The Tartan
EDITOR
Tim Rath
DESIGNER
Cody Marecek
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Dan Gaken
Steve Jessmore
Jason Willis
Michigan State University
Grand Valley State University
Ferris State University
CONTRIBUTORS
Joseph L. Odenwald
PRINTER
McKay Press
The Tartan is published two times yearly by: Alma College Communication and Marketing Office 317 Grant Ave. Alma, MI 48801-1599 alma.edu plaid@alma.edu
ALMA COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS 2025-26
Erika K. Powers Appelt ’91, Chair
David A. Devine ’90, Vice Chair
Rachelle Jacques ’93, Secretary
ALMA COLLEGE ALUMNI BOARD OFFICERS 2025-26
Amy Pratt ’04, President
Sammy Bohy ’13, Vice President
Robyn Carr ’04, Secretary
T.J. Miller ’17, Membership Chair
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE alma.edu/tartan
OUR MISSION
Alma College’s mission is to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations.
ON THE COVER
MJ (Mark) Kraft-Strong ’08 started what is now one of Michigan’s fastestgrowing tour and travel companies in his Alma College dorm room.
First-Year Guide Jaelyn Lance-Trout, front, is pictured leading a group of students at Becoming a Scot Days in July.
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Features A Global Path, Rooted in Purpose
Jessica Karbowski Weare ’04 uses her Alma education to benefit others — locally and across the world.
Winning Starts Here
This is how Alma College helped write the playbook for four successful coaches: Tony Annese ’83, Tia BrandelWilhelm ’90, Jake Boss ’93 and Jeff Hosler ’02.
Driving Forward
For MJ (Mark) Kraft-Strong ’08, running one of Michigan’s fastest-growing tour and travel companies is about more than simply getting people from one place to another.
Science and Service
Heidi Michael ’17, DO, and Alexander Hall ’17, DO, are doctors in Detroit, partners in life and profession, and advocates for the kind of deeply human medicine they began learning long before medical school.
Game On!
Alma College is poised to take its athletic programs to the next level with the construction of the Andrus Family Field House.
Piecing Together Student Success
Associate Professor of IPHS Brianna Harfmann ’11 approaches teaching, advising and service in a similar way to doing jigsaw puzzles.
Weaving a new chapter — together
Dear Scots,
Greetings from Scotland, USA! I’m Dr. Joe Odenwald, and it’s the honor of a lifetime to introduce myself as the 14th president of Alma College. I’m eager to meet you, learn your stories, and work alongside you to grow this vibrant community — together, within our bounds.
Like Alma College’s signature registered tartan, my first days here have been woven into a tapestry of reflections. So many unique, colorful threads have emerged. I’ve met with staff and faculty who work tirelessly to sustain and advance the mission we all hold so dear; alumni who realize how this institution helped them reach their fullest potential and seek to inspire that same devotion in others; and students whose effort and ingenuity inspire us all, every day, year after year. I have purchased my first kilt and fallen in love with the sound of bagpipes, performed brilliantly by the Kiltie Marching Band. My son, Joseph, has caught passes from Scots football players, and my wife, Laura, has hosted guests at the beautiful Tracy House. We’ve enjoyed Highland chicken for the first time (delicious!) and taste-tested the best pizza places in town (Pizza Sam vs. Pizza One). I’ve attended commencement at the Hogan Center, spoken with students in the Dow Science Center about the ways their education is changing their lives, and found reflection and community in services at the Thomas Andison Chapel. At the core of every thread are the people who make up this wonderful community. I’m looking forward to so much: my first day of classes, my first Homecoming and the first time I meet you. What a pleasure it’s been already to learn about what this place means to you. Please feel free to contact me and tell me so — or tell a prospective student you know. In our day and age, impressing upon our youth the value of higher education is so important, for so many reasons.
Erika Powers Appelt ’91, chair of the Board of Trustees, pointed out in the last edition of The Tartan that Alma College has had only 14 presidents in its nearly-140-year history. That statistic underscores how meaningful a leadership transition is at Alma. I’m a bit of a history buff and Alma’s deep, rich past makes it stand out in any context. It provides us with a stable foundation
of vision and values as we step boldly into a future that so greatly needs Alma students. We have always thought critically, served generously, led purposefully and lived responsibly. We will continue to do so as we write this new chapter of our history, together.
As we move forward, however, I’m excited to take a look back — at a few examples of some alumni achievement that are truly inspiring. The Scots featured in this issue stand out both for their love of this institution and for the great places their Alma educations have taken them:
Heidi Michael ’17, DO, and Alexander Hall ’17, DO, a couple who met at Alma College and are working as doctors in Detroit;
Jessica Karbowski Weare ’04, an attorney who has dedicated her professional life to public service;
Tony Annese ’83, Tia Brandel-Wilhelm ’90, Jake Boss ’93 and Jeff Hosler ’02; a group of former student-athletes who have gone on to lead others in the field of coaching;
• Mark Kraft-Strong ’08, who founded what is now one of Michigan’s fastest-growing companies in his Alma College residence hall room;
• Brianna Harfmann ’11, an alum who leads Alma College students today as an excellent member of our IPHS faculty.
These and many other alumni are profiled in this issue of The Tartan. Their success is an excellent reminder that the world continues to need Alma College graduates as we confront the issues of today while finding a deep sense of meaning and purpose within ourselves. In all of these stories is a common thread: They didn’t get to where they are by themselves. They had help from our wonderful community of Scots.
That is the way we move forward; through collaboration, with a steady focus on our mission. Stay tuned this year for opportunities to meet, partner and contribute to our goal of sustaining Alma College for many generations to come — in order to produce more exemplary Alma College Scots.
Go Scots!
— Joe
A global path, rooted in purpose
The Alma College education and subsequent career of Jessica Karbowski Weare has taken her all over the world; as a member of the Scots’ Model UN team and a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, and later as an attorney-adviser with the U.S. Department of State.
Since 2021, however, Weare has worked on behalf of residents of her home state of Michigan. She’s served as deputy legal counsel to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, acting commissioner of the Michigan Lottery, chief operating officer and chief legal counsel of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, and currently is the general counsel at Grand Valley State University.
“It’s been really meaningful to do work impacting the state that I love and the people that I grew up with,” said Weare, a member of the Class of 2004 and native of Freeland, Mich.
Jessica Karbowski Weare ’04 uses her Alma education to benefit others
— locally and across the world
“When I was a college student, I imagined doing the kind of work that would appear on the front page of The New York Times. But now that I am further along in my career and have had these types of high profile opportunities, I made a conscious decision to move back. Michigan is a beautiful and fascinating place, with plenty of opportunity for meaningful, fulfilling work that feels very concrete and impactful.”
