R Connections

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 would like to begin this letter by sharing a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who helped make the One Day Rally a huge success. Our wonderful class donated $5,010 to a cause near and dear to our hearts. With 47 donors, the Class of 2008 was in the top five classes for number of donors. In total, #OneDayRally raised over $1.9 million from 2,015 donors. Because of your donations on April 29th, combined with generous giving throughout the year, the Class of 2008 is really helping to ensure future generations of Red Hawks receive the same quality, personalized education we experienced when we were on campus. Once again, thank you!

By the time you are reading this letter, the next class of first-year students will already have started classes at Ripon College. Fall will definitely look a little different around campus this year for students, faculty, and even us alumni. While events we love and look forward to might not be taking place in the same way, or even at all, this year, there are still ways to make sure you stay connected to the Ripon College community. 

• If you are not receiving regular emails from the college, please make sure to update your email address on the R Connections page or contact one of the class officers. 
• Frequently check out the Ripon News page on the college website, the Ripon College Class of 2008 Facebook group, or the official Ripon College Facebook page to stay up-to-date on all of the great things happening on campus. 
• This would also be a great time to reach out to a classmate or other Ripon alum who you may not have talked to in a while. Reminisce about all of the great times had while we were students and make plans to get together virtually or in person in the future! 

           We look forward to being able to meet face to face again sometime soon at alumni events and activities on campus. Until then, please check out the updates submitted by your classmates since the last class letter. If you would like to submit updates to be included in future publications, please reach out to a Class Agent. Updates can include marriages, birth of a baby, adoptions, new jobs, starting a business, continuing education, moving, exciting accomplishment, getting together with fellow Ripon alum, and so on! Your classmates would love to know what you are up to! We look forward to hearing from you!

Class Updates:

ERIN RUTH MAGUIRE ’08 of Hot Springs Village, AR has taken a position as Hospice Clinical Social Worker at the LHC group, a leading nationwide home-based Healthcare provider.

PATTI MAZUR ’08 of Mesa, AZ moved to Arizona in May and is the Global Accounts Receivable Business Process & Technology Manager at ON Semiconductor in Phoenix, Arizona.

DANA MOORE KIBBEL’08 of Waupun, WI reports, “We welcomed Krew James into our family on December 27, 2019 after our most memorable Christmas as a family — spent in the hospital. After spending three weeks in the NICU in Madison, we brought Krew home and now we’re officially a family of five!”

TRISHA SHAFER MOORE ’08 of ­­Eau Claire, WI says, “We welcomed our second daughter, Ivy Louise, in March.”

COLETTE UNGER NAKIELSKI ’08 of Mount Vernon, IA and her family recently returned to the midwest after two years in Washington/Idaho. They now live in Mt. Vernon, IA where her husband, CHRIS NAKIELSKI ’06 is a music professor at Cornell College and Colette is an executive assistant for a software engineer. They have two children- Finnegan (3) and Evelyn (1).

Go Red Hawks!

Leah

Zac

Stephanie

A Note from the Office of Constituent Engagement:  Stay up-to-date with our latest news and information. Make sure that we have your most updated contact information including email and phone number by visiting ripon.edu/update-contact-info or emailing [email protected].

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

EMILY MEYER ’09

(920) 369-8707 / [email protected] 

JOSH LEGREVE ’09

(414) 839-7222 / [email protected] 

Hello Everyone! 

First of all, please welcome JOSH LEGREVE ’09 as our second Class Agent! Thank you to everyone that donated to the College for #OneDayRally back in April. As a class, we had 35 donors that raised $3,661 total. This was a fantastic showing!

JOSH LEGREVE ’09 here — Hello all! I am very excited to join EMILY MEYER ’09 as a Class Agent. For the last six years, I have been teaching 2nd-12th grade Spanish at Green Lake Schools, where I also run the theatre department and student council. Additionally, I have been serving on the executive board for the Wisconsin Association for Language Teachers and the Board of Directors for the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Other than that, I have been traveling when possible (I took 22 students to Costa Rica last summer!), and taking occasional drives past campus on my commute home to Fond du Lac. 

Hi Everyone, EMILY MEYER ’09 here — I’m excited to have JOSH LEGREVE ’09 join me and make these letters a little more exciting for you to read. Outside of listening to a lot of Hamilton, our family’s big updates are that we adopted a puppy (her name is Skye) in April and just recently got a new garage door (exciting, I know). At work, we’re just starting to train the RAs for the year, and I got a new job title this summer – Assistant Director for Residential Education. I continue to oversee our Residential Curriculum and our student staff hiring and training processes. We continue to love living in Fargo-Moorhead and coming back to Ripon for visits when we can. 

We are excited to share some updates from our classmates with you and hope that you are well and finding your ‘new normal’ in these strange times. 

ANDREA WORDEN ’09 is living in Madrid, Spain, with her husband, Pablo Marín, and two-year-old daughter, Natalia. She is working as an English teacher for VIPKid.

KELLY SCHWEISS GRIFFITHS ’09 recently accepted a new role as a User Experience Strategist with Adtalem at OnCourse Learning in Brookfield, WI. KARL GRIFFITHS ’08 and KELLY ’09 also just started volunteering as puppy raisers for Canine Companions for Independence. In July, they got their first foster puppy, Korbin. In roughly a year he will hopefully go through advanced training to become a free service dog for someone in need.

ELIZA CHERRY STEPHENSON ’09 of Ripon, Wisconsin, joined the BRAVE (Building Resiliency Assets and Values in Everyone) staff in September 2019 after spending nearly 10 years working in college admissions. She currently serves as the BRAVE Site Coordinator at Ripon Middle & Catalyst Charter Schools.

STEPHANIE TROEMEL ’09 is now a pattern and fabric manager for a global company. In this role, she runs a fabric store, manages their production team, and sits on the board of directors.

News notes from the Spring Class Letter that weren’t emailed out due to the interruption of COVID-19: 

BRITTANY KAUFMAN PRATT ’09 and her husband, Jeremy, welcomed their second daughter, Hannah Louise Pratt, on November 21, 2019. Big sister is over the moon! Also, Samantha was very excited she got to visit “where the Redhawk lives” during Alumni Weekend. We hope to catch more of you next time! In other news, BRITTANY ’09 was appointed the Training Director of the Psychology Doctoral Intern program at Burrell Behavioral Health in July 2019. She has learned that running a training program is a bit like herding proverbial cats. If you have experience in this area, please feel welcome to send advice. If not, please send coffee. Or beer.

EMILY MATHEWS JANKE ’09 enjoys being a stay at home mom to two adorable curly-headed kiddos. While she may not be working to pay off the master’s degree she needed to have, being bossed around by a 2 and 4-year-old is really rewarding. In all seriousness, she feels very lucky to be home watching the little humans grow each day. She’s still happily married to a handsome lad. Oh, and she cleans houses in her spare time to earn a little extra $ to buy herself pretty things. Just kidding, it’s to pay back her student loan debt.

JOSH LEGREVE ’09 is excited to share that he was elected to a four-year term on the Board of Directors of the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.  His term starts this summer.

JENAN JAMAL KHARBUSH ’09 of Arlington, Massachusetts, received the Ripon College Outstanding Young Alumni Award during Alumni Weekend in June 2020. She is a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University. She is a member of the Harvard Earth and Planetary Science/Environmental Science and Engineering Department’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belong Committee; and a mentor for Harvard Graduate Women in Science and Engineering.

JOSH KRAEMER ’09 of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, was inducted into the Ripon College Athletic Hall of Fame during Alumni Weekend in June 2020. He is a regional personal training director for Anytime Fitness.

Be well,

Emily & Josh

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

2010 – Fall 2020 Class Letter

NICHOLAS BAKER ’10

(931) 444 4466 / [email protected]

TOMISSA PORATH FREISLEBEN ’10

(715) 853 6104 / [email protected] 

Greetings Class of 2010,

What a change we have endured in the last six months. When we last wrote our spring Class Letter we were excited to know in only a few short months we would be united on campus, enjoying a drink on the Union lawn and in many of our favorite downtown Ripon spots. Almost a month after writing it we all saw the world change drastically. For some of us we are still in the same position as before except maybe working from home or acting as a teacher to your children. Unfortunately, we know there are those who have endured hardship with job loss or even health issues related to COVID-19. What should have been an exciting summer and an even more exciting reunion was cast into doubt and eventually pushed back to next year. We were given the option to join the Class of 2011 to celebrate both of our ten-year reunions together, and we think this is a great opportunity given the closeness of our two classes when we were students. Please save-the-date to celebrate our Tenth Reunion during the upcoming Alumni Weekend from June 22-27, 2021. We are hoping to see as many of you as possible!

