CLASS NOTES

1973

Tomas Theis works as a Sales Rep in the Sporting Goods Business. He lives in Apple Valley with his wife Maxine.

1974

Edward “Curtis” Otto retired after successful careers in both education and the US Military, with a final assignment as Director of the Army School System. He and his wife now enjoy retirement, traveling, and many volunteer jobs in the Leavenworth, Kan. area.

1979

Craig Porter retired from officiating youth, high school, and college after 20 years. His youngest daughter got married April 29, 2023. He welcomed his fifth grandchild (a girl) in December 2022. He still works part time at the company he owns, PlastiCert.

Kimberly Hewson recently retired.

1982

Terrence Fogarty’s artwork was part of the new Art of College Football exhibit at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga. His pieces in the exhibit include the “Horsepower” painting of SMSU Mustang Football at play on Mattke Field in the Schwan Regional Event Center.

1987

Janine Torgerson Teske recently retired from the University of Minnesota-Morris and started a new position as the Operations Specialist at the Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley Schools, in addition to taking on the role as SMSU Alumni Board President.

1990

Jay Kyle Petersen’s book, A Comprehensive Guide To Intersex, is in 232 libraries in 10 countries throughout the world and will be released in French in 2023. He presented an educational talk for Intersex Visibility Day on October 26, 2022 that 106 people attended virtually from 10 different countries.

1993

Kristin Gruhot was a finalist for Equipment World Contractor of the Year with D&G Excavating.

1995

Chad Johnston was named 2022 Minnesota Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year after 21 years at Minneota High School with a career record of 200-41 and five state championships including in the 2022 season.

Jason Hollan started a new position as Technical Media Producer/Newscast Director at WSIL-TV in Carterville, Ill.

1996

Kim Wermers was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the NACCU (National Association of Campus Card Users) organization which is a membership of institutions that are involved with the campus identification credential market. She has been the Card Services Administrator at Dakota State University for 22 years.

2002

Carrie (Hemiller) Schuller started a new position as Victim Services Coordinator at the Jackson County Attorney’s Office in Jackson, Minn. in June of 2022.

2003

Gail (Wyffels) Boe published her first children’s book, Lettuce, in April 2021 and is currently working on a second children’s book.

2008

Kane Malo started a new position as assistant principle at IJ Holton Intermediate School in Austin, Minn.

Nicholas Schultz started a new position as the pastor of St. Olaf and Pukwana Lutheran Churches near Chamberlain, SD.

Samantha Jane (O’Neill) Koktan and husband Joseph Koktan ’11 welcomed twin girls on March 31, 2022 named Penelope and Delaney Koktan.

2009

Christina Boike started a new position at Anfinson Thompson in October 2022 and became a partner in January 2023.

Megan Seppmann was married on December 31, 2022, to Omar Naimi. She graduated with her Executive MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in December 2022.

2012

Kate Cates started as new position as principal at Our Lady of the Prairie Elementary School in Belle Plaine, Minn.

2015

Mercedes Johnson Miura and husband Hiroki Miura ’15 welcomed their second child, a baby boy, in January 2022.

2017

Nicole (Schwing) Lewis was married to Robert Lewis on September 3, 2022

Blake Gimbel married Danielle Moldenhauer ‘18 on June 25, 2022.

2018

Uma Czech started a new position working as an Admission Counselor at Summit AcademyOIC in Minneapolis.

Madison (Merritt) Lyden was married on June 25, 2022 to Lane Lyden ’17 in Osceola, Wisconsin. Fellow alumni in the wedding party were: Devon Lyons ’18, Konghye Her ’17, Nick Rathke ’18, Jessica (Jacob) Rathke ’17, Skylar Versteeg ’17, and Brianna (Staton) Knudson ’18

2019

Doria Drost gifted a custom ‘Mr. Stefani’ jacket to Blake Shelton as part of her position as the Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls. Blake shared a photo of the jacket with his wife, Gwen Stefani, who then shared it on her social media. The story was covered by national news outlets.

Hannah Beacom oversees marketing and product development for the new pet insurance product at Physicians Mutual, based out of Omaha, Neb. and recently got engaged while on a trip in northern Finland.

Elizabeth (Beth) Jean Conner: May 6, 2023

Director of Residential Life from 1976-1998

Mary Beth Faimon: January 18, 2023

Professor of Social Work from 1996-2010

Jim Hubley ‘74: February 20, 2023 English Department Adjunct Professor from 1990–2017

James S. Jacobson ‘71: February 4, 2022

Emil Milacek: February 25, 2023

Professor of Accounting from 1974-1989

Debra Reyes ’81: April 7, 2023 Contact