Weare is not kidding about making headlines in the world’s largest local newspaper. She spent nearly a decade as an attorney-adviser at the U.S. Department of State, where she worked on a range of issues, including implementation of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran nuclear deal.
Above: Jessica Karbowski Weare ’04 works as general counsel at Grand Valley State University, helping to solve the issues facing higher education today.
Among her other responsibilities were advising on issues associated with cross-border data-sharing for law enforcement purposes, handling corruption-related legal issues, international claims and investment disputes, and advising the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific affairs.
Weare admitted that growing up, she always wanted to be an attorney but didn’t really understand what that meant. It wasn’t until going to Alma College and meeting professor Derick “Sandy” Hulme that her global ambitions really began to take shape. Because of courses like International Law, she began to understand the critical role that the United States plays in the international community and how she could be part of it.
“From Hulme, she also received the guidance needed to apply and interview for two life-changing opportunities; the Fulbright and Truman scholarships. Those scholarships would be the bridge Weare needed to move from Alma to her next steps.
“The Truman Scholarship, in particular, was critical to my development. It made me more confident when I started at Yale Law School, made law school more affordable, and introduced me to people in my Truman class that were doing incredible things all over the world — people I keep in touch with to this day. I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Hulme for his mentorship in helping me apply for the Truman,” Weare said.
As a college student, I needed someone like Dr. Sandy Hulme, at Alma College, who would tell me, ‘This is an opportunity for you. Here’s how to take advantage of it.’ I also needed someone to tell me, ‘You need to improve in these areas if you’re going to live up to your fullest potential.’ That combination of guidance and mentorship was life-changing for me, and
it’s just one reason I’m proud to be a Scot.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a general sense of upheaval, which for so many led to questions about what really mattered in life. For Weare, that meant taking a long look back at her home state, where Governor Gretchen Whitmer was leading efforts to manage the pandemic-related public health crisis.
Weare left a dream job in order to come back home, but she has no regrets. She enjoyed serving as Whitmer’s legal counsel, where she worked on issues ranging from emergency response to civil rights, and as acting commissioner of the Michigan Lottery, which contributed more than $1.3 billion to the Michigan School Aid Fund during Weare’s tenure.
Her most recent position, as general counsel of Grand Valley State University, offers opportunities to problem-solve in a variety of contexts.
“Once upon a time, I practiced public international law and was an expert in narrow areas like Iran sanctions. Now, I’m responsible for providing a broad range of legal advice and managing legal risk for a complex organization that does many things. Now more than ever, higher education is facing a range of legal challenges, and it has been incredibly rewarding to support and contribute to the meaningful work that Grand Valley is doing.
“I also feel that Grand Valley shares a lot of important qualities with Alma. It’s got a personal touch that I would consider rare and very, very beneficial to those students who experience it. I’m grateful to be able to say that I went to Alma, for sure.”
Formerly the acting commissioner of the Michigan Lottery, Weare is pictured distributing an award in 2023.
How Alma College shaped the foundations of successful college coaches
POP QUIZ
What do the football and volleyball teams at Ferris State University, and the baseball and women’s soccer teams at Michigan State University, all have in common?
There are two answers: They have all had enormous success in their respective divisions over the past several years. And their head coaches are all former Alma College Scots.
Tony Annese ’83, Tia Brandel-Wilhelm ’90, Jake Boss ’93 and Jeff Hosler ’02 all attribute their success in part to the close relationships they built during their time on the field or court and in the classroom at Alma. More often than not, they added, those relationships endured well past the time of their graduation, and continue to benefit their lives to this day.
“I played for a national championship in Texas and eight of my former teammates were in the crowd. There’s a group text with 15 more of them on there. I mean, I graduated more than 40 years ago. It’s remarkable how close we’ve remained this whole time,” Annese said.
“That solid foundation has helped me time and time again, on and off the field. It’s always been something I can rely on when times are tough, and it’s why I’m never going to forget Alma.”
Collectively, their accolades are staggering. Annese’s Bulldogs have won three NCAA Division II football championships. BrandelWilhelm, who has led Ferris State volleyball since 1996, has won more than 750 games as a coach and guided the Bulldogs to 18 NCAA Division II national tournament appearances.
Jake Boss ’93 has been one of the most successful coaches in the 130-year history of Michigan State University baseball.
Tony Annese ’83 has led the Ferris State University football team to three NCAA Division II championships.
Boss has been one of the most successful coaches in the 130-year history of Michigan State baseball, with 440 wins over a 16-year span. Hosler has led the Spartans’ women’s soccer team since 2021 and has already won two Big Ten championships in that time.
“One of the traits that we all share, coming from an NCAA Division III school like Alma, is that we’ve worked our way up. I’ve served a number of different positions outside of head coach, and that has made me a better coach today,” said Hosler, formerly a successful head coach of the Scots’ women’s soccer team and a member of the Scots’ Hall of Fame 1999 men’s soccer team.
“What allowed me to serve those different positions is the well-rounded education in a liberal arts environment that I received from Alma. You can leave here and do anything.”
Brandel-Wilhelm singled out several mentor figures from her time at Alma, including faculty as well as coaches, who influenced her approach to athletics and life in general.
“Wally Beagley was my academic advisor, and he pushed me to do some really cool, hands-on research in the psychology department. Carol Slater was a fantastic professor who really stretched my curiosity. John Chiodini was the head volleyball coach at the time, and he was later inducted to the Scots Hall of Fame,” Brandel-Wilhelm said.
Tia Brandel-Wilhelm '90 has won more than 750 games as a volleyball coach.
“When I started coaching myself, coach Chiodini gave me a thick packet of paper with drills and other ideas related to volleyball. He also wrote a letter on the front of it, where he told me, ‘Always be a duck — calm on the surface but working hard underneath.’ I keep that letter with me to this day. It really meant a lot.”
All of the coaches agreed that one constant in NCAA athletics is change. On some level, they are all dealing with issues that have little to do with the product on the field or court; such as student-athlete compensation and the transfer portal.
They sometimes wonder if student-athletes of tomorrow will benefit from the lessons they learned as Alma College Scots. Despite the obstacles that may lay before them, they are doing their best to ensure that remains the case.
“It’s something I try to cultivate with every team,” said Boss, who has coached more than 35 Major League Baseball Draft selections at Michigan State. “At Alma College, in Division III, you’re there because you want to play, and because you truly want it, you give 110 percent every time you’re on the field. That blue-collar mindset is something that sets the Spartans apart in Division I, and it’s something that I developed during my time at Alma.”
