Class Letters LEAH HOVER-PREISS ’08 of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and her husband, Zach, had their second child, Harper Theresa, on April 2, 2017. Her big brother Aiden, 5, could not be happier! ERIN MAGUIRE ’08 of Hot Springs, Arkansas, oversees three different dialysis clinics as a social worker for Fortune 500 dialysis company. ANDREW MCKEE ’08 of Lacey, Washington: “I just completed 16 months of company command in the 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I am now the Battalion Signal Officer for 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. My girlfriend, Jenna, and I are expecting a baby girl this August.” ERIN OAKLEY ’08 was engaged to Mike Koltes on March 18, 2017. The two were married in Madison on Sept. 30, 2017. ZAC SCHWANDT ’08 and EMILY KIJEK ’13 got engaged on Ripon’s campus last July! TAIYI SUN ’08 of Arlington, Virginia: “Hi. I recently received my Ph.D. in political science from Boston University. After being a lecturer at Boston University for six years, I recently took a tenure-track assistant professorship at Christopher Newport University, a liberal arts university in Newport News, Virginia. I have also recently published an article in the journal China Information, on ‘Earthquakes and the typologies of statesociety relations in China.’ I am now living in Arlington, Virginia, a part of the greater D.C. region.” Please remember to send any updates you would like to share to the Class of 2008 Class Agents or the alumni office. Announcements can be about new jobs, promotions, engagements, marriages, births or adoptions, continuing education, relocating — anything you would like to share with your classmates! Additionally, if you are not a member of the Ripon College Class of 2008 Facebook page, please send a request so you can be added. It is a great way to share announcements, post memories and receive reminders about upcoming class letters or reunion information. We look forward to hearing from you in the future! Go, Red Hawks! Sincerely, LEAH, STEPHANIE and ZAC
2009 Emily A. Meyer emilyannmeyer@gmail.com Angela Olivas Peña mihita.aco@gmail.com Hello everyone! I hope this letter finds you well and excited about the fall! My family and I have recently re-located to Moorhead, Minnesota, and fall has arrived! Along with our move, I accepted a new position as the assistant director of residence life at Concordia College and am loving my new position and the people I’m working with. My family also welcomed a new puppy into our lives just shortly before we moved (I know, not the best timing), and we are kept on our toes daily by his antics. Lily is also growing and fast approaching the terrible 2’s! Her personality comes out more and more every day and is especially apparent when she is told “No.” I’ve also recently connected with the Kappa Delta Chapter at NDSU and will be joining their Chapter Advisory Board. The women there are great, and Greek Life seem to be thriving on campus.
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Connections
We made our annual trip back to Ripon for Alumni Weekend this summer, and while it was chillier than most Alumni Weekends, we had a lot of fun sitting around the fire pit (a new addition to campus right outside The Pub) and meeting up with alumni from across the years. In addition to the fire pit, there have been several more changes to campus including the opening of Willmore Center and other updates and renovations around campus. Willmore Center is named in honor of DENA WILLMORE ’67, who STEPHEN KENNELLY ’98 and I (along with other alumni) had the opportunity to meet during our Alumni In-Focus trip to Ripon two summers ago with President Zach Messitte and Professor of History Diane Mockridge. If you ever get the chance to meet Dena, she is a wonderful woman and a lot of fun to hang out with! I’m so excited that several of you wrote directly to me with updates! This letter is always more fun when I can talk about what you all are doing in your lives! We have several congratulations to make first! BRITTANY KAUFMAN PRATT ’09 and her husband, Jeremy, welcomed their daughter, Samantha Kay Pratt, on July 10, 2017. Although she was born in Missouri, she already has honored her Wisconsin heritage with a picnic at her first brewery and a first polka dance with Mom. Little Miss is looking forward to her first trip to Ripon this winter! Congratulations, Brittany, we can’t wait to meet her! Next up, we send congratulations to HEATHER KOELLER ’09 on her marriage to Andrew J. Plucinski. Heather and Andrew were married Sept. 22, 2017, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We wish Heather and Andrew Plucinski all the best as they start their lives together! AMANDA KNUTSON ’09 also has some news to share. Amanda is currently teaching elementary school at an alternative school. She has grades 1-5 in her room, and luckily has a small class! Amanda also is working toward her special education teaching license through the 10 SPED program through St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. Good luck this school year, Amanda, both in your own classroom and with your class work! GRANT ERICKSON ’09 and CARISSA TURK ERICKSON ’11 are expecting the couple’s second son in January. ARIELLE DENIS ’09 now is working for the City and County of Denver’s Auditor’s Office Prevailing Wage Division. Arielle started her new job in April 2017. We hope you’re loving your new job, Arielle. Keep us updated on how that is going! SHAWN KARSTEN ’09 and CARISSA ZUERCHER KARSTEN ’10 of Ripon, Wisconsin, had a baby girl, Evelina Ann Karsten, born Aug. 14, 2017. Attorney AMY HANSEN SULLIVAN ’09 of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, has been named a partner of the Pinkert Law Firm LLP as of Jan. 1, 2017. A native of southern Door County, Amy graduated from Ripon College and from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She joined the firm in 2012 and focuses her practice on real estate, estate planning, business law and general practice. Amy is involved in several community organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Door County and Money Management Counselors. She currently resides in southern Door with her husband, Michael. JUSTIN HOKE ’09 of London, England: “I relocated to London, England, in November 2015 with my wife, Sinem. I am currently working at University College London-Institute of Ophthalmology developing gene therapies for congenital blindness and other retinal diseases. We currently have gene therapies going to clinical trial after they successfully restored or prevented further loss of vision.”