Even with the hardships facing all of us today we have to remember to use what we learned through our classes and activities at Ripon College to propel us forward into the future. We saw this first hand through the generous giving of the Class of 2010. As a class we raised $5,801 for the Ripon Fund with 22% participation. This was a huge improvement from our previous reunion year in 2015. 

Something that is striking is the improvement from 2015 even with everything going on in the world. We supported the Ripon Fund to help Ripon with educating the students of tomorrow and also adapt to the current environment. We are very proud of what we have accomplished and hope to continue to make improvements year after year. Without support from alumni like us Ripon could face closure like many private liberal arts colleges in the last few years. 

With the fall weather quickly approaching we only have a few more weeks to soak up the summer sun. Get outside and enjoy the time you have with friends and family before another brutal midwest winter is upon us. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy through these challenging times. Cannot wait to see you next year at the Union!

Class notes:

JEFF DAVIS ’10 and GWENDOLYN CASEY DAVIS ’12 of Stoughton, Wisconsin welcomed their daughter, Beatrice Elspeth Davis, on April 23, 2020. Everyone is doing well and both Clyde and his sister Fionnoula are excited to be a big brother and sister.

TOMISSA PORATH FREISLEBEN ’10 and DAVE FREISLEBEN ’07 of Monona, Wisconsin welcomed their son, Henry, in July 2020. Their family is excited to one day tell their son that despite being born in July, he was born on the second season-opener of the Milwaukee Bucks season.

KATHERINE HARTSTERN ’10 of Quincy, Illinois is a resident physician at Blessing Hospital.

THERESA MAE KEDINGER ’10 of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin writes, “Extended a third year with Peace Corps Costa Rica and will finish in June 2020.”

1LT BRUCE KUKOWSKI ’10 and JULIE KUKOWSKI ’08 live in Raeford, North Carolina. Bruce is currently training in the U.S. Army Special Operations Captain’s Career Course in the Civil Affairs Team Leader pipeline.

PHILIP MACK ’10 of Appleton, Wisconsin is a lecturer and PhD student at Marquette University (ABD).

JACOB MARSHALL ’10 of Ripon, Wisconsin welcomed baby Keller Marshall into the world on February 11th weighing 6lbs. 8oz. and 20-inches long. Keller joins big brother Woodson in the Marshall brood.

AXEL OWEN ’10 of Mount Laurel, New Jersey was the political director of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee from 2018 to 2019, and more recently became the organizing director in New Jersey for presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg. Axel and Amber Margentina celebrated their wedding on January 31, 2019. They have also welcomed a son, Oliver, to this world.

ANDREW PECK ’10 and JESSICA MANN PECK ’10 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin had a baby boy, Reed Xavier Peck, on December 28, 2019.

Our best regards,

Nicholas

Tomissa

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

SHANE ROEBER ’11

(262) 617-7707 / (262) 695-0555 / [email protected]

Dear Class of 2011:

I hope this letter finds you and your families well and in good health. To say that we’re in a unique situation is an understatement – COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down and has shifted how the world works. It has forced us to change how we socialize and recreate and made some of us take on roles we never thought we would. It has pretty much been a giant buzzkill and took away the best season, in my humble opinion, that Wisconsin has. But it has also allowed us to reconnect with old friends and with ourselves.

Thank you to those who sent in updates – it was good to hear from you and see what’s new. When we’re past the whole COVID-19 I hope to hear from more of you! And, I certainly hope to see you at Alumni Weekend 2021 – our 10-year reunion – June 24-27. Take care, stay healthy, and feel free to reach out to me any time. I can always use a distraction while working from home.

Below are the updates from your classmates:

NICK OSENBERG ’11 of Ferndale, Michigan, 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. He’d like to thank Ripon’s liberal arts background because my student’s accolades made this possible.

CARLOS J. SOTO ’11 recently graduated from Florida State University with a Ph.D. in Biotstatistics. He focused on statistical shape analysis of chromosomes and proteins and has a couple of papers in the publication process. He has accepted a visiting assistant professorship and is excited to continue his career in academia.

PATTY DETERMAN TAKAWIRA ’11 has two daughters and is a Community Health Planner in the Cardiovascular Health Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health. She is still fly.

CHASE ZAJAC-ELSBECKER ’11 and ROBYN ZAJAC-ELSBECKER ’11 of Pulaski, Wisconsin, writes, “Robyn and Chase welcomed their first daughter, Alice, on January 1, 2020.”

Take care and stay healthy,

Shane

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

KATLYN LEE SCHUMACHER ’12

(608) 558-9073 / [email protected]

ERIN SCHAICK ’12

(920) 312-3825 / [email protected]

BRANDON TAYLOR ’12

(406) 274-4708 / [email protected]

Hello, Class of 2012,

We hope you are all well! You provided us with some impressive life updates this year, as always, and we appreciate you staying in touch with us and Ripon College. If you would like to learn more about our classmates, be sure to check out R Connections online to learn more about all of Ripon’s alumni!

Class Notes:

JESSICA BRUNGARDT LARSON ’12 of Peyton, Colorado and her husband were blessed with a little boy in August, and also bought a house and got a puppy at the end of the year! She is an Assistant County Attorney in Colorado Springs doing child protection, delinquencies, and writing appeals, and loves where life has taken her.

ARIEL DICKINSON ’12 of Madison, Wisconsin and her husband, Casey Schenkel, celebrated their second wedding anniversary in August. They purchased their first home in June 2018 and she loves her job training customers and employees at Epic Systems Corp. in Madison.

LISA HILLEREN ’12 of Chicago, Illinois just closed on her first home in Chicago at the end of October. She works in academic affairs at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Most of her non-work time is filled with cycling; she recently completed a five-day tour from Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh, and currently manages Chicago’s only open all-women amateur cycling team.

SHARON KLAPPERICH DOLL ’12 of Green Bay, Wisconsin is transitioning from Oconto to her new apartment in Green Bay, still teaching full time at Preble High School.

JEFF MARQUARDT of ’12 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the sous chef for the Milwaukee Bucks players and coaches. He is celebrating his one-year wedding anniversary next month.

MEGAN MCGEE NORRIS ’12 of Kenosha, Wisconsin and her husband, Adam, welcomed an adorable baby girl in April named Ashlyn Marie. Colton is adjusting to life as a big brother and will be two in October. This means Megan is currently rocking that “2 under 2” life. She is loving working for herself and focusing on juvenile and family law in Kenosha and Racine County.

SAM MUTSCHELKNAUS ’12 of Cedarburg, Wisconsin has been hired by Aurora Health Care to be the full-time solo chaplain for the Grafton and Hartford hospitals. 

ALAINA NESBITT BENNETT ’12 of Greenville, Wisconsin and her husband AJ BENNETT ’12 have a daughter, Madison, who is 7 months old.

GISELA ORTEGA ’12 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has made the jump to the private sector after many years of working in various housing and economic development non-profits and the City of Milwaukee. She has recently started a new role with gener8tor, a turnkey platform for the creative economy that connects startup founders, musicians, artists, investors, universities and corporations. The gener8tor platform includes pre-accelerators, accelerators, corporate programming, conferences and fellowships.

AURORA POLLEI LAMEKA ’12 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has accepted a position as a K4 teacher at Milwaukee Scholars Charter School.

ANNE RABACAL GROSS ’12 of Germantown, Wisconsin and her husband were very blessed to purchase their first home in November. Anne is also now a Research Analyst with Principia Consulting, a leading research and consulting firm focused exclusively on the building materials and construction industry.

TONYA REETZ ’12 of West Henrietta, New York just relocated to North Carolina, started a new job at Parker Hannifin, and bought her first home.

ERIN SCHAICK ’12 of Concord, New Hampshire is now Assistant Vice President of Community Relations with CATCH Neighborhood Housing and was recently named to the New Hampshire Union Leader’s 40 Under Forty.

JESSICA SCHMIDT ’12 of Ripon, Wisconsin has worked for Mayo Clinic for five years, and works from home, which she loves. Her kitty just turned two. She bought a house in August in Ripon and loves being a homeowner!

ERIC SCHUMACHER ’12 of Pewaukee, Wisconsin and his wife, Sarah, have an 8-month old, Jack, getting into trouble all over the house. He’s going to win the Masters in 2051.