Jeff Hosler '02 has led the Michigan State University women's soccer team since 2021.
For MJ (Mark) Kraft-Strong ’08, running one of Michigan’s fastest-growing tour and travel companies is about more than simply getting people from one place to another. It’s about building community, creating memories, and giving back to the institutions that shaped him.
Kraft-Strong is the founder and president of Beyond Horizons Tour and Travel, a full-service travel and tour agency and motorcoach charter company now operating 16 motorcoaches out of two locations across Michigan. The company provides more than 250 group tours each year, including domestic, international, and student-focused travel, and more than 1,000 motorcoach charters annually.
“You can’t underestimate the importance of the experience people have on a trip,” Kraft-Strong says. “Sure, we provide transportation and travel services, but we also create opportunities. For a cheer and STUNT team traveling to nationals or a group of seniors on a trip, we’re helping facilitate lasting memories.” MJ (Mark) Kraft-Strong ’08 builds community on the road and at
But its founder remains grounded in values he says were strengthened at Alma College: leadership, service, and a deep commitment to connection.
The growth of Beyond Horizons has been a long road for something that began as a side project in Kraft-Strong’s sophomore-year residence hall room at Alma College: “Room 244 in Gelston,” he recalls with a grin.
While he’s proud of those early entrepreneurial roots, Kraft-Strong is even more focused on what the company has become and how it serves others.
That mindset extends to his long-standing support of Alma College, where he recently completed a two-year term as president of the Alumni Board. For more than a decade, Kraft-Strong has remained deeply engaged with the college, advising student organizations, supporting athletic programs, and playing a leadership role in alumni affairs.
“When I was accepted to Alma, the college promised to give me the best education and unmatched experiences. And they absolutely delivered,” he said. “So after graduation, I felt a responsibility to ensure the next generation got that same opportunity.”
Kraft-Strong’s leadership was marked by collaboration and enthusiasm. He worked alongside alumni from multiple generations and says those cross-generational relationships were some of the most memorable parts of the role: “You meet people who were giving back decades ago, who helped build the experience you had as a student. And then you find yourself working beside them, helping shape the future of the college. That’s powerful.”
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Though his term as board president has ended, KraftStrong remains closely connected to Alma. He continues to advise the Zeta Sigma fraternity — an organization he credits with shaping his leadership skills — and supports the college’s athletic programs through his company and as a dedicated fan. He also collaborates with the Advancement Office on strategic alumni initiatives.
“I’m excited for what’s ahead,” he said. “There are some projects with Advancement that I’ll be closely involved with, and I’ve made it clear, my commitment to Alma isn’t ending. It’s just shifting into a new chapter.”
Kraft-Strong speaks highly of Alma’s current Advancement team, calling it the most capable group he’s seen in his years of service: “We have the right leadership in place. Bob Murray is a visionary, and Sarah Dehring stepping into the alumni director role is a huge win. The future of alumni engagement at Alma is in great hands.”
He encourages fellow alumni to find ways, big or small, to give back: “Whether you’re mentoring a student, attending a Scots game, helping with Homecoming, or just reaching out to Advancement, there are so many ways to get involved. Alma needs its alumni community to keep the spirit alive.”
Even with a full plate, Kraft-Strong continues to stay rooted in the Alma values that shaped his path. He still lives in the Alma area, remains actively engaged on campus, and takes pride in watching new generations of Scots create the same kind of enduring bonds he did two decades ago.
“ Alma has evolved with the times, but the heart of the college hasn’t changed,” he said. “The sense of community, the connections, the experiences — they’re still here. I see it in today’s students. And I see it in every alum who still cares deeply about this place.”
Science and Service
How Alma shaped two doctors and their mission
When Heidi Michael ’17, DO, and Alexander Hall ’17, DO, left Alma College with biochemistry degrees in hand, they stepped into the unknown — two young scientists with a shared vision and an enduring connection to the place
Today, they’re doctors in Detroit, partners in life and profession, and advocates for the kind of deeply human medicine they began learning long
Their journey, from orchestra rehearsals and public health work to pediatrics and family medicine, reflects not just professional success, but a kind of purpose rooted in Alma’s ethos: rigorous study, personal mentorship, and the belief that a small college can prepare you for a life of impact.
Shared beginnings, diverging paths
Michael and Hall, who married in 2018, met during their first term at Alma in a physics class. Michael said with a laugh that she might have flunked the course had it not been for Hall’s offer to tutor her. She later said she knew they would be married within a month of dating.
Alma’s liberal arts curriculum helped shape the couple in distinct ways that benefited their careers in medicine. Hall recalled how formative his work in public health — assisting biology faculty like Timothy Keeton with E. coli testing at the Pine River — was in his early life as a student of medicine. Michael said that a children’s literature course taught by Prathim-Maya Dora-Laskey tied directly into her later work with intellectual and developmental disabilities in medicine.
After Alma, their paths took them to medical schools in different cities. When Hall matched into a family medicine residency in Detroit, Michael stayed in Grand Rapids with their newborn daughter, Penelope. For two years, they did longdistance, reuniting each weekend while managing the demands of early parenthood and medical training.
Michael later matched at her top-choice pediatrics program at Children’s Hospital of Michigan with Authority Health in Detroit — a move that finally brought the family back under one roof.
Building a life in medicine— and in Detroit
Now after recently having their second child — a boy named William Alvin Wallace, a nod to Scottish heritage — Michael and Hall are settling into a life that’s busy, meaningful, and deeply rooted in their adopted hometown. Michael works as a pediatrics resident at Children’s Hospital of Michigan with Authority Health, in Detroit, and Hall works as a family medicine resident at Henry Ford Warren Hospital.
Michael loves the variety and relationships pediatrics offers.
“Residency is hard, but every day I get to make a real difference,” she says. “Sometimes it’s guiding parents through tough situations, sometimes it’s celebrating the everyday victories. Either way, I’m exactly where I want to be.”
Hall, who has now started a Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine Fellowship at the Detroit Medical Center, finds purpose in continuity of care and community connection.
“Some of my patients have joked about following me after I graduate,” he says with a laugh. “That’s when you know you’ve built something real.”
He’s the kind of doctor who supports his patients outside the clinic — whether it’s picking up takeout from a family-owned restaurant or recognizing a familiar face behind the counter. “Living and working in the same place — it grounds you,” he says.
Heidi Michael ’17, DO, and Alexander Hall ’17, DO, are pictured with their newborn son William and 3-year-old daughter Penelope.
