R Connections

NICK OSENBERG ’11 enters his tenth year as a public school teacher. He continues to produce four to five shows a year with his high school students. He makes a point to impart the liberal arts education he received from Ripon College’s theater and classical studies departments into his teaching style.

Submitted by: Shane Roeber

KRISTIN MERKER GREENBERG ’11 is expecting baby #2 in early March 2024!

Submitted by: Shane Roeber

COLLEEN ELZINGA ’18 of Gainesville, Florida, finished her rotating internship in veterinary medicine and surgery this summer at Louisiana State University. She recently moved to Florida to start her residency in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia at the University of Florida.

Submitted by: Lauren Hince

DAVID FIRARI ’18 of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, completed their northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. They started on February 21 in Georgia and after hiking over 2,200 miles, arrived at the northern terminus in Maine on August 29.

Submitted by: Lauren Hince

ABBEY FLOWER ’18 of Waukesha, Wisconsin, recently married the love of her life, Wayne Guenther, surrounded by family and friends including fellow alumni SAMANTHA BETHEL ’18 and HANNAH BRODNER ’18.

Submitted by: Lauren Hince

BEN FOLGER ’18 of Norman, Oklahoma, is finishing his PhD program at the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife, LAURISSA JOHNSON FOLGER ’19 welcomed their daughter, Kennedy, into the world in August. Laurissa is also wrapping up her masters program in psychology.

Submitted by: Lauren Hince

EVE GREEN ’18 of Sydney, Australia, started a new job as a rights manager for a children’s publishing imprint. In addition to the new job, Eve and her partner purchased their first house together.

Submitted by: Lauren Hince

DREW HETZ ’18 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is working as a physician associate at an ears, nose, and throat clinic. He is also continuing renovations on his house which is a never ending, but still rewarding project.

Submitted by: Lauren Hince

HAILEY MATTHEISEN ’18 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduated from her two masters programs: clinical and health informatics from the University of Wisconsin and biomedical sciences from Nova Southeastern University. She just started her first year of medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She’s also taken on a leadership role with the Association of Women Surgeons and the admissions committee.

Submitted by: Lauren Hince

MERRANDA SCHMID ’18 of Ripon, Wisconsin, started a new job as a chemistry laboratory instructor and interim director of math and science services at Marian University.

Submitted by: Lauren Hince

TOMISSSA PORATH FREISLEBEN ’10 and DAVE FREISLEBEN ’07 welcomed their son, Charlie, this spring. They are trying to get some sleep in between chasing Henry and Charlie around their house

Submitted by: Tomissa Porath Friesleben

LINDSAY KUEHL LAMB ’10 and her kids are welcoming her boyfriend, Christian, and his son to McFarland, WI. Christian will be working as master IT for UW Hospitals and Clinics and his son, Noah, is starting high school.

Submitted by: Tomissa Porath Friesleben

HANNAH ANDERSON ’13 is working at UWW as an Academic Advisor within the College of Business and Economics. She got engaged to her fiancé, Brendan, in April of this year! They are getting married in May 2024.

Submitted by: Lauren Ott Greene and Charlotte Lee Wahle

ANDY WELLS-BEAN ’10 is serving as the Executive Director of Audubon of the Western Everglades.

Submitted by: Tomissa Porath Friesleben

MICHAEL COLES ’04 works as the Director of Talent Acquisition at CFI and is in his tenth year of coaching travel softball (which keeps him from having a beer with NICK SPAETH ’04 even though they live 10 minutes from each other). His youngest daughter, Riann, is an 8^th grader and oldest daughter, Amiah, is a freshman at Iowa State University.

Submitted by: Nick Spaeth

AMY GABRIEL GERRETSEN ’04 continues her role as Director of Constituent Engagement at Ripon College. She writes, “Annually, I get to work with reunion classes to plan successful celebrations. But it is always way more fun to work with Nick and other classmates to make our 20th Reunion a blast. If anyone is interested in helping make decisions about how Alumni Weekend 2024 will look, especially related to the Class of 2004, please contact me at [email protected].”

Submitted by: Nick Spaeth

AMANDA PHILLIPS GROSS ’04 shares: “I am starting my sixth year as a special education teacher at Clintonville Elementary School and 11th year overall in education. I am working in kindergarten and 5th grade this year. I have not been in 5th grade since student teaching so this will be a learning experience! I have been lucky to have been working with alumni ANDREA KNORR JUSTMAN ’09 the past six years in kindergarten. My husband, Bob, and I have three great kids. Matthew and Peyton are starting 7th grade and Brenna is in 5th. It’s crazy how fast the time has gone!”

Submitted by: Nick Spaeth

TAMMY JOHNSON ’04 shares: “I was recognized as an Outstanding Special Education Teacher from the National Association of Special Education Teachers and received a Meritorious Service Award from the Illinois State Board of Education. I’ve taken a new position this school year at Antioch Community High School as a Special Education teacher and JV girls’ volleyball and basketball coach. I am four classes and one dissertation away from my EdD. Our older boys earned their purple taekwondo belts and little Finnegan is starting 2yr old preschool this fall with my wife, Becky, as one of the lead teachers. The Johnson family is busy!”

Submitted by: Nick Spaeth

SEBASTIAN MEADE ’04 shares: “So at this time I am running my own business, buttonspinzandthingz.com, making button pins and magnets, both designed by me along with custom work. Also making t-shirts, hats and other items being sold wholesale to local Maine businesses and out of a small market in Freeport ME. At the same time, I’ve been hard at work being a member of my local Grange helping it come back to life and getting ready to celebrate 150 years (2024), being one of the oldest non-profit community groups still active.”

Submitted by: Nick Spaeth

KATIE PLIER BOISVERT ’04 is starting her 15th year teaching fourth grade at Jackson Elementary School in the West Bend School District.