KATHARINE SHADLE GAILS ’12 of West Allis, Wisconsin is now working part-time for the Milwaukee Zoological Society teaching children about animals. She also teaches English to children in China with a company called VipKid. She and her husband, RYAN GAILS ’13, got a golden doodle puppy this summer named Copper.

AMY SPRANGER ROSSMAN ’12 of Kenosha, Wisconsin and her husband Geoff bought their first house last June, and just celebrated their two-year anniversary in November.

BRANDON TAYLOR ’12 of Arlee, Montana is busy organizing his newly purchased home in San Francisco and planning his wedding for next June.

JUSTIN GAWLIK ’12 and BRYANNE TUDOR GAWLIK ’12 of Columbia, Missouri are expecting their first baby in July 2020.

BRYANT VANDE KOLK ’12 of Washington D.C. is employed through Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as a Graduate Fellow for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

SARAH WEINBERG ’12 of Minneapolis, Wisconsin has returned to the United States after 2.5 years of teaching English in South Korea with her fiancé, Jordan. They will be getting married in October. She is hoping to attend graduate school for library and information science.

Thank you to all the people who sent us their life updates on Facebook or via email! Feel free to contact the college (or us) throughout the year and we will be sure to include them in our class updates.

Erin

Katlyn

Brandon

A Note from the Office of Constituent Engagement:  Stay up-to-date with our latest news and information. Make sure that we have your most updated contact information including email and phone number by visiting ripon.edu/update-contact-info or emailing [email protected].

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

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,

What a year this has been.

I struggle to follow up that sentence with something witty that doesn’t involve the words, “unprecedented times”, “I hope you are staying safe and healthy”, or “Living the dream in quarantine” so I will just move on.

Ripon students are going back to campus and classes resume on Monday, August 17th. The staff at Ripon has done so much to prepare for this. I think about how we went about our daily lives living on campus and how much this will change for returning and incoming students. If you are curious, check out the Reunite Ripon, return to in-person learning document here: https://www.ripon.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/reunite_ripon_return_doc.pdf

Now, let’s get down to the fun stuff… and the reason you all (honestly) check out this letter. Updates on classmates’ lives! Thank you for the wonderful amount of responses this time around. I really think the GIF of Joey on our Facebook page is the key. I will try my best to find other good ones moving forward! You might notice a slight Ripon Bike theme. Get ready, we might ask you what “Ripon Icon” you still have in your home today next time around!

For me, it has been a whirlwind of a year. I made a crazy decision to leave Madison for Des Moines, IA, where I am now a National Media Executive for Meredith Corporation. We bought a house and were engaged in June of this year. Jonathan and I will be getting married in September of 2022. Still working from home and convincing myself I travel too much (when things become semi-normal again…) to get a puppy.

Class notes:

SARAH MOEHRKE ’13 writes, “I am currently serving with the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments Americorp Program with the City of Florence, Oregon, on the beautiful Oregon Coast.”

LISA AGUILAR ’13 writes, “I am starting a faculty position at Indiana University on August 1st as a tenure-track assistant professor in the school psychology program and I just got engaged on August 24th in a hot air balloon!”

MATT ROHRBECK ’13 writes, “In April, I was elected to my fourth term on the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. During this term, I chair three committees (Finance; Ad Hoc Ordinance Review and Recodification; and Revolving Loan/Housing), and I am the vice-chair on the Human Resources committee. After serving in my hometown of Portage since 2014, I am representing my new community in the city of Columbus where I own a house and working to fix it up with DARCIE FIRST ’13.”

DARCIE FIRST ’13 writes, “This summer, I have worked at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for four years in their audit bureau, and I accepted a new position as an auditor. Additionally, I completed my accounting degree in July, and I am looking forward to having more time to do things.”

KATIE JO STUMBRIS WEISS ’13 writes for both herself and husband NICK WEISS ’13 “We had our second daughter on April 5. I’ve been busy with work and managing two dental offices while Nick is stuck at home with both girls preparing for the new school year and all the new COVID-19 precautions. During quarantine we focused on house renovations, I’ve picked up baking, and we’ve watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse incessantly!”

BRIANA DRAEGER BOSQUEZ ’13 and husband KYLE BOSQUEZ ’13 welcomed their beautiful daughter Rylee on April 24, 2020!

AMY DOEFER ’13 still has her Ripon Bike!

NICOLE SCHMIDT ’13 also still has her Ripon bike!

AMY REULING ’13 does too!

CHARLOTTE LEE WAHLE ’13 writes, “Just before Governor Walz’s stay at home order we bought our first house. But more importantly…in the process of packing and unpacking I found out I still have my Pub Crawl mug! I think I’ll start negotiations with Ripon that anyone with their mug at our ten-year reunion gets to drink for free. This gives you three years to find yours if you want to join me, folks!”

1. SARAH CARBALLO ’13 writes, “I am FINALLY starting my last year of ophthalmology residency and applying for cornea and refractive surgery fellowships because I just love writing personal statements and being a slave to eyeballs without making any real money. But the Ripon College Class of 2013 can definitely hit me up for their LASIK needs and I’ll be sure to pass out my business cards at our 50-year reunion when we’ll start needing our cataracts addressed!”

EMILY KIJEK-SCHWANDT ’13 writes, “I am still working at the Cudahy Middle School but will be teaching 7th grade English instead of 8th! It will be my 5th year working for this school. We are also starting in-person school 4 days a week in September. Wish me luck!”

KAYLN FREEMAN ’13 is engaged and recently purchased a home in Beaufort, S.C. She will be married next April (COVID willing!) and is in her fourth year of teaching second grade in Hardeeville, S.C.

CHRISTINA MOONEY ’13 writes, “Still single, and looking for a sugar daddy”

TREVOR LYNN ’13 writes, “I finally moved back to Wisconsin after living in Missouri for the past six years. I’m living in Wisconsin Rapids now, working at Nekoosa High School, and starting my doctorate at Edgewood College this fall.”

ANDREA SLOSSER WORTH ’13 writes, “I just got back from my first day of predoctoral internship at the Minneapolis VA. On a related note, Mark and I relocated to Minneapolis this summer! On a less related note, we have been working hard on teaching Lilly (our dog) how to kayak.”

LAUREN OTT ’13 recently purchased a beautiful home with boyfriend KYLE GREENE ’15. Their dog Theo now has plenty of room to run and is already making friends! Lauren also writes, “We are STILL open for visitors!”

Stay safe and stay well, classmates!

Ali

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

MARA JENSEN POULLETTE ’14

(920) 946-8498 / [email protected]

TIM HOLME ’14

(608) 333-9526 / [email protected]

Hi friends,

Finding words to address these past few months feels impossible at this point, so this will be a short little letter. I think it’s fair to say that everyone experienced various levels of loss and grief as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and unfortunately, it seems to be far from over. However, as always, reading the life updates from all of our classmates fills me with hope and happiness and is a reminder that good things are still happening despite the chaos and uncertainty we find ourselves living in.

News notes:

BRITTANY LAHAIE BARTLETT ’14 of Campbellsport, Wisconsin, and her husband are expecting their first child in January 2021.

JACOB BIRENBAUM ’14 writes, “On June 23, Alexia and I had our first baby, Lily Elaine. Mom did an awesome job and Lily is the center of our world.”

SAMANTHA ANGELL EASTBERG ’14 graduated with her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln in August. She and her husband are moving to Marshfield, Wisconsin where she will be starting a postdoctoral fellowship at the Marshfield Clinic.

ANNA M. GALLE ’14 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduated from Marquette University with an MSN in December 2019 and will be working as an RN in the Nurse Residency program at UW-Health in Madison.

TIM HOLME ’14 is working as a senior land restoration tech at Good Oak Ecological. He and KATIE WILLIAMS ’13 moved to Portage, Wisconsin last summer.

DAVE JEWETT ’14 of Arlington, Virginia, is an Associate Account Executive at the Kellen Company in Washington D.C.

ANDY KRUEGER ’14 and KARISA SIMONSEN KRUEGER ’15 of Redgranite, Wisconsin, had a baby boy, Decker Andrew Krueger, on December 11. 2019.

DONALD W. MALCHOW ’14 of Madison, Wisconsin, writes, “I will be graduating from the University of Wisconsin law school in May 2020 and going to work at Sigma Janssen law firm in Appleton, Wisconsin, representing injured people in worker’s compensation, social security disability, and personal injury cases.”