Alma’s lasting imprint
Though their careers have taken them far from campus, Michael and Hall remain deeply connected to Alma. They contributed to the Traditions Tree Project and encouraged Hall’s sister to attend, allowing them to witness the college’s impact all over again — this time from a distance.
“When I was a student, I didn’t fully appreciate the symbolism of that tree,” Michael says. “But now, I get it. Alma helps you grow in ways you don’t even recognize until you’re somewhere else, doing things you never thought you could.”
Both credit faculty for fostering that growth. “Even with the rigorous coursework, we always felt supported,” Hall says. “Professors made time for us — they knew us.”
Michael nods. “Faculty like Nancy Dopke went out of their way to make sure we understood the science, but also the ‘why’ behind it. That’s stayed with us.”
Looking ahead, giving back
As Hall prepares for board certification and Michael continues her residency, the couple remains committed not only to their patients but to the college that launched them. “We stay involved because Alma gave us more than just a degree,” Michael says. “It gave us direction, each other, and a sense of purpose.”
Hall agrees: “With everything happening in higher education, it feels important to support the places that shaped us. Alma isn’t just part of our past — it’s part of our story.”
Many hats, one foundation
How Alma College shaped two alumni for leadership and service
Building on solid ground
When Emily Havelka and Stephen Schlaack reflect on their time at Alma College, one theme comes up again and again: preparation. Not just academic preparation, but the kind that shapes character, cultivates leadership, and instills a lifelong sense of service.
The couple, who graduated together in 2012 and married five years later, look back on their time at Alma as not just the place they met, but a place to “try new things, fail safely, and figure out who we were.”
Between the two of them, they explored just about every course and extracurricular activity that was available at the time — giving them the preparation and confidence needed to pursue graduate study and ultimately build meaningful lives together.
Schlaack, a business major during his time at Alma, admits he came to college as a bit of a late bloomer. He remembers being called out by a professor for underperforming — an experience that changed the way he approached his studies.
“He said, ‘If you were my son, I’d kick your (butt).’ I needed that. I needed someone to hold me accountable. That wouldn’t have happened in a giant lecture hall,” Schlaack said.
Schlaack received the discipline he needed at the time in and out of the classroom. He found community (and met his future wife) through the Zeta Sigma fraternity. Problem-solving and business-planning skills were honed through a side gig as programming director of the college radio station. Time management skills were cultivated running cross country and performing with the theater.
“It was the kind of environment where if you wanted to try something, you got a shot. I learned how to do things by doing them,” Schlaack said.
Even today, Schlaack wears a couple of different hats. He’s the market manager of his hometown farmers market, in Owosso, Mich. He’s also the sourcing specialist for facilities and construction at Corewell Health, the largest healthcare system in Michigan.
Lots of responsibility, very early on
Havelka currently serves as a marketing and communications leader at GE Vernova, an energy equipment manufacturing and services company that helps generate about a quarter of the world’s electricity. Her job is all about translating complex technology issues into clear, compelling messages — a skill she began developing as an English major at Alma College.
“English majors always have to beat the bad rap of, ‘What are you going to do with that degree? You won’t get a job.’ That’s clearly not the case if you know how to tell your story well. Thanks to the rigorous standards I was given by faculty like Laura von Wallmenich and Chih-Ping Chen, I was able to do just that,” she said.
Buoyed in part by experiences such as serving as an English teaching assistant, Havelka went on to receive graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and University of Notre Dame. She said that would have been much more difficult were it not for the preparation she received in an Alma classroom.
“I came to Alma without a major,” Havelka said. “My dad told me, ‘Just start doing things, and you’ll figure it out.’ And he was right.”
“Alma gave me the space and the safety to figure out who I was. — Emily Havelka ’12
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Staying connected — and giving back
Now based in Michigan, the couple stays closely connected to Alma College through their shared service on Alumni Board. Their reasons for staying involved are both personal and philosophical.
“(The COVID-19 pandemic) made me worry about what might happen to small liberal arts colleges,” Havelka said. “Alma brought so much value to my life, not just as a student but growing up in the community. I wanted to be in a position to give back if they needed help.”
Schlaack agreed: “Some of my best memories and most formative experiences came from Alma. I met my best friend and my wife there. I saw how people grew. I think we’re in a good place to help tell that story, to remind others of the value they got and to encourage them to give back.”
The Kiltie Marching Band is pictured in this 1975 photo.
Andrus Family Field House officially opens with ribbon-cutting ceremony
Alma College is poised to take its athletic programs to the next level with the construction of the Andrus Family Field House — a state-of-the-art building that matches in amenities what student-athletes, coaches and fans have provided for years in dedication and excitement.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April, drawing faculty, staff, alumni, friends, members of the public, and the Board of Trustees to celebrate a major milestone in the college’s athletic future.
“My family and I are grateful to be a part of the field house and look forward to seeing how this benefits future generations of Alma College Scots,” said the facility’s namesake, Larry Andrus ’72. Andrus is an emeriti member of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Scots Hall of Fame.
“The mentorship and guidance that I received from coaches like Bill Klenk and Denny Stolz was instrumental to my development as a person and a professional. We didn’t have facilities like this back when I was in school, though. It’s my hope that with a state-of-the-art field house in which to perform, our student-athletes will reach the peak of their development at Alma College.”
The field house, located on Charles Avenue, west of the college, was completed in January 2025 after roughly a year of construction. The 78,080-square-foot facility includes a regulation indoor track, infield turf with lines for seven different sports, dedicated jump areas and an LED videoboard. Also included are drop-down batting cages, locker room space for four teams and a visiting team locker room. Alma College is now one of only three schools in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association to have its own indoor track and field facility.
The building also houses office space for members of the Alma College coaching staff and a team meeting room, as well as satellite weight training and athletic training spaces. Along with Klenk Park and Scotland Yard, the new facility comprises the Greg Hatcher Athletics Campus.
“I’ve said for many years that when I’m going to make a hire at my firm, I’m looking for applicants who have leadership experience. These are the employees that I can truly count on — and oftentimes, it’s those who are former student-athletes who end up being the most successful,” said Hatcher, a member of the Class of ’83 and Scots Hall of Fame. “In that way, I think that what this facility does is help create graduates who leave Alma College and are ready for the real world.”
In addition to serving a practice space for its athletic teams, the field house will benefit the Kiltie Marching Band and host summer camps for local community groups.
“This field house is so much more than just a building,” said Kiana Verdugo-Maday, interim director of athletics. “This incredible facility represents years of vision, planning, and hard work, and it would not have been possible without the generosity of so many donors, board members, and champions of our mission. We’re grateful to everyone who played a role in making this dream a reality.”
