the classes
2004 Matthew Fowles was recently featured in the Albany Times Union. The story focused on students at Tech Valley High School, who learned how the electric grid operates by building one themselves. Matthew, an engineer for National Grid, visited the class and helped with the project. Greg LiCalzi Jr. writes, “All is well for the LiCalzi family. My wife Kim and I have settled down in Manhasset, N.Y., and have 2 young girls. Colette (Coco) is 3 and Lucia (Lulu) is 1, and both are loving life. We debate whether they will be future Stags (Kim is a Fairfield alum) or Dutch(wo)men. I work in the public finance sector in New York City, as well as run Ace in the Hole Foundation (aceintheholefoundation.org). Ace in the Hole was started to honor my twin brother Mike who died in Iraq in 2006. Mike was also accepted to Union and was very close to coming but chose the US Naval Academy after receiving endorsements from Senator Schumer and Congresswomen Carolyn McCarthy. We aim to help Mike’s former Marine battalion as well as health and veteran organizations. I appreciate the support from many fellow alumni who have come to our annual beach run at Lido Beach in May. I still run into many Dutch throughout the Northeast and can’t avoid some elder alumni: Greg ’74 (dad) and Mark ’77 (uncle).
2005 CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Andrea Doenges andrea.doenges@gmail.com Andrew B. Palumbo was named Worcester Polytechnic 54 | UNION COLLEGE Fall 2016
Kim and Greg LiCalzi Jr. ’04 with daughters Coco and Lulu
2nd Lt. Justin Merolla ’06, USMC, and 2nd Lt. MarcAnthony Parrino ’14, USMC
Matt Smith ’07 coaches the varsity boys basketball team at BASIS Chandler (Arizona)
Institute’s first dean of admissions and financial aid in December 2015.
reconnect with fellow Union alumni—working on a team with Haley Lamson ’04, and occasionally bumping into MBA students Kevin Flike and Jeff Meyer ’08.”
Chandler, an elite charter school in Chandler, Ariz., that was named the second most challenging high school in American last year by the Washington Post. Smith also teaches a senior capstone course, AP U.S. History, and AP World History. One of his proudest teaching moments was when over 10 seniors from this year’s Class of 2016 applied to Union.
Peter Gross writes, “On April 29, 2016, Staff Sergeant Michael Sargent ’08 was awarded the Silver Star for valor for his heroism in combat in Afghanistan. Michael’s profound bravery and selflessness in the face of enemy fire and against extreme odds are astounding. I’m proud to call him a close friend, having shared the lacrosse field with him at Union College. As an American, I’m humbled at the thought of what men like him experience and sacrifice to protect our freedoms. Thank you for your service, Michael. You are forever a hero.” See related story on pg. 56.
2006 CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Sarah Heitner sarah.t.heitner@gmail.com Emily (Clark) Williams writes, “I recently transitioned from a career in the travel industry to higher education and started my new path as assistant director of alumni relations at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. It’s been an exciting and engaging opportunity thus far. Not to mention, I’ve been able to
On June 29, 2016, 2nd Lt. Justin Merolla, USMC, and 2nd Lt. MarcAnthony Parrino ’14, U.S.M.C., graduated from the United States Marine Corps Basic Officer Course in Quantico, Va. While in the same platoon at the Basic School, Merolla and Parrino reminisced about their days at Union College and how their leadership development experiences there prepared them to accomplish the Basic Officer Course’s mission. Merolla is training on Camp Johnson, N.C., before beginning the Logistics Officer Course in October. Parrino is attending the Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Va.
2007 CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Nick Salvatoriello nick.salvatoriello@gmail.com Matt Smith was recently named the Charter Athletic Association Division II Coach of the Year for the second time in three years. He coaches the varsity boys basketball team at BASIS
Reyna Machado writes, “On Feb. 19, 2016 I took the licensing exam to become a licensed master social worker. I passed and received my license, dated Feb. 24, 2016. I can now officially call myself Reyna Starr Machado, LMSW!” Jess Cromeek is operations manager for Ethical Electric, a Washington, D.C. based wind and solar power supplier. Her specialties include EDI utility system data, exceptions management, Renewable Energy Credit (REC) tracking administration, and Green-e Energy Audits. Ethical Electric is a supplier of 100 percent clean, renewable energy and a retail electricity supply company. Ethical Electric is a Certified B Corporation, which means it is certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet high standards for having a positive impact on the world and benefiting society. It