ALI NEMECEK ’14 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin writes, “This summer I spent my time attempting to master tax law and working remotely at the Blood Center of Wisconsin under their General Counsel. I am putting the final touches on my publication from my Master’s program, entitled ‘Populism, Popular Sovereignty, and Periphery’ (be on the lookout next year!). I have one year of law school left and in between everything else, I serve as the Editor-in-Chief for one of Marquette’s Law Reviews.”

CASSIE BILOTTO PASBRIG ’14 of Madison, Wisconsin writes, “We have finally taken up permanent residence in Madison. I have been working as a Performance Operations Analyst with Conifer Health Solutions for the last two years. Ryan and I will be celebrating our four-year wedding anniversary and our daughter’s 2nd birthday this year!”

MARA JENSEN POULLETTE ’14 and husband, SAM POULLETTE ’13 of Sheboygan, Wisconsin both continue to work at Lakeland University. Mara was promoted to Director of Cooperative Education in August and continues to teach courses (now virtually) on Professional Etiquette to primarily first and second-year students in addition to her full-time administrative position. Sam was promoted to the Vice President of Enrollment Management as of December 2019. They continue to devote much of their spare time to their two-year-old rescue dog, Arnie. However, Arnie will soon be getting slightly less attention as Sam and Mara are expecting their first child (a boy!) in September! Arnie is slowly adjusting to the idea of being a big brother. 

XIA XIONG ’14 of Madison, Wisconsin, was promoted this past January from Claims and Data Entry to Provider Relations Assistant at The Alliance in Fitchburg. He is also currently training for the Oshkosh Half Marathon next April, which will be his second half marathon.

LIZ WALSH ’14 graduated with her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in December 2019. She is now working as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Beaverlodge Research Farm (which is part of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada). She moved in February to northern Alberta, Canada so she could continue researching aspects of honey bee health.

Keep pushing forward, Red Hawks, and be well,

Sincerely,

Mara              

Tim

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

SAMANTHA KAY ’15

(414) 587-5958 / [email protected]

KAYLIE LONGLEY ’15

(262) 212-7394 / [email protected]

Dear Class of 2015,

Let’s just say it… Nothing’s normal.

If this feels like yet another COVID-19 conversation, maybe it is. But this pandemic is a very real thing. When writing this letter, we debated reaching out to people. We struggled with the words you’re reading now. But we need to respectfully represent our collective voices and be honest about this time:

It hurts. It’s painful to see friends and families lives shortened, livelihoods taken away, and no sense of an end in sight. It doesn’t make any sense. We hear you, we feel it.

Of course, the pandemic has given opportunity for some. Maybe it’s that down time (hello, privilege) to actually work on learning a new language. Maybe you’re still working on that sourdough starter, or you’ve picked up a new book. Hopefully, you’re taking some time to fix your car, or at least clean the cobwebs out since it hasn’t seen more than a 10-mile radius since March.

All these activities are really filling some sort of void. While learning to make your own carbs is a very cool activity, and may become a passion for some, it doesn’t come close to replacing human interaction. We need people! We need in-person connection, rather than Brady Bunch references from yet another Zoom happy hour.

It’s unsettling and difficult to think of all the lives lost, some of whom passed alone. This disease has taken so many things, situations, opportunities, and humans we’ve taken for granted. It’s stolen jobs and depleted industries, some lost forever. It’s divided folks, those who wear a mask and those who don’t. Those who can access the Internet, treatment, and a bank account… and those who cannot.

Now it comes down to the choices we make that will impact our communities (and ourselves) the most. Maybe there’s some learning? For me, I choose how much to care, how much energy to give. That includes being sensitive. Wearing a mask not just because it’s required, but because it helps build back our community.

We’re thinking of you. We’re still here. And hope some sort of “normal” returns in time for the next letter.

Class notes:

KATIE BIEDLER ’15 has been working as a Client Relationship Consultant at U.S. Bank as of last December. Thankfully, she is still employed as an essential employee & doing her best to not get sick.

ZACH CONNERS ’15 moved back to Madison to work as a recruitment coordinator at Raven Software which is part of Activision. So far, he has had the opportunity to work on releasing Call of Duty: Warzone. It was just announced that they will be teaming up with another studio to release the next Call of Duty title later this year.

SAMANTHA KAY ’15 did not get to go on any of her planned trips due to the poorly managed public health crisis. She was promoted in July to Advocacy and Global Outreach Manager with the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. Her work focuses on improving regulatory pathways for novel therapies and improving access to these therapies in low- and middle-income countries. Sam spends her free time calling and writing her elected officials, protesting police brutality, and informing her friends and family about vote by mail. She will be volunteering as an election worker in November, to ensure that we can still vote in the middle of a pandemic that the current administration fails to address. 

SKYLAR LIEBZEIT ’15 of Appleton, Wisconsin is the new football coach at Green Bay West. He spent the past two years as an offensive assistant and wide receivers coach at Lawrence University.

KAYLIE LONGLEY ’15 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin did not go to Ireland, Portland, or Grand Rapids. She is learning how to use media ethically with Google Ads courses. She’s still working for Bardon Bowling Centers across the state, marketing fun, safe spaces.

CHELSEA MOLDENHAUER ’15 of Ripon, Wisconsin completed her Ph.D. in May at the National University of Health Sciences at UW-Madison. 

RAQUEL MACSWAIN ’15 did not get the chance to experience her graduate school graduation this last spring due to COVID-19. However, she did accept a job as a school counselor at Dalles High School.

KARENA SCHROEDER ’15 was promoted in June to Club Manager and now runs her own Sam’s Club in Apple Valley, Minnesota. This summer Karena and her fiancé also purchased a house in the area and adopted a sweet little pup named Charlie!

KARISA SIMONSEN KRUEGER ’15 and ANDY KRUEGER ’14 of Redgranite, Wisconsin had a baby boy, Decker Andrew Krueger, on December 11, 2019.

ABI QUACKENBOSS-KARPF ’15 continues to serve on active duty in the United States Navy… but not for much longer! Abi has decided to resign her active duty commission in Spring 2021. If you know of any companies or organizations looking for an engaged and dynamic project manager to support a great mission in the San Diego area, please find her on LinkedIn. She and her husband, Brandon, hope that the decision to become a civilian will lead to them FINALLY getting a dog.

Cheers!

Sam

Kaylie

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

SARA R. DRIEBEL ’16

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

ELIZABETH KONIECZNY YAMAT ’16

(414) 369-7430 / [email protected]

Hey, Class of 2016!

Even if our spring and summer didn’t go the way we all planned, we are one day at a time closer to the day we can all (safely) be with one another again. I can’t wait to see you at our combined Alumni Weekend. We are going to celebrate in the best way we know how – together!! Save the date for Saturday, June 26tht, 2021, when we can have fun with the classes of 2010, 2011, and 2015 during Alumni Weekend 2021.

This class letter might feel a little different from other ones, and that is okay! With everything going on, if you don’t have anything to share or don’t want to share something less than positive, please know that you have classmates that you can lean on. Not one of us is going through the exact same situation, but what we are going through, we are going through together. 

If there is one thing that we found in gathering updates for this letter, it is the importance of keeping those you love by your side. Please remember to check in on those you love, and spread positivity when you are able. You are all loved, radiant, and needed – and keep on rockin’ it!!

ALLISON LEAVER ’16 is currently a veterinarian in Chicago.

ALYSSA NYCZ ’16 is missing home in Wisconsin more and more these days, but she is getting by thanks to plenty of Facetime sessions and phone calls with KAMELLE VAN DER LEEST WATERS ’15, GRACE DYKSTRA ’16, JULIA MUTCHIE ’17, AMY FELS ’17, AND LIZ ABITZ ’17. In these quarantine times, she has been keeping busy with work at Connecticut Children’s. She has also perfected her ice cream eating abilities and occasionally wins at Bananagrams.

ELIZABETH KONIECZNY YAMAT ’16 is working from home for Acuity Insurance, where she’s been working as a Commercial Lines Underwriter. Her two dogs, Bear and Charlie, make great furry coworkers, alongside her other very distracting coworker- her son, Theo.

JENNY DELGADO ’16 is finishing her Master’s in nursing at Rush University.