Clockwise from left; Greg Hatcher ’83, Eric Blackhurst ’83, Larry Andrus ’72, John Wilson ’90 and Vice President for Student Affairs/Chief Diversity Officer Damon Brown are pictured at the April ribbon-cutting of the Andrus Family Field House.
Board of Trustees appoints officers, elects new member
Freed named vice president for enrollment management, marketing and communications
Douglas Freed, an academic leader with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, has been named vice president for enrollment management, marketing and communications at Alma College. In this new role, Freed will lead the college’s admissions, financial aid and marketing and communications teams. This unified group will work to attract and engage prospective students through strategic campaigns that highlight Alma’s distinctive strengths, academic offerings, vibrant campus culture, and experiential opportunities.
Erika K. Powers Appelt ’91, David A. Devine ’90 and Rachelle Jacques ’93 were appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as chair, vice chair, and secretary, respectively, earlier this year. Christopher R. Andrus ’02 was elected as a new trustee. Eric P. Blackhurst '83 was granted emeritus status.
Kucera becomes Alma’s 31st Fulbright scholar
Helena Kucera, a member of the Alma College Class of 2025 from White Lake Township, Mich., has been selected as Alma’s 31st Fulbright Scholar since 2003. Kucera will use the award to teach English at schools in the Slovak Republic (Slovakia). Kucera is the most recent Fulbright Scholar at Alma College since Maria Vostrizansky won the award in 2024.
Faculty, staff, students produce documentary film
A documentary produced by Alma College students, staff and faculty premiered at the National Asparagus Festival in Hart, Mich., in June. “Did You Guys Eat? ¿Ya Comieron?: Stories of Michigan Agriculture” aims to shed light into the stories of Michigan agriculture and the lives of people who put food on our table. It’s produced and directed by Stephany Slaughter, an Alma College faculty member and Emmy Award winner.
College launches peer-reviewed publishing platform
Alma College is staking a claim in the landscape of academic publishing with a new, online, peer-reviewed platform focused on undergraduate and earlystage trainee research, the Journal of Integrative Physiology (JIP). The Journal’s first article, written by Caleb Schuring ’24 and Alex Montoye ’10, was published in April. For more information, visit digitalcommmons.alma.edu/jip.
BPA, MUN succeed at
national competitions
The Alma College chapter of Model United Nations (MUN) competed at the 2025 National Model UN Conference in April in New York City and received three “outstanding delegation” awards for its representations of Chile, Djibouti and Ethiopia, along with numerous individual accolades. The Alma College Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter took part in the 2025 National Leadership Conference in May in Orlando and won one first-place award, along with 18 top-10 finishes.
Dehring moving into new role at Alma College
Sarah Dehring, who has for 14 years served Alma College as a coach, athletic administrator and vice president in the Athletics department, has started a new role as senior director of alumni and family engagement in the Advancement office. Kiana Verdugo-Maday, who has for five years worked in the athletics office at Alma College, is now interim director of athletics.
Faculty excellence recognized with awards
Justin Rito ’08 is the 2025 recipient of the Andison Award for Excellence in Teaching, while Eric Calhoun and Brianna Harfmann ’11 have received this year’s Barlow Awards for Faculty Excellence. In other faculty recognitions, Karen Ball and Kristin Olbertson were awarded the Charles A. Dana Professorship and Liping Bu was awarded the Reid-Knox Chair of American History.
Barlow Trophy winner excels academically while pursuing diverse interests
Toby Layson, of Washington Township, Mich., is the 2025 recipient of the Barlow Trophy, Alma College’s most prestigious award for a graduating senior. Established in 1949 by Dr. Joel Barlow, 1929 honors graduate of Alma College, the award recognizes academic achievement for students in the top 10 percent of their class as well as contributions to campus and community. Layson plans to attend law school at the University of Michigan Law School.
Alma College MFA faculty publish new works
Four faculty members in the Alma College Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program published books in 2025 across a variety of genres and settings. “The Past Ten: An Anthology,” was edited by Donald Quist; “The Words of Dr. L and Other Stories,” was written by Karen E. Bender; “The Lost Songs of Nina Simone” was written by Shonda Buchanan and “Submersed: Wonder, Obsession, and Murder in the World of Amateur Submarines” was written by Matthew Gavin Frank.
Kapp Prize award to top student presentations
Students Abigail Haag, Jenna Holzinger and Kay Keller were recipients of the Ronald O. Kapp Honors Day Prize, at Alma College’s 29th annual Kapp Honors Day program, held on April 3. The prize is named for the late Ronald O. Kapp, an Alma College biology professor for 32 years and vice president of academic affairs for 20 years.
Student-led music program bridges campus and community
A student-led initiative at Alma College is creating new opportunities for local youth to experience the power of music. The Alma College Community Music Outreach program, founded in 2024 by senior Krysta Bennett, connects college musicians with area students to offer affordable lessons, hands-on experiences, and greater access to music education — resources that are often limited in small or rural communities.
New van donation helps Alma biology students dig deeper into fieldwork
When Ellen Loudon Edgar ’66 thinks about the time she spent at Alma College, she remembers salamanders.
“I was a biology major, and for my senior project, I collected salamanders out at the Bog,” Edgar said, referring to the informal nickname of the Alma College Ecological Station. “My friend and I would drive out there in this beat-up old car the biology department had. We called it the ‘Blue Newt’ — N-E-W-T, like the amphibian, not the bomb.”
More than 50 years later, Edgar is still thinking about salamanders — and wildflowers, and creative writing students, and the winding dirt road out to the Bog. That’s what led her to fund a new field van for the Alma College Biology Department, replacing one that was more than 25 years old.
Associate Professor of Biology and department chair Brian Doyle said the inspiration for the vehicle didn’t start with alumni or advancement — rather, it came from students.
“Last year, during our senior dinner, I started asking graduating students what some of their most memorable experiences were,” Doyle said. “One of the things that really stood out was that classes they took at the Bog were some of the most impactful. They really enjoyed the opportunity to get into the muck and be outdoors — getting their boots dirty, doing real biology.”
That feedback spurred the department to begin bringing introductory students to the Bog, something that hadn’t happened in decades. But with larger class sizes, existing transportation options quickly proved insufficient.
Edgar’s gift directly responded to that challenge. The new van allows faculty to take more students to the Bog at once and opens up possibilities for longer-range trips to locations like zoos, aquariums, and even field sites in other states.
Edgar’s career after Alma spanned microbiology, public school teaching, and ultimately income tax preparation in the upstate New York, where she now lives in retirement. Her journey is emblematic of what she believes a liberal arts education should provide: the freedom and preparation to do anything. “When you graduate from a liberal arts school like Alma, you can do anything,” Edgar said. “That’s the point.
