high school, Olstinske developed a summer precollege program for its students, many of whom are under-represented youth. She worked with Marquette University to bring the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps presence to campus, including on-campus courses, physical training, and large training exercises.

“This year’s award recipients reflect the amazing efforts of our academic staff across the UW System,” said Regent Emeritus Janice Mueller, chair of the selection committee. “We are inspired by the far-reaching and influential ways they are helping students succeed and contributing to their communities.”

Award recipients are selected for superior performance resulting in significant contributions to the department and institution; use of positive personal interaction to manage work changes; and a consistently creative approach that improves productivity and work quality. Each recipient is awarded $7,500.

Submitted by: Denise Olstinske

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

Wind and Solar Transactions and Projects Pro Danielle Varnell ’93 Joins Bracewell’s Growing Power Team

Read the story here: https://bracewell.com/news/wind-and-solar-transactions-and-projects-pro-danielle-varnell-joins-bracewell%E2%80%99s-growing-power

WASHINGTON, DC – Bracewell LLP announced today that Danielle M. Varnell ’93, a leading transactional and projects lawyer in the renewable energy arena, has joined the firm’s Washington, DC office as a partner in its power practice. Varnell comes to the firm from Jones Day.

“I’m excited to welcome Danielle to the firm,” said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. “Danielle is one of the most highly regarded practitioners in the renewable energy space, and her broad expertise in wind and solar transactions adds further depth to our preeminent global power practice.”

Varnell 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. She has played a leading role in some of the largest wind and solar transactions in the world. Over the course of her career, Varnell has advised strategic and financial buyers and sellers on the purchase, sale or development of more than 8,000 MW of wind generation, 6,000 MW of solar generation and 4,000 MW of nuclear generation assets, with an aggregate value over $40 billion.

The outlook for the renewable energy market is optimistic despite the economic challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. States across the country are increasing mandates for renewable energy, at the same time that the cost of key project components continues to decrease. With one of the largest dedicated energy teams in the United States, Bracewell is at the forefront on these and other developments in the energy industry. The firm has one of the nation’s leading power teams, which is regularly involved in wind, solar and other renewable energy projects and transactions.

“Danielle’s experience advising on some of the world’s largest wind and solar transactions strengthens the ability of our power team to continue to have a leading role in the energy transition,” said G. Alan Rafte, chair of the firm’s business and regulatory section.

Varnell is the ninth lateral partner to join Bracewell’s global energy team within the last 12 months, and the fourth to join since the start of the year. Other recent hires on our renewables team include Danielle Garbien and Martha Kammoun, both members of the power practice in New York, and Timothy J. Urban, a member of Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group in Washington, DC.

Varnell advises US and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and project development. She helps negotiate and draft EPC contracts, O&M agreements, construction management agreements, joint ventures, project administration agreements, wind turbine supply agreements and REC purchase agreements, as well as other procurement and development agreements. She also represents clients in significant electric transmission projects.

“I chose to join Bracewell because it is a leading energy law firm with a powerhouse team that is ideally positioned to handle all renewable energy and infrastructure matters,” said Varnell. “I’m excited to work with my new partners in helping our clients achieve their business objectives.”

Varnell graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. from Ripon College in 1993 and earned her J.D., cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1997.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

(From Left) Julie Scharon Chovan ’78, Jennifer Stambaugh Voorhees ’77, Peter Lin, Debbie Foster Lin ’75, Dan Newyear ’79, and Joe Chovan ’77 at the Cincinnati Rally Hour on July 31.

Submitted by: Gregg Petersen

Mini-reunion of classmates Anita Wallace ’78, Adele Binning ’79 (note that yearbook she is holding), Beth Benezra ’78, Julia Classen ’79, and Lisa Wollan ’78.

Submitted by: Gregg Petersen

Submitted by: Alyssa Paulsen

Sue Feith Shannon ’78 and husband Tom (Saukville, Wisconsin), and Horace ’78 and Marla Brenden Garfield ’78 (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) celebrated their respective 40^th wedding anniversaries at Johnny Manhattan’s in Hubertus, Wisconsin in October.

Submitted by: Gregg Petersen

Barbara Anne Lloyd Nickels ’54, trailblazing Evanston elementary school teacher, died April 21, 2020 from Covid-19

Barbara Nickels, 87, was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1932, and studied art and elementary education at Ripon College in Wisconsin before moving to Evanston in 1963. A forceful advocate for civil rights in the early days of public school integration, she taught at College Hill Elementary School from 1963 until the school closed in 1976, then at Oakton Elementary School until the mid-1980’s. An early adopter of the “team teaching” approach, she displayed her deep caring for her students through her advocacy and belief in parental involvement. She was an avid ETHS booster, who loved to attend football and basketball games even if her kids were not playing. The fact that one of her favorite songs to sing in her older years was the Evanston Fight Song was a testament to her lifelong Evanston spirit. Her students will remember her no-nonsense standards of excellence in learning, along with her wacky sense of humor, energy and passion.

That passion extended to her own life, in her love of sports, art, architecture, history, Welsh genealogy, nature, animals, and antiques. She loved the thrill of the hunt at flea markets for her extensive and eclectic collections, which included Gaudy Welsh china, copper lustreware, and Toby Jugs, many of which are now housed in the Toby Jug Museum in Evanston. A talented artist and decorator, she enjoyed drawing and painting, and took part in art therapy classes even as her health declined.

But most of all, she loved to travel. She visited more than fifty countries on all seven continents, exploring the cultures and landscapes of the world with an endless sense of adventure, enthusiasm and curiosity.

Although in retirement she split her time between Green Lake, Wisconsin and Tucson, Arizona, she always considered “Heavenston” her home, and in her eighties she returned here to be near family. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Raymond Nickels, who taught, coached and was Business Manager at Evanston Township High School for many years, and also by her daughter, Leslie Nickels, ETHS class of 1971, who passed away in 2017. She is survived by her son, Douglas Nickels, ETHS class of 1972, four grandchildren, Emily Berkeley (Brian Mahoney), Elizabeth Berkeley, ETHS class of 2007 (Stan Swat), Jeff Nickels, Meredith Nickels, her son-in-law, Lon Berkeley, ETHS class of 1970, and daughter-in-law Judy Peterson Nickels, ETHS class of 1974.

Submitted by: DevStudent

Recently retired Joe Keegan ’78, Sue Feith Shannon ’78 and Rocker, George Mort ’80, and Moose get together on Marco Island, Florida in January.

Submitted by: Gregg Petersen

Update from Melanie Civin Kenion ’78: Erika Doss ’78 (South Bend, Indiana) and I did a 9-day women’s hike in Slovenia. We hiked in the Julian Alps, Velika Planina (alpine highlands), Lake Bled and Lake Boninj.  We hiked between 8-10 miles a day with a group of 12 women with a tour company called Adventures in Good Company. It was challenging and great to push ourselves out of our comfort zones. This was our third trip together…we previously hiked the Inka Trail and traveled in Cambodia and Thailand. We’re tossing around ideas for two years from now.”

Submitted by: Gregg Petersen