JENNIFER KELLER ’16 is happily planted in southeastern Wisconsin, living in Mequon and coming up on her fourth anniversary working for the Village of Richfield. Earlier this year, she took a liking to long walks with Andy. Park trails, residential sidewalks, and strip malls are their most frequented settings. There is still no furry friend to take on puppy walks but she is working on that plan! Jen would like to wish all of her Ripon College classmates the best as we look forward to the conclusion of this unconventional year. Cheers to lifelong Ripon friendships that get us through the tough times!

JENNIFER NIGGEMEIER ’16 has a few new things going on in her world: 

• So far, she is COVID-free,
• She learned to crochet like an old lady,
• She shared her world-famous spinach artichoke dip recipe at her twin nephew’s third birthday party (give her a holler if you want that Applebee’s dupe!)
• She is still working as a Program Coordinator for a nonprofit before and after school programming.
• She started her own island on Animal Crossing. It’s five stars, not to brag. Hit her up if you want to visit “Lala’s Island!!!”

KATLYN TROISI ’16 was recently promoted to Assistant Clinical Director at Advocates after two years of hard work with the organization. 

RAE BRIXIUS-FAHNRICH ’16 is slowly losing brain cells with every COVID-19 conspiracy theory she reads from C students who suddenly have the full grasp on science that they lacked during our time at Ripon. She hasn’t died from COVID-19 yet, but is hopeful that society will stay home and do their part to put public health above monetary gain so that we can return to normal. Until then, she will continue to telework and anxiously wait for Ripon College’s response to the racism displayed by current students.

SAM CANNING ’16 is happily working from home for Brookdale Senior Living with her dog, Teddy, as one of the best coworkers she could ever ask for.

SARA DRIEBEL ’16 is still working as a Human Resources Generalist and is so grateful for her supportive coworkers that make working through a pandemic less intense! She is bummed to not be able to teach the kiddos at the zoo, but knows the critters will still be there when everything is back to normal. Because she has weekends off while education programming is canceled, she has been taking time to learn new languages, hone in on rusty art skills, grow a small jungle in her home, bond with her amazing baby niece, and go birdwatching! 

FRANK STELTER-HOGH ’16 and HANNAH METZ ’17 married on July 24, 2020! 

SIDNEY BLODGETT DEMASTER ’16 and her husband, Aaron, had a daughter in May! Her name is Eliza and she is absolutely perfect. They love enjoying their summer days swimming at the lake and taking long walks with their puppy. Sidney got a job as a third-grade teacher in North Fond du Lac and is excited to start in August. Her husband, Aaron, is starting Centerpoint Church in September in Fond du Lac. You can check out their Facebook page, @CenterPointFDL, for more information!

ZACH MUENCH ’16 is currently an emergency medicine PA at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee!

We wish you all the best as you navigate waters we have never needed to wade through before. 

We hope to see you all at Alumni Weekend!

Sincerely,

Sara

Elizabeth

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

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]

Dear Class of 2017,

A big theme in the COVID-19 era seems to be responsibility. We have a responsibility to take actions that protect those around us while we hold others responsible for their actions or lack thereof. We have a responsibility, then, to hold institutions that are bigger than us to higher standards. The paths forged by large institutions (such as Ripon, the College we are so lucky to call home) have wide-reaching effects on the lives of countless individuals. Ripon alumni do not take this task lightly, as evidenced by the abundance of outreach regarding Vice President Pence’s visit to campus in July. 

After copious debate and consultation with select members of the Ripon community, President Messitte went ahead with hosting a high-risk event on campus. As the diverse community that it is, alumni of Ripon College reached out with opinions of all kinds on the event. From a public health standpoint, such a high-risk event should never have been considered in the first place. However, many of us alumni reached out with words of disdain, concern, and praise for President Messitte’s decision to rent space for the Trump campaign in July. We took seriously our stake in the College and our responsibility to share our perspectives with our alma mater when it comes to important decisions. We take pride in this, and we hope that everyone continues to take seriously our responsibilities to ourselves and others. 

Class Notes:

KONNER FELDHUS ’17 of Des Moines, Iowa finished the first round of board exams and began the clinical years of medical school in August. He will be rotating at hospitals and clinicals all around the state of Iowa. #BlackLivesMatter

HANNAH MACKENZIE GALLIMORE ’17 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and her spouse, Alex, had a baby boy, Oliver, in March. She loves spending time as a family! 

WINONA HOLMES ROBBINS ’17 of Valparaiso, Indiana is a personal trainer at the Franciscan Health and Fitness Center.

ELIZABETH ERDMANN JULIAN ’17 of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin is the Assistant Director of Admissions Operations at Lakeland University.

NICHOLAS JULIAN ’17 of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin is an Account Executive at Jackson Kahl Insurance.

SUSAN SHIVELY CONDON ’17 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin writes, “Graduated with a Masters in Clinical Psychology (August of 2019). Married (July of 2019). Started my career at Red Oak Counseling, Ltd (April of 2019).”

DANAE MARIE TESCH ’17 of Seattle, Washington is expecting baby #2 this winter and is planning a move back to the midwest to be closer to family

BEN VALDEZ-HEMPEL ’17 of Washington, D.C. moved to a smaller (but nicer) place with two of his closest friends in January. He recently got a new job as a Program Associate for American Councils for International Education running communications for the alumni side of a high school student exchange program. He is still obsessed with soccer, and during quarantine he went on long bike rides to entertain himself. #BlackLivesMatter

BENJAMIN VORPAHL ’17 of Detroit, Michigan is entering the third year of dental school at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and beginning patient-care and clinical experiences! 

Sincerely,

Konner

Winona

Erin

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

Class Agents:

LAUREN HINCE ’18

(763) 706-7473 / [email protected] 

HOLLY ERICKSON ’18

(262) 497-7796 / [email protected]

ELEANORE MUELLER ’18

(920) 539-2935 / [email protected]

Hello Class of 2018! 

We hope that this letter finds you well and that you are all remaining safe and healthy during this dynamic time. Needless to say, the world looks a whole lot different from our last update. For some of us, this may mean working remotely for the first time or coping with the prospect of finding a new career path. For others, working as an essential employee helping to battle the pandemic on the front lines. Regardless of how this pandemic has affected us each individually, we all have had to adapt to our “new normal.” While this letter may be shorter than others we know that everyone is doing their best to stay connected both publicly and privately.

If you’re looking for inspiration or to connect with fellow Ripon Alumni try attending alumni events! You can also visit R Connections online at www.ripon.edu/rconnections/ to stay up to date with all things Ripon College. Have a great start to your Fall/Winter, Class of 2018!

Class notes:

JAKE BAUS ’18 of Mount Calvary, WI is finishing his final year of clinical rotations in the doctor of physical therapy program at University of Wisconsin Madison.

LEAH BLAZKOVEC ’18 of Algoma, WI started occupational therapy school at University of Wisconsin Lacrosse and will graduate in December 2022.

CEANNA CAELWAERTS ’18 of Suamico, WI graduated in May with her master’s in social work from University of Wisconsin Madison. She has spent most of the summer enjoying time in Madison by working remotely, going for endlessly long walks, and safely spending time with loved ones. She will be moving to Green Bay, Wisconsin later this month to start work as an elementary school social worker.

HOLLY ERICKSON ’18 of Racine, WI recently completed U.S. Navy A School and started C School for her rate. She is hoping to be stationed on a ship in early fall.

LAUREN HINCE ’18 of Chicago, IL was furloughed from her job at Groupon and has been using this time to catch up on search for new job opportunities, discover new hobbies, and re-connect with people.

ELEANORE MUELLER ’18 of Port Washington, WI has been spending quarantine wedding planning and golfing with soon-to-be husband, ANDREW WOOD ’16.

SAMANTHA RAYGO ’18 of Milwaukee, WI is entering her third and final year of law school this fall and also got engaged this spring.

PATRICK “PATCH” HOFFMAN ’18 of Oconomowoc, WI is engaged to VERONICA DELISLE ’17.

REBECCA STENZ LINKE ’18 of Eland, WI is currently working as a senior underwriter for home improvement loans. She has also started building a financial advising business with her spouse and fellow alumnus, BRANT LINKE ’18.