“When I donated the van, I wasn’t doing it for recognition,” she continued. “I want more people out there (at the Bog). I want students to be able to go someplace quiet, close by, that lets them think beyond themselves. Not just biologists — creative writers, poets, anyone.”
It’s a gift that came full circle last November, when she returned to the Bog with professors, staff, and her sister. “I saw it in a whole new light,” she said.
“Back then, it was just a bunch of logs and salamanders. Now it’s a place of connection — and that’s what we need most.”
Alum appears on ‘Jeopardy!’
A lifelong love of trivia and a strong liberal arts education came together for one Alma College alum in the most exciting way: a spot on “Jeopardy!.”
Pete Johnston ’07 appeared on the iconic quiz show July 15. He came in second place, finishing with an impressive $28,201 — but left with memories to last a lifetime.
“The moment I stepped on that stage, it was surreal,” he said following the taping but before the episode aired on television. “It felt like I was inside the TV show I’ve watched my whole life. It moved really quickly, almost in a blur. So, I’ll be excited to check it out for myself and remember all that happened.”
Johnston got an early start in competitive trivia as a member of the Quiz Bowl team at Alma High School before moving on to Alma College, where he majored in studio art with a concentration in photography. He was deeply influenced by professors like Sandy Lopez-Isnardi, Carrie Parks-Kirby and Bob Rozier.
“They really shaped me as a student and artist,” he said. “It was such a supportive environment.”
Johnston also credits Alma’s liberal arts approach for giving him the kind of broad knowledge base that comes in handy on a show like “Jeopardy!.”
“That broad background is really key,” he said. “You take sociology, geography, history, communications, math — everything. It makes a huge difference.”
Hogan Center to benefit from generous donation
The Hogan Center is Alma College’s primary venue for commencement, convocation, major events and athletics. For many members of the campus and local communities, as well as visitors to the institution, it’s a gathering place, as well as a showcase of Alma College as a whole.
That showcase will be enhanced, thanks to the addition of new furniture in the Carra Jones Smith ’42 Lobby and the David ’60 and Patricia ’59 Hubbard Lobby, made possible by a generous donation by Alma College parents Jeff and Stephanie Leppien.
“For us, it’s about seeing a need and doing what you can to help,” Jeff Leppien said. “Whether it’s something big or small, financial or otherwise, it’s important for us, to give back, for so many reasons related to our family and faith, as well as our love for this community and institution.”
Added Stephanie Leppien: “Alma College has been wonderful for us, our family and this community. We’re excited to make a donation that can have an impact in this way.”
The new furniture coming to the David ’60 and Patricia ’59 Hubbard Lobby, located on the second floor of the Hogan Center and just outside of Cappaert Gymnasium, generally supports smaller group gatherings. It includes single-person tables and couches and ottomans with hard tabletops, in order to facilitate working students.
Coming to the Carra Jones Smith ’42 Lobby, located on the ground floor of the Hogan Center and just outside of Art Smith Arena, is furniture that benefits larger groups, including multi-person tables and sectional couches. The older furniture that currently occupies both spaces will be repurposed elsewhere on campus.
Where hardship meets higher education’s promise
Alma College senior Akwasi Asare rises above pain in pursuit of a degree.
When Akwasi Asare, a neuroscience major and a senior at Alma College, left his small village in Ghana to study in rural Michigan, he brought with him a quiet strength shaped by hardship, hope, and the determination to change his future. At 28, Asare is older than most of his classmates, but his path to Alma was anything but ordinary.
Asare grew up in Kumasi, a village far from Ghana’s capital of Accra. Both Asare’s father and brother passed away while he was still young. After high school, his career options were dangerous and limited — mining or farming.
“Mining is illegal and deadly,” he said. “People die often when the pits collapse, and sometimes the army comes after us. I wanted knowledge. I wanted something more.”
Asare was accepted to 12 colleges in the United States and chose Alma for its scholarships, small class sizes, and peaceful environment: “I like quiet places. Alma felt like home.”
His commitment was relentless. He scored a perfect 800 on the math section of the SAT, despite studying in a country where internet access and academic resources were limited.
“I’ve
seen scarcity of food. I’ve seen people die in the mines. So when I sit in a classroom in America, I don’t complain — I’m just grateful to be alive and learning.
“
Longtime faculty members like Jeff Turk and Laura von Wallmenich have been instrumental in helping him navigate the challenges of being an international student. He also credits Dining Services staff like Marsha Miller and Micah Braman with creating a positive environment to work his on-campus job in Hamilton Commons. Thomas Haverbush, a longtime friend of the college, has helped Asare in numerous ways.
“Professors here care about your life, not just your grades. Laura is like a mom to me,” Asare said. “I love going to work in the dining center, too. Even if another job paid more, I wouldn’t leave.”
Though he finds it hard to relate to American students’ conversations — “We see the world differently” — Asare’s focus remains on his studies. He chose neuroscience after learning that his younger brother died of medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer.
“At the time, I didn’t understand what was happening. Now I want to study the brain and help find a cure. If I can help even one person avoid what my brother went through, it will be worth it,” he said.
His favorite classes include psychopharmacology and psychopathology, where he learns about the brain and mental illness. He dreams of going to medical school in the U.S. and becoming a neurosurgeon.
Would he choose Alma again?
“Even if I had the chance to go to Harvard, I’d stay here,” he said. “Alma is on top of my world right now.”
Brianna Harfmann ’11 grew up in a family that loved to do jigsaw puzzles together, always with a specific rule that went against the strategic grain: nobody was allowed to sort the edge pieces first.
“You had to look for other patterns and start there. It was harder, but more satisfying,” she said.
Harfmann brings a similar mindset to her role as associate professor of Integrative Physiology and Health Science and co-chair of the Pre-Health Professions Committee (PHPC).
“Teaching is a puzzle,” Harfmann said. “If a student isn’t grasping something, I have to find a new way to teach it that makes sense to them. It’s about more than the picture that appears at the end. The relationships, the development, the challenge, is part of what I love.”
A member of the Class of 2011, Harfmann credits her former professors at Alma — particularly Karen Ball and Maurie Luetkemeier — for inspiring her to pursue a career in teaching over a more research-intensive path.
“Dr. Ball taught muscle physiology in such a clear, visual, accessible way,” Harfmann said. “When I went to grad school and started interviewing with muscle physiologists, I already had a deeper understanding than they expected, and that was because of her.
“Dr. Luetkemeier had this deep, meaningful love of learning. You could walk into his class with no interest in science, and by the end of the day, you’d be hooked. That energy was infectious.”
