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Click here to view our Class Notes from January to December 2008.
Click here to view our Class Notes prior to January 2008.
School of Business
January 2009 to Present
- Sarah (Williams) Anderson, '02 BS, is an Investment Specialist for the University of Missouri. She lives in Columbia, MO.
- **Gary Bradstreet, '77 BS, is a newly elected member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis Southwest Illinois Division.
- Albert Charleston, '65 BS, will be among the first group inducted into the Alton High School Wall of Fame. Charleston, who retired as Alton comptroller, served as 4th Ward alderman from 1971 to 1973 and then from 1975 to 1988.
- Benjamin Crowder, '04 BS, joined Welsch, Flatness & Lutz in St. Louis as vice president and producer.
- Jerry Crumley, '92 MBA, has been named President of U-Haul Company in North Texas.
- John Drolet, '93 BS, was recommended by the St. Clair County Central Committee as a replacement member on the St. Clair County Board. Drolet is serving his first term as an alderman for O'Fallon's Fourth Ward. His terms expires in 2011.
- *Sara Guarino, '04 BS, joined the law firm of Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C.
- Mark Heiderscheid, '86 BSA, was named Coach of the Year for Boys Soccer at Edwardsville High School.
- Paul Moe, '77 MBA, owns Moe & Walton PC in Edina, Minnesota.
- Donald Schwaab, '76 BS, was honored with the NISH/AbilityOne National Volunteer Award as board chairman for Challenge Unlimited Inc.
- Laura Shansey, '90 BS, has been named a recipient of the 2009 Woman of Distinction Award from the Alton YWCA. She will be recognized during a luncheon on May 28th.
- **Nancy Thorsen, '68 BS, '75 MSED, retired from RE/MAX Homestead Realty. In 2008, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from RE/MAX International, Idaho Member of the Year from Women's Council of Realtors and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors.
- **Gary True, '75 BS, '81 MBA, has joined Summers ComptonWells PC as a principal.
- Melvin Vineyard, '79 MBA, is the Audit Director with the Naval Audit Service. He recently had an article entitled, "Passwords - I Hate Them," published in the ASMC Comptroller magazine.
- Tim Vosse, '99 MBA, was named as one of the St. Louis Business Journal's 40 Under 40. He is the acting chief financial officer at Bethesda Health Group.
- Kelly Wagner, '05 BS, is the new President of the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce.
- Richard Wohlfarth, '95 MBA, has been named general manager of Anheuser-Busch's Houston brewery. He has been with the company for 22 years.
College of Arts & Sciences
January 2009 to Present
- *Veronica Armouti, '86 BS, '88 MS, has been named a recipient of the 2009 Woman of Distinction Award from the Alton YWCA. She will be recognized during a luncheon on May 28th.
- Peter Basola, '72 BM, '76 MM, has retired as vice president of enrollment from Lewis and Clark Community College after joining the college as a registrar in 1981.
- John Becker, '89 BS, '97 MA Sociology, is the executive director for Senior Services Plus in Alton.
- Kevin Bodden, '92 BS Physics, '95 MS Math, was nominated for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association 2009 Outstanding Faculty Member Award.
- Walter Chappas, '75 BA Math, was promoted to Chief Technology Officer of PetroBeam, Inc.
- Melissa Churchman, '00 BS, '01 MSW Social Work, is vice president of the Illinois Region of the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
- Claudie Droste, '82 BS Mass Comm, is the owner of Copycat Video in Alton.
- Dr. Andrew Dykeman, '90 BA Philosophy, was elected as second vice president of the Illinois Chiropractic Society. Dykeman is a local chiropractic physician with an office in East Alton and is the sole proprietor of Rosewood Chiropractic Clinic in the city.
- **Peggy Flach, '74 BA Speech Path, '77 MSED, received the Honors of the Association at the Southwestern Illinois Speech, Language and Hearing Association's 40th anniversary honors banquet. She is currently working as a speech pathologist for both Bethalto East and Trimpe schools.
- Christopher Flake, '08 BS, is now patrolling the streets of Highland, IL after completing work at the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy. While at the police academy, he was recognized by the Southern Illinois Police Chiefs Association as the overall outstanding recruit and served as class president. He previously worked for the Centreville Police Department.
- **Edward Geppert, Jr., 1969 BA Government, has been named to the Illinois Education Funding Advisory Board. Geppert is the president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
- Larry Gilbert, '96 MPA, was honored with the prestigious Olympian Leadership Award which is presented to someone who has made a significant contribution to law enforcement, public safety and the administration of justice. Gilbert is the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy Director and Administration of Justice Program Coordinator.
- Dennis G. Hall, '72 MS, was honored by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Hall is the vice provost for research and dean of the graduate school at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
- Jill Hardimon, '79 BA, '80 MS Speech Path, is principal at the Early Childhood Center.
- **Rich Haydon, '82 BM, '87 MM, is a guitarist with the group, Standard Time, which has released a new CD, "Eastern Central Pacific."
- Jack Humes Jr., '74 BA, '75 MS, has been named to the board of directors for YTB International Inc. Humes is a private practice lawyer with the Humes Law Office in Edwardsville.
- Andre Jackson, ''84 BS Mass Comm, is the new editorial editor at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
- Ric Johns, '81 BS Art, will be inducted into the Illinois Football Association Hall of Fame in April 2009 in Champaign. Johns, the head coach at Belleville West, guided Calhoun High to Class A state championships in 1992-93 and coach the warriors from 1981-96.
- Robert Johnson, '82 BS Mass Comm, won the Dr. Paul and Duddy Costello Memorial Award for Mixed Media during the 61st Annual Currier Museum of Art NHAA Juried Exhibition in Manchester, NH.
- Dee Joyner, '71 BA, '73 MS Government, was one of five recipients of a Coro Leadership Award from the Coro Leadership Center. Joyner is Senior Vice President of Commerce Bank, responsible for organizational development and community relations.
- Andrew Manar, '97 BS History, has been named the chief of staff for new Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, a democrat representing the 6th District in Chicago.
- Lori McAllister, '79 BS Sociology, completed her master of professional counseling at McKendree College in 2007 and received her license as a professional counselor in 2008. She is currently working as a family therapist for Catholic Social Services in Belleville, IL.
- Rob Moginot, '06 MA History, was named the Daughters of the American Revolution 2009 Outstanding Teacher of Illinois in HIstory. He is currently teaching at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton.
- Debra Pearson, '78 MS Speech Path, received the Distinguished Service award and was recognized by the Bethalto School Board. She currently works as a speech pathologist at Parkside Primary School.
- Laura Reed, '97 BS Poli Sci, has partnered with Jan Carpenter on a new venture, Cork Tree Creative. The new company will provide graphic design, e-marketing, public relations, writing services, advertising, global branding and internal corporate communications.
- Dr. Anna Smith, '00 BS Bio Science, '04 DMD, owns Dentistry with TLC which was the Small Business of the Year award recipient from the River Bend Growth Association.
- P. Dewayne Staats, '75 BA, was one of 10 people selected for the inaugural East Alton-Wood River High School Alumni Hall of Fame. Staats is the play-by-play television commentator for the MLB Tampa Bay Rays.
- Elizabeth Stroble, '80 MA History, '84 MA American & English Lit, has been named the next President of Webster University in St. Louis.
- George Strode, '01 BLS, is currently serving as Task Force Phoenix resource manager in Kabul Afghanistan.
- Melissa Weissert, '07 BS History, is a tour guide at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, IL.
- Bryan White, '03 MPA, is the new assistant city manager and budget director the city of Canandaigua, NY. White was one of 67 applicants for the position, and had served as the confidential assistant to the city manager of Watertown, NY, since 2004.
- Charles Willett, '83 BM, '84 MM, took part in presidential inauguration activities in January. The Alton native is a master gunnery sergeant and clarinetist with the United States Marine Band, which participated in the inaugural parade for President Barack Obama. As a 20-year Marine Band veteran, Willette has participated in both parades and ceremonial festivities at five previous presidential inaugurations.
School of Dental Medicine
January 2009 to Present
- Dr. Anna Smith, '00 BS Bio Science, '04 DMD, owns Dentistry with TLC which was the Small Business of the Year award recipient from the River Bend Growth Association.
- Dr. Patricia Nihill, '82 DMD, is teaching at the University Kentucky College of Dentistry in Lexington. She is Division Director of Comprehensive Care.
School of Education
January 2009 to Present
- Chad Allison, '97 MSED, was selected as the new superintendent of the Dixon School District.