Sending everyone our best,

Lauren

Holly

Eleanore

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

ERIC FELS ’19

(262) 365-9726 / [email protected]

RACHEL HAWLEY ’19

(224) 688-3049 / [email protected]

OLIVIA HECK ’19 

(262) 408-3785 / [email protected] 

TYLER STURZL ’19

(715) 889-672 / [email protected] 

Class of 2019:

Over the past few months, we have learned to cope and adjust to the “new normal” due to challenges surrounding COVID-19. I think a lot of us didn’t anticipate that the pandemic would carry into fall of 2020. Adapting to a pandemic isn’t quite the same as realizing you forgot to submit a paper while making the “Walk of Shame” back to Johnson Hall from the Quads and scrambling to finish it before your Monday 8 a.m.; however, if there’s anything we’ve learned from our peers, professors, and experiences at Ripon College, it’s that we can handle whatever life throws at us.

We will continue to face adversity head on and strive to make the most of our current situations. Heck, it seemed like it rained every Springfest of our four years at Ripon, and we still made the most of that. Whether it be completing graduate work or beginning a new job, the Class of 2019 has the tools to accommodate and excel during these challenging times. As we continue to explore industry or dive deeper into academia, we will apply what we have learned at Ripon to succeed in this next chapter of our lives.

In addition to COVID-19, we continue to live in an ever-present social justice movement. The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Elijah McClain, and countless more have reminded us that the fight for equality and equity among people of color continues to be an uphill battle. As founding father Benjamin Franklin stated, “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” 

Climate change continues to rapidly lead our planet to a point of no return, and disproportionately affects minorities far more than other groups. As young leaders, we have the power and the responsibility to shape the world into a more equitable and stable place for current and future generations. Contact your elected officials, join a movement group or protest, and most importantly, vote. 

The College came out with Reunite Ripon: Our Plan To Return To In-Person Learning late summer. Classes begin for students on August 17th and will end on November 24th. A thorough description of Ripon’s plan for a safe return to campus can be found at ripon.edu/news. Additionally, the Midwest Conference made the upsetting, but smart decision to suspend athletic competition for the rest of 2020. As many of us were student-athletes and super-fans, it is difficult to picture a fall semester at Ripon without football games at Ingalls Field, soccer games at Prairie Field, basketball and volleyball games at the Willmore Center, and so much more. 

We are wishing you all well and hope you are engaging in some form of self-care! Taking care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and socially is critical to your overall well-being. We want to see you all at Alumni Weekend on June 24-27, 2021. In order to make that happen, keep wearing your masks, social distancing, and refraining from the Tall Paul’s of your town. Listen to the doctors and the scientists. Remember, Red Hawks fly together. We will grow from these trying times and come out stronger and more united than ever before.

FALL 2020 CLASS UPDATES:

BECKY BAJT ’19 writes, “just got engaged to my adventure buddy, Drew! Frannie Cat, Drew, future Kitty, and I have also found a house together and will be moving in soon! Frannie misses the dorm life, especially when she could spy on people walking below her window!”

JAMES BALISTRERI ’19 writes, “There have been a lot of ups and downs since COVID-19 escalated. I was working as a stage manager in Door County, WI and had our show cancelled in the middle of our rehearsal process. After I prepped the show to be restaged, whenever it’s safe to gather again, I was laid off from the company. I took this opportunity to move out to Minneapolis and move in with my wonderful fiancé, SOPHIE WIDMAN ’18. While we, unfortunately, had to cancel a trip to see our wedding venue and see Sophie’s family in California, we’ve really loved getting to spend time together and make the best of the situation Since I’ve moved to Minneapolis I’ve been delivering groceries to those in need, planning our wedding, and waiting for the theatre industry to start making its way back. Here’s hoping things turn around soon!”

CARLY WESNER BOWMAN ’19 – “Just got married back in June! I started a new job as a website editor for a little shop up here in Fish Creek, WI!”

JACK CLOUGH ’19 is helping out with COVID-19 testing through the National Guard.

HAYLEE CONRADT ’19 will be a 5th grade teacher in the Kimberly Area School District.

CORAL EAKINS ’19 of Margate, Florida is a Flight Attendant for a major U.S. airline.

ERIC FELS ’19 of Reedsburg, Wisconsin is the Director of Operations at JustAGame Fieldhouse.

JUSTIN FILTER ’19 writes, “I moved to Lacey, WA in April 2020 where I am a platoon leader in the Army. My fiancé, SHELBI BUETTNER ’19, and I moved here with our dog and shortly after got another puppy! We are loving the state of Washington and all the scenery of the Pacific Northwest. My favorite part is seeing Mount Rainier every day on my way to work!”

LAUREN GOOD ’19 writes, “I have been working in the family roofing business and property management along with creating my own piano company called Everlasting Melodies.”

MELISSA MICALE HACKBARTH ’19 writes, “I got married to the love of my life on June 26th, 2020! We had to change our original big wedding plans due to COVID-19, but we were still able to have a magical, small ceremony with our family and bridal party!”

OLIVIA HECK ’19 writes, “I am headed into my second year of graduate school at Indiana University, pursuing my PhD in school psychology. COVID-19 has thrown a small wrench in my graduate experience, but I am constantly learning how to adapt and do the best I can despite the circumstances!” 

RACHEL HAWLEY ’19 writes, “I spent my summer working as an inpatient pharmacy technician at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI after my summer camp job was cancelled due to the pandemic. It ended up working out well because I was able to settle into my new condo and adopt a kitten, Pippa! I start my second year of pharmacy school this fall, which will be almost entirely online. Coming from someone who works and is pursuing her doctorate in healthcare, this virus is not going away anytime soon, even if a vaccine comes out by the end of the year. Please continue to wear a mask, we know it works to slow the spread. I hope you are all doing well. If you find yourself in Madison, I would love to do a socially-distanced meetup! Stay healthy!”

ELLEN HUGHES ’19 writes, “I worked an eight-month stint as an HR coordinator in Madison at InterVarsity. When that came to an end I made the decision that I would go back to school to pursue the licensure to become a high school social studies teacher. I’m currently planning a move to Oshkosh and will begin classes in the fall at UW Oshkosh!”

KATIE KING ’19 will be attending the University of Arizona to start pursuing her PhD in Biological Anthropology in the fall.

EMMA LEMKE ’19 is finishing up a Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies.

ROBERT ROSNER ’19 writes, “My first year in the UW-Madison Water Resources Management Master’s program went well and I really enjoyed all my classes and experiences. I also continued to work at the USGS Water Science Center in Middleton, WI during the school year and over the summer as a student hydrology intern. I continue to get great hydrology fieldwork that helps connect to my coursework and prepare me for a career in hydrology. This summer my graduate school cohort is working on our program’s practicum working on promoting flood resilience in the Coon Creek Watershed in southwestern Wisconsin. While some of the fieldwork had been limited by COVID-19, we were able to begin some fieldwork in the watershed in recent weeks and have been conducting interviews virtually. This fall we will detail our work in an interdisciplinary report and provide recommendations to better prevent and respond to flooding in the watershed. In my free time, I have enjoyed visiting my family in northern Wisconsin and spending time fishing with them.”

Our best to you,

Your Class of 2019 Class Agents,

Rachel

Olivia

Tyler

Eric

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

A memoriam of Barbara Kouba Hoffman ’60 submitted by her daughter, Rebecca Hoffman.
There’s another star shining bright in the night sky tonight. I’m sad to say my mom, Barbara, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 23^rd in her assisted living apartment in Vernon Hills, Illinois. She did not suffer and she passed as she lived, peacefully. Some of you knew my mom well. She was very funny, very well-read, knowledgeable about the most specific things and she lived a full and interesting life as a violist, orchestral musician, a microbiologist and ultimately as a gemstone specialist who loved working in the Fine Jewelry Department at Marshall Field’s back when the store was a shopping wonderland.
A true ensemble player, Barbara was a longtime member of the University of Chicago Orchestra and the North Shore Chamber Orchestra and other classical music groups during her life. Though classical music was a defining involvement for her, she had many other involvements and friends from all walks of life. She even ran two Chicago marathons in the 1980’s! Barbara also was devoted to many Czech-American Cultural organizations as these kept her close to her heritage.  She loved The New Yorker, The New York Times Review of Books, reading dictionaries of different languages and she was even fluent in Pig Latin which was always interesting to hear her speak it fluently with other people who could join her in those conversations.
Barbara was a wonderful mom, a doting, irreverent grandmother to our kids, a sweet mother in-law and a loyal-beyond-loyal friend to her many friends from all walks of life.
She didn’t want a funeral so we’ll skip that. And we can’t have a Shiva thanks to Covid-19. So we’ll skip that, too and let this post become a virtual Shiva. If you feel like memorializing her listen to some classical music (Mahler’s symphonies, The Moldau, Bach’s Unaccompanied Suites for Cello, The Goldberg Variations, or anything soul-stirring and good), drink a vodka and tonic as it was her favorite cocktail, eat a bowl of ice cream or watch a very funny movie as she would have liked to do.
Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to the Illinois Holocaust Museum as she always maintained that we should never forget the millions who perished in the holocaust and she was a quiet, unwavering supporter of the museum.  You can make them here:  https://18161.blackbaudhosting.com/18161/Cards–Tributes
Thanks for reading about Barbara, we lost a good woman last week.  Anyone wishing to reach Barbara’s family can email her daughter Rebecca Hoffman, [email protected]  or phone her at 312-282-4254.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

