Lakeland Magazine - Lakeland College

Lakeland Magazine Articles

Alma Matters

Magazine - posted on 8/28/2011

1960
Donna Dittmer Wilson was selected by the In-Kentucky Conference of the UCC as one of three honored laywoman of leadership and service in the local church, the association and the community. She is a member of Pleasant Run UCC in Indianapolis, Ind.

1966
Rick Goshgarian, of Waukesha, is currently working part-time at the Waukesha Freeman newspaper. Goshgarian is responsible for promoting the newspapers in the school program.

1967
James Mohr, of Neillsville, recently retired after 40 years in the ministry and over 10 years as pastor at Neillsville UCC.

1969
The art of Pamela (Steudel) Pigg, of Fresno, Calif., and family members will be included in an exhibition, "Generating Art: The Streudel Family," at the Plymouth Art Gallery from August 19-September 17. The show will feature the work of Pigg's father, Ted R. Steudel, along with the pastels of her sister, Andrea (Steudel Fenner) '68, the oils, acrylics and charcoal paintings of Edie (Steudel) Cohn, Pigg's own award-winning paintings and photography, and the work of several nieces and nephews, thus representing three generations of artists in her family.

1971
Lawrence Balleine, of Monticello, Wis., is the author of a new book, "Road to Renewal: A Lenten Journey Down U.S. 41." The book takes its reader on a spiritual pilgrimage from the Lake Superior shoreline in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to the Atlantic Ocean coast in Miami Beach, Fla. It is available through Amazon.com or from the publisher at www.parsonsporchbooks.com.

1978
Becky Bakalyar, of Hebron, Ind., recently started a new career specializing in care, cleaning, companionship and short-term projects.
Mark Barczak, of Ingleside, Ill., is retiring in August. He has planned a safari in West Africa, followed by shark fishing off the coast of Australia.

1983
Andrew Smith, of Neenah, Wis., was ordained to the priesthood of the United Independent Catholic Church in May. Smith is a pastor of SS Cyril and Methodius Parish, UICC, Neenah.

1985
Jean Born has been named the district administrator for the School District of Sheboygan Falls.

1988
David Marcum, of McFarland, Wis., who retired after serving 27 years with the military, is working as procurement supervisor for the State of Wisconsin.

1991
George Kippenhan, of Racine, Wis., is currently a senior tax associate at Hawkins, Ash, Baptie & Co. of Marshfield.

1995
Pete Rasmussen, of Onalaska, Wis., has been named program director at Consumer Credit Counseling Services of La Crosse.
Tamara Sleger, of Rockford Ill., gave birth to a daughter, Trinity Shorter, on Jan. 16, 2011 and she graduated from Aurora University with a master of social work in May.

1996
Martins Bondars, of Riga, Latvia, received his master's degree from Harvard University in May. Bondars was awarded concurrent degrees from Harvard University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, including the Edward S. Mason Masters in Public Administration. Bondars currently operates an international consulting firm in Latvia. He has previously served as president of a large Latvian bank and was chancellor of Latvia for several years.
2000
Matthew Alegi, of North Bethesda, Md, was recently promoted to shareholder in the law firm of Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A. of Potomac. Alegi is chair of the firm's Residential Real Estate Practice Group.

2001
Matthew Henriksen's first book of poems, "Ordinary Sun," was released in February 2011 from Black Ocean. The book received a starred review in May 2011 from "Publishers Weekly" and has appeared on various bestseller lists. Henrickson teaches composition, literature and creative writing at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and at Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Chris Thielman, of Woodruff, Wis., was recently promoted to national sales manager for Fishing Hot Spots, Inc., which publishes nationwide print and digital waterway information. Within the last year, Chris and his wife, Kelly (Bonde) Thielman '01, welcomed their second child, Lauren Caroline Thielman.

2006
Lee Sparks `06 and Erin Helbing '07, of Kalamazoo, Mich., are engaged. They are planning an August wedding. Sparks works for USG (United States Gypsum, Co.), and Helbing is a sales executive with the Kalamazoo Gazette and MLive.com.

2007
Renee Davis MBA '09 married Charles R. Kehr, on May 14, 2011, in Panama City, Fla. She is the chief information officer for Life Management Center in Panama City, Fla. The wedding party included current Lakeland student Adam Wenzler.
Eric Royal of Berkley, Mich., is college success advisor with the Ferndale School District. He serves as an advisor/mentor for inner-city college students.
Camile Solberg, of New London, Wis., was recently appointed to the State Council on Alcohol and other Drug Abuse by Governor Scott Walker. Previously, Solberg was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Commissioner on the Federal Drug Free Communities Commission in Washington, D.C.

2008
Tara LaCrosse, of Kewaunee, Wis., and her husband, James, celebrated the birth of twins: daughter, Leah McKenzie, and son, Jackson David, in February.
Corey Petzold, of West Bend, married Kara Wagner on June 17 in Sheboygan Falls. Sam Schroeder '08 served as best man. Guests included Allison Weiss '08 and Lakeland faculty member Martin Ulrich.

2009
Katie Barribeau, of Green Bay, is engaged to Adam Stark. The couple is planning an August 2011 wedding.
Lori (Sass) Kaufman is leaving the advancement office at Lakeland for a position as development director at The Einstein Project in Green Bay.
Lee Anne Xiong, of Woodbury, Minn., has been accepted into St. Mary's University of Minnesota's doctorate of education program.

2010
Elisabeth Daniels, of Plymouth, will be attending James Madison University School of Music this fall to pursue a master's degree in piano performance.

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