These days, Harfmann’s work at Alma includes a mix of teaching, research, advising, and service. She co-chairs the PHPC with Nancy Dopke, associate professor of chemistry, advising students who are applying to professional programs in medicine, physical therapy and other health-related fields.
“I love advising. I like helping students think through their goals and the steps to get there,” Harfmann said.
Piecing together student success
Associate Professor of IPHS Brianna Harfmann ’11 dedicates herself to teaching, advising and service
She and her committee members provide feedback on students’ personal statements, review applications, and conduct 30-minute mock interviews to help prepare for real ones.
The PHPC has also helped facilitate several new articulation agreements with graduate programs, including one signed in 2024 with UM-Flint’s Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program, that make it easier for students to transition into the next step. More articulation agreements are on the way.
“We try to make it a thorough and meaningful process, so that students can go into grad school feeling prepared by their time at Alma — in and out of the classroom,” she said.
Harfmann is also a deputy Title IX coordinator, part of a cross-campus team that handles difficult, but essential, civil rights work. “We have a great team from across varied divisions of campus,” she said. “It’s not easy work, but I feel like I can contribute in a meaningful way.”
Harfmann was hired by Alma College in 2017, and even in the span of eight years, she said, the way that students learn and faculty teach has dramatically changed.
“Our students went through virtual learning in high school. That shaped the way they learn,” she said. “One of my goals is to challenge students while also supporting them. You don’t want to create so much anxiety that they shut down, but you also want to push them outside of their comfort zones so they can grow.”
Like many of her colleagues, Harfmann sees herself as a lifelong learner.
“We’re always trying to find new ways to explain things, new ways to advise, and new ways to teach,” she said. “That’s what makes this work rewarding. You feel like you can reach the whole person. You feel like you really make an impact.”
“Alma College taught me to grapple with big questions, to inquire how we know anything, to debate what might be true, to explore how society got the way it is, and to imagine a just society.” — Gary Dorrien ’74
Hugh Brenneman, a member of the Class of 1967 and a longtime ambassador for Alma College in many respects, is being honored as the namesake of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
“My connection to Alma College has been one of the most rewarding relationships in my lifetime and I’m grateful that it will continue in this new way,” Brenneman said. “I feel overwhelmed and honored. To attend Alma College is to become part of the Alma College universe, which includes your family members who attended Alma, the college sweetheart you marry, and the students in your classes, dorms and on the playing fields. The universe also encompasses countless alumni nationwide who are waiting to meet you.”
Brenneman retired from the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan after 35 years as a magistrate judge. Prior to that experience, Brenneman was a Captain, Army
Distinguished Alumni Award to be named after Hugh Brenneman ’67
JAGC, federal prosecutor and private practice attorney in Grand Rapids, Mich. He has co-founded three legal societies, been an author and college instructor, and remains court historian for the federal court.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor presented to alumni. The award recognizes alumni who have brought distinction to Alma College through their professions, have set strong examples for others and have served their communities in one of several ways: through personal accomplishments whereby the prestige of the college is enhanced; distinguished service or achievement in any field of human endeavor, including family, community, business and industry, science or the professions; or unusual or singular contributions to the development of cultural and spiritual life in society.
Have you included
Choose from a variety of guest suites or consider our private bungalow
• Enjoy ample work spaces, allowing for projects to continue without pause
• Visit our Hospitality Shoppe any time for your Alma swag
Watch a performance or attend an athletic event
Explore downtown and take in local scenic beauty
• Take advantage of the 42-mile, paved Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, open year-round
Honoring our departed Scots
Alma College mourns the loss of alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students who have passed away. This page specifically honors the lives of the college community members whose passing we have become aware of since the last issue of The Tartan. To continue paying meaningful tribute to those we have lost, we have created a webpage where you can view full obituaries for each person. Visit alma.edu/in-memoriam to learn more.
1950s
Esther Anderson Hoge ’50
Shirley Adair Hale ’53
Helen Joynt Stevens ’55
Janice Pappin Williams ’56
Paula Bare Acton ’57
Ronald C. Wilson, Sr. ’59
1960s
Ronald McMenamin ’60
Judith Mikulas Cook ’61
James A. White ’61
William B. Dillon ’62
Donald Hugh Smith ’64
Roger B. Kapp ’65
Linda Lieber McLaughlin ’65
Marilyn Taylor Zavorski ’68
Paul J. Dixon ’68
Cathy Anne Lozen ’69
David Bonning Marr ’69
Karel Smith Wetzel ’69
1970s
Olugbenga Soga Oredein ’70
Paul S. Jancha ’71
Joseph H. Black ’73
David E. Gillison ’74
Stephen J. Munsell ’74
Lynn D. MacDonald ’75
Martha Pixley Mishler ’75
Debra Mapes ’76
Karen Hasler ’78
Debra Cook Ogle Maloney ’79
1980s
Patricia Clark Gruber ’84
Suzanne Wolf Coffland ’88
Bernadine Skowronski Besebes ’89
1990s
Mary Jo Toth ’91
The Rev. Joseph Walser passed away on April 29, 2025.
In 1964, Walser moved to Alma, where he would begin a 36-year career as a professor of religious studies and Near Eastern archaeology. An ordained Presbyterian minister, Walser taught courses in Bible and comparative religions at Alma College, where he also served as the campus chaplain. He made 15 trips to Israel with Alma College students as part of Spring Term, and served as tennis coach and assistant softball coach.
Walser was awarded the Distinguished Professor Award 18 times — at the time, a professor was only eligible every other year. In recognition of his impact, in 2021, the college chapel sanctuary was renamed the Walser Sanctuary.
Friends of the College
Randolph C. Beaumont
Shirley Ann Belisle
Wayne J. Desjarlais
Renee Didocha
Edward D. Forsyth
Berniece L. Harper
Margaret Hutchison
Shari McCallister
Edward L. “Pete” McDonald
Timothy G. McLaughlin
Stephen Proctor
Josephine Ann Rinehart
Glen D. Thompson
Phoebe Vance
Annerose White
Virginia R. Weenink
Former Faculty and Staff
Dorene D. Lewis
Debra S. Smith
ALUMNInotes
The Tartan and your friends want to know what you are doing these days. Submit your news online at alma.edu/alumni-notes.
Warren Slodowske ’62 was honored by Jefferson County, Colo., as a “senior hero.” He received this award in gratitude of his achievements during 11 years of volunteering at Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, Colo.
Billy Brown ’66 celebrated his 80th birthday by hosting 80 friends from worlds of singing, poetry, mathematics education, music; son with two granddaughters from Los Angeles, brother from Virginia; a dozen entertainers; cooking almost all of the food. Brown is still teaching, singing, writing and publishing poetry and baking cookies.