1976 – Fall 2020 Class Letter
Co-Class Agents:
MICHELE BARAN WITTLER ’76
[email protected]
PETER TUZ ’76
[email protected] 
Hello Classmates:
After four years without a Class Agent, MICHELE BARAN WITTLER ’76 and I (PETER TUZ ’76) decided enough was enough and stepped up to jointly do the job. JULIE CARLSON ’76’s shoes will be difficult to fill! We have a lot of catching up to do so we hope to hear from many of you often. As all of you know, 2020 is turning out to be one of the craziest years in history. We want to thank all of you who have continued to support Ripon with your time, money, and thoughts. Our class contributed $39,983 to the College’s #OneDayRally for Ripon Giving Day in May with 12 of you participating. Additionally, seven individuals from our class contributed to the Emergency Assistance Fund. The funds from #OneDayRally and the Emergency Assistance Fund were used for general budgetary purposes and to cover extraordinary expenses related to changes at Ripon due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to all who supported, and continue to support our Alma Mater Ripon College.
As part of the federal legislation passed to support the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, many tax laws have been changed that make giving to charities, including Ripon, more advantageous in 2020 than it has been in several years. With year-end approaching, we would urge you to see if these would help you help Ripon. Also, be on the lookout for Ripon’s Day of Giving known as #OneDayRally in spring.
What is campus like this fall? Wisconsin autumn is beautiful and this fall is no different. We recall our first days on campus in 1972! What do you remember? After abruptly moving to remote instruction for the last portion of the spring semester, it was clear that our students missed being on the Ripon College campus. Many adjustments were made to create a safe campus for our students. And, they are so happy to be back! Thus far, students have completed six weeks of classes. Check out the following link for information about COVID-19 on campus: https://www.ripon.edu/coronavirus-information/.
At least as of September 30, 2020, our 45th Class Reunion is scheduled to be held in Ripon during Alumni Weekend, which will be June 24-27, 2021 in conjunction with the Class of 1975’s 45th Reunion that was not able to be celebrated in person due to COVID-19. With both of our classes celebrating milestone reunions, and with the closeness of our classes, this should surely be a reunion to look forward to. Please mark your calendars, and we hope to see many of you there. 
Please email us at [email protected] or [email protected] if you would like to help with our Class Reunion planning, the more the merrier! We are especially interested in finding individuals who could help us contact fellow classmates to encourage them to attend our Reunion and/or to contribute to our Class Gift. Perhaps you were in Greek life, athletics, or a club, and you would like to reach out to your classmates that you shared a special connection with? 
Please also email us if you have an interest in starting a Facebook group for our Class of ’76 that we could use for reunion planning purposes, as well as a way to stay connected with each other after our Reunion. 
With our 45th Class Reunion coming up this summer, we would like to rally you, our fellow classmates, to have a strong show of support for our Alma Mater this fiscal year. All contributions made to Ripon College this fiscal year (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021), will go towards our 45th Class Reunion gift. Especially with the current pandemic still causing unique challenges to the residential college experience, our gifts will undoubtedly have an especially important impact.
As your new Class Agents, we look forward to hearing your latest updates and news. You can send us your news at any time. 
Class Notes:
I, PETER TUZ ’76, put my English major to good use as a newspaper reporter for a number of years, but ultimately ended up as an investment manager with Chase Investment Counsel in Charlottesville, Virginia. After three months of working from home, I am back in my office although we continue to practice social distancing in the extreme. For years, I have been a frequent traveler for both work and pleasure and perhaps the biggest COVID-related change to my life has been staying at home and not making any business trips, nor visiting daughters’ in Germany and Los Angeles.
Co-Class Agent, MICHELE BARAN WITTLER ’76, of Ripon, Wisconsin writes “I majored in mathematics and minored in biology at Ripon College; also, I obtained teacher certification at the secondary level. After three years as a high school math and biology teacher, my husband, Professor of Biology Emeritus Skip Witter, and I moved to Austin, Texas to pursue graduate school. I completed an MBA from UT-Austin. Eventually, we returned to Ripon and I am the Associate Dean of Faculty and Registrar at the College. Until relatively recently, I regularly taught in our Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.”
GEORGE ANASTOS ’76, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota writes, “I retired one year ago after varied careers in industry and ministry. I worked at the corporate headquarters of Yankee Candle Company for many years in various management positions. I also served churches in Salem and Deerfield, Massachusetts, and in Denver, Colorado. Upon my retirement, my wife of 35 years, and I moved to Minnesota to be with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. We love being grandparents. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, we are caring for our grandson four days a week so his parents can work. I find it a bit amusing that when I received the email asking us to update our classmates and to include how we are coping during the pandemic, I had just come down with a few mild symptoms. I just got tested and I assume all will be well. Hello to all my classmates. I remember our years at Ripon as some of the finest in my life.”
JULIE CARLSON ’76 of Greenfield, Wisconsin writes, “I weathered the early quarantine by re-reading many of my old English major books and going for long drives with my husband because our car was safe and gas was cheap last spring. Since then, I’ve resumed my volunteer work-limiting hours and wearing a facemask, of course – with the Waukesha (Wisconsin) animal shelter and with Historic Milwaukee, Inc., guiding walking tours of downtown Milwaukee.”
RICH RUSSO ’76 of Ada, Michigan was named a member of Ripon College’s Board of Trustees. Rich previously served his Alma Mater for two terms on the Alumni Board of Directors from 2014-2019, and was elected to serve as Vice President of the Board in 2019.
ELIZABETH TOBIN BROWN ’76 of Stonington, Connecticut continues to practice psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. She tells us DAVE SCHWIER ’77 is still in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he has just recently retired from Delta. Beth also informs us that CHAMP CLARK ’76 had a play called Wild Son recently performed at the Santa Monica Playhouse in California. The play was performed online as well. The play centers on the troubled life of Marlon Brando’s son, Christian. Elizabeth is keen to connect to other Riponites, and she can be reached at [email protected].
GARY GIESEL ’76 of Lockport, Illinois writes, “Retired from Sedgwick after 43 years as a property insurance adjuster.” 
Looking forward to, hopefully, seeing you at our 45th Reunion next summer! 
Don’t forget to email us at [email protected] or [email protected] if you are able to help with our Reunion!
Peter & Michele

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

1964 – Fall 2020 Class Letter

Pat Ostrom Kohnen ’64

925-201-7377 / [email protected]

Greetings to my ’64 Classmates,
I hope that you are doing well during this challenging time. Here at Stoneridge Creek in Pleasanton, California we are following protocols to wear masks, social distance, and wash our hands often. Our independent living population is 800 and there have been only two COVID-19 cases, and both residents have recovered. Today, our air quality is quite good, but we have been experiencing smoke from the many wildfires here in northern California. Stoneridge Creek has not been endangered by any of the fires. 
I have become a Zoom user. I host our Stoneridge Creek book club and chair the Creekview health and long-term care committee. Creekview is our living unit for assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. I also attend Zoom exercise classes, and have had Zoom cocktail hours with other residents. If you would like to have a Zoom visit send me an email and I will set up a visit.
Ripon has The Center for Politics and The People (www.ripon.edu/cpp), and I have recently participated in two of their webinars. Our classmate, JAN WREDE ’64, moderated the Racial Justice in the Courts: South and North webinar last month which addressed very current issues for us all today. The other webinar honored the 100 year anniversary of women’s suffrage, The Right to Vote: Past, Present and Future, and discussed challenges that still exist for the voting process. I hope that all of you will exercise your right to vote. You can access both of these webinars by searching for Ripon College on YouTube where other recordings of events are also posted. 
Class Note: 
JAN WREDE ’64 of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin shares, “OUTSPOKEN: The Olly Neal Story by Olly Neal as told to Jan Wrede was published June 1, 2020. It is available on Amazon. This is what has been said about the book: ‘Olly Neal’s autobiography provides a vivid and candid narrative of his lifelong commitment to the struggle for black freedom and equality. Neal’s story is not only instructive, valuable, and worthwhile in its own telling, but it is also an important addition to the far too few firsthand accounts of black lives in Arkansas. This book, like Neal, is a true state treasure.’ This book is especially timely in 2020. It is an easy read and those who are interested in diversity and racial equity might use this book to learn firsthand the struggles and successes of an inspiring, but little known black civil rights leader.” 

