Jenny Seidelman ’99’s screenplay, Henry Moore Is Melting, was recently named 2015 Alumni Achievement Award
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What difference can one person really make? It’s a question that haunts many people when faced with complex global problems. It’s also a question that Bryan Quinn has been trying to answer since his earliest days at Knox. “In Greek Philosophy, I remember Professor Factor asking the class about the meaning of life. Most people are joking when they say things like that, but he wasn’t. That made an impression on me. It reminded me that some questions are worth taking seriously, even if we never find an answer,” he says. Though Bryan initially planned to pursue a career in academia, his focus shifted to addressing the environmental impact of human development. “From Paul Shepard to Pete Schramm to Stu Allison, Knox has quite a tradition in restoration ecology. I took three consecutive terms of ecology classes, then went off-campus to study at remote biological research stations for the next two terms. That five-term sequence helped put me on track for a lot of the work I do today.” That work is One Nature, a landscape design firm based in New York that focuses on creating landscapes that give more back to the environment than they take away. He founded the company after graduating with a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. Now, his days are filled with projects as diverse as landscaping a private residence in a way that nourishes the property’s natural wetlands to rehabilitating an entire stretch of river so it can support a healthy trout population. “I decided when I started my company that I would put the environment first. That went against the advice of a lot of seasoned business people. But I believed, and still believe, that the services I wanted to offer are inherently good for the planet.” Knox Magazine: Please describe your Knox experience. Bryan Quinn: Right from the start at Knox, I felt always among friends who really wanted to have smart conversations. There was an underlying tolerance for the viewpoints of others. And everyone had their own passions. No matter what time of day or night, it seemed like I could find people to associate with around campus, at Green Oaks, and around Galesburg. That strong intellectual community is something you can’t get in a classroom. KM: What do you believe is your most notable achievement? BQ: That’s a hard question because I feel like there is still so much I want to do. Right now, I am very proud of the business I have built. KM: What advice do you have for current Knox students? BQ: Don’t be afraid to take risks.
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KNOX MAGAZINE Spring 2015
Alumni Achievement Award Winner
Bryan Quinn ’00
moving from Des Moines, Iowa, to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where I now serve as an area minister for the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ. When I’m not coaching and training local church leaders, I do yoga and train for triathlons. This past year, I completed three triathlons, including the Olympic distance event at the Chicago Triathlon. I can’t wait for our big 20th Reunion. See you in the ’Burg! Class Correspondent: Nicole Havelka 514 Elm Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, revnhavelka@gmail.com
1996 Howdy, Knox friends, it is the start of the holiday season as I write this, and I hope everyone is well and healthy. We’ve been dealing with the normal pre-holiday prep: turkey, casseroles, pies, and sweet potatoes; house cleaning; fixing up the guest room. Arizona has finally dropped into comfortable temperatures, but we are still awaiting a hard freeze. After 18 years in Phoenix, I might be ready to come back to Illinois. Best wishes for a delightful 2015 … and you might want to start planning your trip back to Knox for our 20th reunion in October 2016! ❯ Lora Kutkat writes, “So, about my family in Maryland... We are expecting our third and final boy at the end of December! For that reason, we are staying close to home and will spend time with my brother, Scott Kutkat ’98, who lives in Baltimore. Drake, our 18-year-old, is now in college studying geology. Wesley will soon turn four and cannot wait to be a big brother. Matt, my husband, is doing well—that is, apart from sharing in the collective household exhaustion caused by job stress, commuting in the D.C. area, and coordinating family schedules. We also have a new St. Bernard puppy who loves to pester our five-yearold Newfoundland. Diapers, daycare, fur, and slobber abound in my house, but we couldn’t be happier.” ❯ Trisha Hickey McFall sends an update. “Things here are great. Kyran (4) started preschool this year and just loves it. He is very proud of his sister Ada (2), who has just started potty training. She’s catching on pretty quickly, and we have had high hopes for a diaper-less Christmas! Matt and I are excited because this was the first Christmas where both kids are really getting into the holiday spirit! Ada talks about Santa all the time, and Kyran can’t wait to make cookies for him. It’s great to relive the joys of the season through the eyes of your kids! Peace to you all!” ❯ Tom Wilcoxen reports, “Last fall, as the first of our Knox ’96 crew began turning 40, Mike Smith challenged all of us to prove that we were still ‘young at heart’ and sign up for the Illinois Warrior Dash on June 14, 2014. The Warrior Dash is a 5K race full of obstacles and mud pits with event locations across the globe, aiming to raise money for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dana Vig, Scott ‘Rab’ Meyers, Ed Frey, Doug Tobin, and I (along with Dana’s wife, Emily) agreed to accept Mike’s challenge.