Greg Boughton ’70 was recognized by the Michigan High School Coaches Association for his over 50 years of coaching golf at Whitehall (Mich.) High School. Boughton was elected to the Michigan High School Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012, as well as the Whitehall Athletic Hall of Fame. He coached 50 seasons with boys and seven with girls.
Gary Dorrien ’74 mentioned Alma College in a book he recently wrote and saw published, “Over the Union Road: My Christian-LeftIntellectual Life.” The full-page description includes: “At Alma College, (Dorrien) began to develop his signature blend of post-Kantian philosophy and progressive Christian theology …”
Dale Nester ’75 is fully retired from 45 years of dentistry in Ithaca, Mich. He practiced for 27 years with Martha Bamfield ’87 With his wife, Marion Broadwell ’75, they celebrated 50 years of marriage in May 2025. They have three children and one grandson. Nester will start the Cultivating the Gift of Preaching project at Alma in June 2025.
Jeff Leestma ’78 recently retired from a 45-year career in the automotive industry. He and his wife, Tracy, now live in northern Michigan. He recently chronicled his first year of living in the woods in his book “Our Nest in the Universe” (Mission Point Press).
David Smeltzer ’79 was appointed to the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission in March. Smeltzer, of Bear Lake, Mich., has owned West Wind Orchards, LLC since 2007 and was a partner at Per-Clin Orchards, Inc. for 28 years prior. He currently serves as chair of the Michigan Cherry Committee.
Eric Blackhurst ’83 was elected to serve as independent chairperson of Horizon Bancorp’s board of directors, effective May 1. Blackhurst has been a company director at Horizon Bancorp for over seven years. He has served as chairperson of corporate governance and member of the compensation committee. He retired from a 35-year career at The Dow Chemical Company and recently served as interim president of Alma College.
In December 2023, a book co-authored by Christina Botbyl ’89 was published: “Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership: A Guide for Educators, Allies, and Advocates.”
Botbyl is a facilitator with the National School Reform Faculty organization and chief academic director at an international school.
Kelly A. Myers ’90 of Myers & Myers, a real estate and business law firm in Howell, Mich., has been named one of Michigan’s “Influential Women of Law” for 2024 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Heather Cummings ’93, an attorney and founding partner at Cummings Law Group PLC, was appointed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Board of State Canvassers. Cummings specializes in union-side labor law and employment rights at the state and federal level.
Jim Schneberger ’96, president of New Berlin Plastics in New Berlin, Wisc., has been named chair of the board of directors of Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to the success of Wisconsin manufacturers.
Priority Health in Detroit has appointed Carrie Kincaid ’97 to oversee government markets for the organization. In her expanded role, Kincaid will oversee the Individual, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid businesses, as well as population health and health equity. She has been with Priority Health for more than 18 years.
Christopher Trebilcock ’97 was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to serve the Michigan Court of Appeals, Second District, in April. Trebilcock is the first court of appeals appointee born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Ryan Webb ’00 recently published a novel, “Saving Will,” about the life of his friend, the late Eric Didocha ’00 Didocha tragically died in 2004 due to injuries suffered in a car crash. His parents donated his organs to five different recipients and the Eric M. Didocha Memorial Merit Award is given annually to students in his memory.
Melinda Booth ’02 joined Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills, Mich., as its director of marketing and communications. Founded in 1939, and with nearly 200 employees and about 1,000 volunteers, Leader Dog is entirely donor-funded and offers free programs that help people who are blind or low vision gain greater independence.
Shannon Klonowski ’05 was named health officer for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.
Megan (Hlavaty) Calderon ’05 has, with co-author Sue Meier, published a book, “The Goodness Garden: A Story about the Power of Spreading Goodness” through A&M Imagine Books. The book is Calderon’s second, following 2018’s “Goodnight Little Orcas: A Counting Book.”
Janine Kwapis ’06, Paul Berg Early Career Professor in the Biological Sciences and assistant professor of biology at Penn State University, has been awarded the 2024 McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Award in Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss by the American Federation for Aging Research and the McKnight Brain Research Foundation. This three-year, $750,000 grant will support Kwapis’ research project, “Improving cognitive flexibility in old age by fixing the transcriptome within memory cells.”
Lisa Molina ’09 was named by Pueblo Community College Southwest as its 2024 employee of the year. Molina, director of student services, was honored in the administrative, professional and technical category.
Amanda Cruickshank-Willoughby ’11 qualified for the Roller Derby World Cup — the highest-ranking event in the sport — in Innsbruck, Austria, in July 2025.
Chelsea Sauve ’12 was appointed by Midland (Mich.) Public Schools to serve as principal of Central Park Elementary School.
Luke Kanine ’13 is Michigan’s only winner of the prestigious national Milken Educator Award in the 2024-25 season. Kanine works at E.F. Rittmueller Middle School, in Frankenmuth, Mich., where he teaches Spanish and physical education to students from sixth through eighth grade and works as a part-time behavior interventionist.
Joshua Zeitler ’14 (MFA ’24), an undergraduate and MFA in Creative Writing alumni, had their debut poetry chapbook, “Bliss Road,” selected for the Rane Arroyo series from Seven Kitchens Press.
Trevor McCready ’16 was hired by HealthQuest Physical Therapy in Algonac, Mich., as a physical therapist.
Kylie Hamilton ’17 was appointed as an associate attorney to the construction and leasing practice group of Smith Debnam, a North-Carolina-based firm. Hamilton earned her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2020.
Joel Collinson ’20 was honored by the State of Michigan with a Lifesaving Award in April 2025. Collinson received the award on account of his heroic actions the previous June; when a young boy became trapped under a collapsed sand dune at Silver Lake State Park, in Mears, Mich., and Collinson saved his life. Collinson has served as a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Officer since 2023.
Maris Fett ’22 accepted the position of union organizer at the Michigan Nurses Association, the largest union and professional association for registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Michigan.
Trevor Wregglesworth ’22 is the varsity baseball coach at Onaway High School, his alma mater.
The Tartan is published for alumni, students, parents, families and friends of Alma College. Please recycle this magazine and pass it on to a prospective student. THE
We look forward to welcoming alumni back to campus for this year’s Homecoming celebration. Please join us as we take part in long-standing Homecoming traditions, reunion class gatherings, and some special 2025 events.
• Homecoming parade
• Reunion class activities, including 50-year and Golden Thistle breakfast
• Alumni Awards ceremony
• Announcement of Royal Scots
• Other special gatherings