Students are on campus at Ripon and attending classes in person, but life on campus is not what we remember, especially due to COVID-19. However, the College is doing its best to ensure the health and safety of all, and you can learn more about their current precautions and campus restrictions here: www.ripon.edu/coronavirus-information. 
Ripon is still in need of our financial support. If you are financially stable, please join me in supporting Ripon. Three members of our class have contributed to the Emergency Assistance Fund this past fiscal year. Thank you!
I have enjoyed connecting with a few Ripon classmates on Facebook. I would also be pleased to hear from you via email, [email protected]. Please also consider sending me an update on how you are doing, or share news with me that can be included in our next Class Letter. 
Stay safe,
Pat

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

Obituary for Samuel W. Dougan ’48
Born April 16, 1923 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Son of Erwin and Nina (Andrews) Dougan. Died January 21, 2021. Samuel has been a resident of Tucson since 1956. He is predeceased by his devoted wife, Christie (Yates) and first wife Jeanne (Daisy), as well as brother, H. D. High school completed in 1940, attended Ripon College 1 year, and then enlisted in the Army. He served his entire 4 years of World War II; participating in the invasion of N. Africa (Western Task Force-1942) and Sicily-1943. Sam accumulated 7 campaign stars: Algeria-French Morocco, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, South France, Rhineland and Central Europe, plus sharing in a unit citation. Sam returned to Ripon College, graduated in 1948 with an ROTC commission and was assigned to the 84th Airborne Infantry Reserve Division.
Sam’s family had a military heritage. His grandfather, also Samuel W. Dougan, was a wounded veteran, 5th Minnesota Infantry of the Civil War and a member of the “100 man” Company C, the reinforcements who rescued Ft. Ridgely during the Sioux Uprising. Great Uncle Charles Andrews, 29th Wisconsin Infantry died of wounds received at the Battle of Ft. Gibson, Mississippi-also Civil War. Brother H.D. did Army service in Burma. Great-great grandfather William Carskaden, 4th New York Infantry, fought during the Revolutionary War under General Mad Anthony Wayne.
Sam embarked on a teaching career earning an M.S. Degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1954. He enjoyed 34 years educating youth in grades 8-12, 27 years teaching at Amphitheater School District. He was recognized by the University of Arizona for leadership in their student teaching program, as well as a Cadre member of statewide instructional teachers-demonstration team. His community involvement included amateur (Corral) theatre, past president of Tucson Stamp Club, team bowling, and showing Scottish Terriers (including a Champion). A consummate philatelist, he volunteered at the Postal History Foundation, sponsored a school stamp club, exhibited at stamp shows, and authored magazine articles on Postal History. For many years Sam served on many committees and ushered at St. Philip’s in the Hills Church.
Christie and Sam enjoyed foreign travel, particularly to Europe and Canada. A physical fitness devotee he followed a regular schedule of workouts (25 years at El Conquistador CC) and daily walks with his late Scottie pal, Bailey.
Suggested contributions to Ripon College, 300 Seward St., Ripon, Wisconsin 54979-0248 or the Postal History Foundation at 920 N. 1st Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719
Wishing my former students, Colleagues and friends the very best!
Sam W. Dougan
Obituary summary featured in the Ripon Magazine:
SAMUEL W. DOUGAN ’48 of Tucson, Arizona, died Jan. 21, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in history, was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Delta Sigma Psi and was commissioned through ROTC. He later was a class agent and a charter member of Partners in the Legacy. He served in the Army during World War II. After earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he taught youths in grades 8-12 for 34 years. He was recognized by the University of Arizona for leadership in their student teaching program. He was involved in community theatre, the Tucson Stamp Club and related activities, team bowling, and showing Scottish terriers. He was an active member of St. Philip’s in the Hills Church and enjoyed traveling and physical fitness.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

Madison Author Launches New LGBTQ Mystery Series
Slips of Yew: A Dez Duchiene Mystery, Book 1: When a conservative politician is murdered in liberal Madison, Wisconsin, Dez Duchiene investigates and risks losing the man he loves.
Madison, Wisconsin. February 14, 2021
The Story: Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Dez Duchiene is a hospitality professional who dabbles in politics and moves to New York City where he marries architect Stevie Langford and lives happily until a detective knocks on his door, asking about the death of a prominent conservative politician.
Whitney Travers was a former boss and friend, and despite their differing political views, Dez feels compelled to figure out who killed him, despite his husband’s objections. Wisconsin is trying to pass a religious freedom bill that would curtail gay rights, and Stevie is uncomfortable every minute they stay after attending the funeral.  
Coming of age during the Act 10 protests that rocked the city in 2011, Dez feels like he’s in a familiar fight, one the liberals lost all those years ago. He walks a diplomatic line between the conservatives and liberals to collect information – but can he solve the mystery and save his marriage before it’s too late?
About the Book: Slips of Yew takes place primarily in Madison, touching on landmarks like the state Capitol, the Square, and the Vilas neighborhood. Dez recalls the Act 10 protests, including the palm tree debacle that opened so many people’s eyes to the manipulation used by certain media outlets. The first in a series, each book follows Dez and Stevie as they travel to different cities across the country – Nashville, Chicago, and even Winona, Minnesota.
Although LGBTQ characters are appearing more often in entertainment, they are still frequently relegated to sidekick status, comic relief, or tragic figures. Dez is a life-loving, energetic protagonist comfortable with who he is and who he loves. He defies stereotypes (Broadway musicals are just not his thing) and he’s a well-rounded, ordinary character who stumbles onto extraordinary situations.  
Slips of Yew: A Dez Duchiene Mystery, Book 1 can be ordered from your favorite local bookstore or through Amazon.com.
About the Author: Carol Shay Hornung (they/them) was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, claiming dual citizenship on both sides of the Cheddar Curtain. A Ripon College graduate, they hung a Pride flag on the Little White Schoolhouse (birthplace of the Republican Party) in 2015 when the Defense of Marriage Act was struck down. They are hard at work on the second Dez Duchiene novel, and past titles include Asperger Sunset and The Ghost of Heffron College, available from Amazon.com.
Author Quote: “While writing these books I discovered my own true voice – I grew up gender neutral, with attitudes and interests that aligned more masculine than feminine. Seeing the world through Dez’s eyes releases me from the constraints of gender and allows me to explore topics like equality, gender roles, and homophobia. Cognizant of misappropriation I had an old college friend act as my sensitivity reader and he seemed puzzled by the request – “just write it” was his primary advice. So. I did.”
Please consider printing a mention of Slips of Yew in an upcoming issue. The author would also be available for an interview. Thank you!
The book is available on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Slips-Yew-Duchiene-Mystery-Book/dp/B08WJY84KX/

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

GARY ’72 and JEAN KIRKPATRICK LEDERER ’73 and NITA JACKSON ’72 enjoyed meeting up in Healdsburg, California, for lunch and wine tasting!

Submitted by: Jean Kirkpatrick Lederer

JANE ALLEN WATERS ’42 of Columbia, South Carolina, died Aug. 10, 2012. At Ripon, she participated in Kappa Delta/Delta Phi Sigma. Her husband served in the Army and they lived in Georgia, Virginia, Germany and Italy prior to their retirement in Columbia. Survivors include one son. Her husband, ROBERT L. WATERS SR. ’41, died in 1992.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

FREDERICK W. ALLEN ’45 of Peoria, Illinois, died Jan. 24, 2021. At Ripon, he participated in Phi Kappa Pi. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and was trained as a pilot. He later was a pitcher with the Papermakers of Appleton, Wisconsin, a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. He then received a law degree from Northwestern University. He had a long career as a plaintiff’s attorney, eventually owning his own law firm. He was a member of numerous national and international professional organizations and held various leadership positions. He enjoyed golf, watching baseball, and was a member of the Elks Club for more than 70 years, the American Legion, and community groups. Survivors include two daughters.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement