Class of 1996
October 2004
Howdy Classmates!
I hope this letter finds you all well! At least better off than me at this point―here I sit, recovering from a broken foot! Last Sunday, after we’d just finished enjoying a Pizza Hut Pepperoni Lover’s Pizza, I went outside to take the trash out. The can was rather full, we’d had a busy week with Grace’s 5th birthday and all. There was a brick resting on top to keep the lid down and I moved the brick off, and tried to stuff my pizza box in. It wasn’t working! So I decided to jump on in with the trash to smoosh it down! It worked, and when I was finished, I jumped out of the garbage can and landed on the brick. Ugh! The upside was that we were able to enjoy the rest of the game in peace and quiet at the ER – no kids!! The downside is that I’m supposed to stay off my foot for three whole weeks! So far it’s been three days, and I’m going crazy!!!
But I’m trying to use my time wisely… In fact this class letter isn’t due for almost two weeks, and here I am, writing away!
In case you would like to skip ahead, let me give you an outline of this letter―there are class Tidbits―newsworthy items about classmates, GAC-Ads―a place for classmates to get their name out there, Babies, and Weddings. At the end of the letter, I will close with a plea for cash!
Tidbits
Kevin Bastyr just finished his Ph.D. in acoustics at Penn State and moved to the Boston area.
Kim Baudy will be moving to Chicago in January and would like to contact Gusties in the area. Her e-mail address is kcbaudy@aol.com.
Katie Beilfuss Wall recently moved to Greeley, Colorado.
Greg Crenshaw is doing his family practice residency at the University Mississippi.
Jennifer Elmer is currently working as a critical care nursing education specialist at the Mayo Clinic. She recently received certification as a Critical Care Nurse Specialist.
Janna Tuorila Hepper, vice president, recently joined John B. Collins Associates―one of the largest reinsurance intermediaries in the world.
In his three seasons as head coach of the South Dakota State University women’s basketball team, Aaron Johnston has a record of 93-29 (.762 winning percentage), and ranks 3rd on the career victories list at SDSU.
Stacy Klein graduated in May from the Humphrey Institute of Public affairs―a public policy graduate school.
Rebecca Konrad is working in Washington, DC for the International Finance Corporation as a consultant.
Jason Kuerschner is working at Citizens Bank in Norwood-Young America.
Melissa McCarthy Appelhof is a Spanish teacher at St. Anthony High School.
Libby Mensing Esterle just started a new position as the marketing and communications manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Southern Ohio Chapter in Cincinnati.
Jen Olufson Tarara has retired from elementary education to be a stay-at-home mom.
Christopher Oppitz graduated with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine.
Chad Peterson is the associate director of marketing at the INTIMAN Theatre in Seattle, WA.
Tammy Rademacher was named the Kettle Moraine Press Association’s newspaper advisor of the year for 2003.
Keith Schroeder is currently in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft electrician.
Kristin Roberts Shields has directed the Monticello-Big Lake Nursing Home bell choir for over two years and was featured in the Monticello Times.
Andrea Solomon is the special events manager at the YWCA of Seattle, and is attending the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.
Melissa Stevens became Dr. Melissa Stevens in May of 2004 when she graduated with her doctorate in physical therapy from Washington University in St Louis. She is now working as a physical therapist in Chicago, IL.
Since graduation, Pang (Vang) Xiong married, had three sons and completed a master's in education―and now teaches for the St. Paul schools.
GAC-Ads
Steve Berg – Vice President/Branch Manager, Voyager Bank Eden Prairie, MN
952-345-7600 (theberghouse@frontiernet.net)
John Bower – Vice President, Express Personnel Services, Edina, MN
952-915-2018 (john.bower1@expresspersonnel.com)
Ryan Elton – Chiropractor, The Brost Clinic, Wayzata, MN
952-473-9637
Jennifer Krempin – freelance writing/editing (corporate communications, features, family histories) and “Excellent Handwriting for Hire” (invitations, place cards, etc.)
612-209-2444 (jkrempin@earthlink.net)
Dana Peterson Nordberg – Web and Sheet fed printing, John Robert Company
Kristen Paap Genet – Biology Professor, Anoka Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN 762-422-3489 (ksgenet@comcast.net)
Michelle Randall Ament – Director, The Pampered Chef, Rosemount, MN
651-423-3183 (mbament@ament.net) or (www.papmeredchef.biz/michelleament)
Kristen Richardson Wilcox – Corporate and Estate Planning Attorney, Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, Minneapolis, MN 612-672-8386 (Kristen.Wilcox@maslon.com)
Toriano Sanzone – Lead Trainer for D.O.P.A (a full service dog training company)- Chicago, IL 773-486-BARK (toriano@dopadogs.com)
Ben Schaefer – Financial Advisor, Wealth Enhancement Group, Wayzata MN
952-249-5827 (bschaefer@wealthenhancement.com)
Jeremy Seldon - Residential Mortgage Lending Manager/Loan Officer, TCF Mortgage, Minneapolis, MN 612-661-7351 (jseldon@tcfbank.com)
Heather Sharp – Senior Operations Manager, Budget Truck Rental, Denver, CO
800-287-6620, ext 5542
Vance Vinar, Jr – Cable Connection & Supply, Faribault, MN
507-334-0000 (www.opstuff.com ) or (www.cableconnectionsupply.com)
Babies
Mason David, to Melissa (Hallberg) and David Windschitl, May 31, 2003
Trevor Alan, to Mark and Wendy Haglin, June 16, 2003
Keynen Jae, to Katie (Beilfuss) and Keynen Wall, October 6, 2003
Ellie, to Jennifer (Knoebel) and John Messerschmidt, October 13, 2003
Nancy, to Matt Brown and Joy Falkenberg, November 1, 2003
Jacob Benjamin, to Jen (Olufson) and Drew Tarara, November 23, 2003
Tyler Robert, to Jill (Mehrkens) and Ryan ’95 Haddorff, February 25, 2004 (this makes 4!!)
Samuel Parker Vogt, to Allie (Vogt) and Justin Newman, born March 1, 2004 in South Korea, arrived July 19, 2004
Kate Elizabeth, to Nancy (Peterson) and Jeff ’98 Wilhelmi, March 5, 2004
Patrick Vincent, to Shean and Laura (Bresnahan) McManus, April 12, 2004
Audrey Nicole, to Todd and Laura Mayer, May 1, 2004
Carson Nathaniel, to Katherine (Scott) and Nate Koch, May 10, 2004
Adalae Brady Lewis, to Kayan Lewis and Marc Simpao, June 7, 2004
Ellie Nicole, to Kim (Lacher) and Jason Rauk, July 19, 2004
Forrest, to Ryan and Denise (Willey) Johnson, August 24, 2004
Bodee, to Dana and Brenna Wojtowicz
Weddings
Michael Hanzel to Gabriela, March 27, 2004
Amy Barker to Tim Armato ’97, May 29, 2004
Kristin Smith to John Stern, June 12, 2004
Brian Olson to Erin Asleson, June 26, 2004
Bryan Schmeling to Kathleen Kenny, July 11, 2004
Kim Baudy to ??, November 20, 2004
Here it is – the plea for cash…
Trust me, I know for many it is hard to spare the cash. Or maybe you are just too busy to sit down and send a check. But there are those among us who are doing more than their part―can you believe we have classmates giving in excess of $1,000?! Of course, we can’t all be that generous, but we can try to do our part. By sending $5, you will be counted as a participant in the Alumni Fund. Participation is one of the keys to success! Last year our class of 510 people had 170 givers―that’s about 33%. The goal is to have 50%―this would mean that we would need an additional 85 givers. Your donations are vital to the future growth of Gustavus. Bob the Builder says―"Can we Build it?!" And I say, yes we can!!! Give what you can and be counted as a participant!
Go Gusties!
Michele Goodwin Dahlen
1996 Co-Class Agent
Shawn Mayfield
1996 Co-Class Agent
Allie Vogt Newman
1996 Co-Class Agent
P. S. Now the Alumni Office add some campus news here:
143rd Academic Year Begins
Classes began Sept. 8 with 657 first-year Gustavus students and 2,500 in all. Long-standing orientation traditions such as the Square Dance and President’s Banquet have been joined by newer traditions like Gustie Greeter Orientation Groups and the Reading in Common program. These newer programs were created to provide a more meaningful transition and to encourage students to meet others outside their residence hall.
The 40th Anniversary of the Nobel Conference was on the Science of Aging. The campus hosted over 6,000 guests October 5-6 to learn about the research molecular biologist are conducting on longevity, Alzheimer’s, and delaying debilitating disease and how this impacts life expectancy, the economy, and the health-care system.
New Residence Hall
Work crews have been busy this summer and fall constructing
a new residence hall on campus. The
goal is to have the building enclosed before winter. The building, located southwest of the football field, will house
200 students in suites and apartments and is scheduled to open for fall 2005.
Looking for a dentist, doctor, lawyer, pastor, realtor, and
much more? Make it a Gustie! The Gustie Pages is an online database of
Gusties who have submitted information about their profession. Use the Gustavus network to meet your needs
or submit your professional information if you would like other Gusties to be
your customers.
Athletics Hall of
Fame
The Gustavus Adolphus College Athletics Department has chosen eight individuals for induction into its Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2004 inductees include Lori Allen ’88 (golf), Jim Chalin ’76 (basketball), Bruce Edwards ’77 (ice hockey), Barb Jaeger ’88 (soccer), Dean Kraus ’89 (football), Pachi Lopez ’71 (soccer), Greg Peterson ’88 (golf), and Gary Reinholtz (long-time athletic trainer, benefactor). This group will be honored at the Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, which will be held in Alumni Hall at 7:30 pm on Saturday, October 16.
Extraordinary Place
Gustavus is once again ranked among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation in U.S. News and World Report's annual college rankings. Gustavus is one of five Minnesota colleges in the top 100 national liberal arts colleges for overall quality (Carleton, Macalester, St. Olaf, Gustavus, St. John’s). The ranking groups schools into categories based on a national educational classification that includes national liberal arts colleges, national doctoral universities (University of Minnesota, St. Thomas), regional master's degree-granting universities (Hamline, St. Catherine’s, Bethel, Augsburg), and comprehensive regional colleges (Concordia-St Paul).
35 Years of Gustavus Tennis – October 8-10
Athletics Hall of Fame Induction – October 16
Charlotte Area Gustavus Gathering – October 30
Christmas in Christ Chapel: “Seasons of Promise” – December 3-5
St. Lucia Festival – December 9
Class of 1954 and 50 Year Club Reunion – May 27-28
Class Reunions for 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 – October 7-9, 2005