Mennonite Conference.
1990-99
Valerie Ann Merfa ’90, of Vienna, Va., is serving with MCC. She is sponsored by Vienna Presbyterian Church, where she is a member. Valerie serves at the Community Child Care Centre, operated by Khanyisile, an HIV/AIDS program in a township outside Johannesburg, South Africa. Her chief joy is sharing God’s love. “I tell the children in the Sotho or in the Zulu language that God loves them, that God is always with them and they are never alone.” Gaye Spivey ’91, Reidsville, N.C., became a certified pharmacy technician (CPht) in October 2009. After working for Walmart as a CPht, Gaye moved to being a certified pharmacy technician/customer service representative with Carolina Apothecary, which owns numerous pharmacies in the Reidsville area. Gayl Friesen ’92 Brunk, Singers Glen, Va., was appointed vice chair of the 2010-11 Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Valley Region Committee on Apr. 15. Gayl has been a member of the board since 2008. She is secretary of the three-person committee, which meets twice yearly. The committee’s responsibilities include providing counsel to the VSBA regarding policy issues specific to 16 Valley school divisions, including Rockingham County and Harrisonburg. Missy Kauffman Schrock ’92 became director of development at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., on June 16, 2009. Kara Hartzler ’94, Oracle, Ariz., is an attorney at Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project in Arizona. Kara has testified before the Arizona House Judiciary subcommittee. In her work, Kara has talked with thousands of people who are in the process of being deported. She provided a glimpse into her ministry by telling stories to the subcommittee of her interaction with her clients. The Florence Project is a nonprofit organization providing free legal services for persons in Arizona who are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. M. Trevor Parmer ’94, Harrisonburg, Va., has been promoted by BB&T Bank to vice president. Parmer, who joined the bank in 1996, is a client executive in BB&T’s employee benefits department. In addition to his duties with BB&T, Parmer is a coach in the academy program of the Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Association. He also enjoys racing sports cars. Ryan Kauffman ’98, Lancaster, Pa., is a saxophonist and private teacher in central and eastern Pennsylvania. He leads his own jazz trio and quartet and has performed throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including appearances at Bethlehem Musikfest, Central Pennsylvania
Friends of Jazz, Lancaster Jazz Festival and Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival. He has had the privilege of performing with Dave Liebman, Steve Giordano, Ron Thomas, Tim Warfield, Steve Wilson, Peter Paulsen, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and the Manhattan Saxophone Ensemble. Ryan also doubles on the flute and clarinet, and plays for various regional and Philadelphia area theaters. He teaches at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, Darlington Arts Center, and Westtown School. He has also taught saxophone at West Chester University. Ryan holds music degrees from EMU and West Chester University, where he earned his master’s degree studying with Gunnar Mossblad, a saxophonist, composer/arranger, and educator in both the European classical and American jazz idioms. Karla Stoltzfus Detweiler ’99, Coralville, Iowa, was ordained for ministry at First Mennonite Church, Iowa City, Apr. 18. Karla is a daughter of Omar ’71 and Catherine Ramer Stoltzfus ’71 of Luray, Va. Thomas (Tom) ’99 and his spouse, Candice Rhodes ’00 Mast, previously of Greenwood, Del., are currently serving in Thailand under Rosedale Mennonite Missions, Irwin, Ohio. The April issue of Brotherhood Beacon carried a feature article by Tom and Candice, “Living with Unseen Neighbors.” The Masts wrote that “Thailand is a Buddhist country, but animism, or the belief in spirits, plays an important part in the folk Buddhism that many Thais practice today.” They described interviews with two Thai men, Piak and Pon, who have become Christians, and the impact this has had on their daily lives.
2000-09
Alan T. Hostetler ’01, Charlottesville, Va., a certified public accountant, is an auditor with Thomas C. Stott, CPA, PC, in Charlottesville. He was one of five young professionals recognized by the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) at its annual meeting on May 14 through their new award, “Top 5, Under 35.” Alan is president of the VSCPA Thomas Jefferson Chapter. He began his first term on the board of his local chapter in 2006. Alan has nine years of experience in nonprofit auditing and informational return reporting and was selected as a Virginia Business Super CPA in both 2006 and 2007. Naomi Epp (MA ’02) Engle, associate pastor of West Clinton Mennonite Church (WCMC), Wauseon, Ohio, was the featured speaker at the Spring Day of Inspiration, sponsored by Ohio Mennonite Women, April 10, at Kidron Mennonite Church. Naomi and her husband, Jesse (Jess) Engle, MDiv ’02, co-pastor WCMC. Sarah Pharis ’02, Staunton, Va., was the focus of the “We HEART Sarah” fundraising concert April 18, which
Terry Koppenhaver ’69 in a yearbook photo from his era
Three Enter Hall of Honor
This fall, three Eastern Mennonite University alumni will be inducted into the EMU Athletics Hall of Honor. Ryan Brenneman ’00, Kirsten (Brubaker) Fuhr ’99, and Terry Koppenhaver ’69 (deceased) will bring the Hall of Honor membership to 81 studentathletes and coach/administrators. Brenneman played on some of the best men’s soccer teams EMU has put on the pitch, as he played in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship match all four years. His 1996 and 1998 squads won the only ODAC titles EMU owns for men’s soccer. A high-flying scorer, Brenneman was named All-ODAC First Team in 1997 and 1999 while taking Second Team honors in 1998. He also earned regional All-America status as a junior and senior. Brenneman graduated third on EMU’s career scoring list for points (92) and goals (37). He is also sixth in career assists (18). Fuhr was also a constant force during some of the most dominant years in her sport, field hockey. As a midfielder and defender, she never lost more than two games in a season and compiled a record of 83-7 from 1995-98. She won four ODAC titles and is already in the EMU Hall of Honor as part of the 1995 field hockey team, which took third place in the NCAA Tournament. Fuhr was named AllODAC First Team her final three seasons, as well as ODAC Player of the Year, First Team All-South Region and First Team All-America as a senior. Koppenhaver played only two seasons of soccer, but still graduated second in points (51), goals (21) and assists (9). He was named to the Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Association All-State Team in 1967 and then Team MVP and All-South in 1968. Eastern Mennonite’s coaches also unanimously voted Koppenhaver as their Outstanding Athlete after his junior season. More than 40 years after his graduation, Koppenhaver, who learned to play soccer as a missionary child in Argentina, is still 11th all-time in career goals and 12th in points. The trio will be awarded plaques as the Class of 2010 at an induction breakfast on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming Weekend. — James De Boer www.emu.edu | crossroads | 23