- State Rep. Daniel Beiser, '78 BS, '86 MSED, was named by Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan to head the newly named Transportation, Regulation, Roads and Bridges Committee.
- Mark Bugger, '02 BS, was one of five individuals selected to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame. The two-time All-America player led the Cougars to the 2001 D-II College World Series and compiled a school-record of 110 hits, while batting .409 with 70 RBIs and seven home runs.
- Theresa Burke, '85 BA Gov, was appointed associate circuit judge of the 22nd Judicial Circuit. She is the municipal judge for the City of St. Louis.
- **Mark Cappel, '81 MSED, '93 EDSP, is a newly elected member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis Southwest Illinois Division.
- Shane Callahan, '99 BS, '01 MSED, is the coordinator and instructor of the exercise science program at Lewis and Clark Community College.
- JoAnne Curvey, '84 BS, '04 MSED, '08 EDSP, received the "Heart of the School" Award for East Elementary. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- **Peggy Flach, '74 BA Speech Path, '77 MSED, received the Honors of the Association at the Southwestern Illinois Speech, Language and Hearing Association's 40th anniversary honors banquet. She is currently working as a speech pathologist for both Bethalto East and Trimpe schools.
- Valorie Harris, '93 MSED, received the "Administrator of the Year Award" from the Illinois Adult and Continuing Education Association. She is the Director of Adult Education at Lewis and Clark Community College.
- Christine Head, '73 BS, received the Teacher of the Year Award during the 22nd Annual Silver Medallion Academic Excellence Awards banquet. Head is the chair of the English Department at Edwarsville High School.
- Cynthia Inman, '93 BS, '98 MSED, '07 EDSP, received the "Heart of the School" Award for the District at Large. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- Latasha Leflore-Porter, '05 MSED, received the "Heart of the School" Award for Alton Middle School. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- **George Michael Martz, '76 BS, is the Director of eBusiness Operations for W.W.Grainger, Inc. in Lake Forest, IL.
- Jeff Ochs, '88 BS, '08 MSED, and Kristie McKinney, '90 BS, '97 MSED, has started a Get Fit Club at Trimpe Middle School in Bethalto. The 10-week program involves meeting three time a week during school hours. The schedule includes a lesson, a workout and a workout challenge.
- *Dr. Marcia Popp, '77 MS, '80 EdD, received the 2008 Robert Green Cohn Prose Poetry Award for the poem, "comfort in small rooms," presented by the California Institute of Arts and Letters. The collection from which the poem was drawn was published in March 2009 by Black Zinnias Press.
- George Patrylak, '97 BS, was named Coach of the Year for Boys Cross Country. He helped Edwarsville High School win the Southwestern Conference championship, grab the Granite City Class 3A Regional title and finish first in the Normal West Class 3A Sectional.
- Kathleen Pfeifer, '81 BS, is the new principal at Wyland Elementary School in St. Louis.
- Andrea Scott, '93 BS, and David Dipazo were joined in marriage May 2, 2009, at Community Christian Church. The couple, who honeymooned in the Bahamas, resides in Alton.
- Joe Silkwood, '87 BS, '97 MPA, was named the new head baseball coach at Marquette Catholic High School.
- Jennifer Weller, '01 BS, '06 MSED, received the "Heart of the School" Award for Alton High School. The award is presented to employees, volunteers and parents of the Alton School District who go the extra mile in providing services to students.
- Dr. Andrew White, '62 BS, '85 MSED, '00 DED, was nominated to have his biography included in the 2008 edition of "Madison Who's Who of Executives and Professionals." Dr. White is an assistant professor of mathematics at Eastern Illinois University.
School of Engineering
January 2009 to Present
Click here to view notes from School of Engineering alumni from January to December 2008.
School of Nursing
January 2009 to Present
- Donna Meyer, '78 BS, has been named a recipient of the 2009 Woman of Distinction Award from the Alton YWCA. She will be recognized during a luncheon on May 28th.
- Dr. Rita Nutt, '97 BS, was awarded her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a Post-Masters Certificate in Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions from the University of Maryland Baltimore at their commencement ceremony in May. Rita was awarded the Sigma Theta Tau Pi Chapter DNP Research Award for having the most outstanding research project. She will continue to work as tenure-track faculty at Salisbury University.
Click here to view notes from School of Nursing alumni from January to December 2008.
* Indicates that the alumnus is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association.
** Indicates that the alumnus is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association.
