C L A S S 2010 earthquake in Haiti has become old news, conditions in the country are still quite rough. Dehydration from cholera and other preventable problems are still taking many lives. The hospital provides much needed medical care for anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. In a country of 10 million people this is the only hospital equipped for critical care, neonatal intensive care, and pediatric intensive care. They also have the only CT scanner in the country. My work with the hospital will be wherever they have the greatest need. I could be in ICU, pediatrics, operating room or emergency room. I don’t find out until the day I show up what I’ll be doing. I have my fingers crossed for pediatrics, though!” Thanks for writing, Jenna, and be sure to give us an update on how your service trip went. We learned the following from UP physics professor Shannon Mayer, who writes: “Abe Olson has been selected to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting in Lindau, Germany this summer. At the meeting 25 physics Nobel Laureates will meet with approximately 550 young physics researchers from around the world to discuss physics and establish an international network of young physics scholars. Abe was nominated to attend the meeting by his research advisor at Purdue University. Abe is in his 4th year of a Ph.D. program in physics at Purdue where holds a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship. Abe began his research career as an undergraduate research student in the Department of Physics here at UP. A link to the Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting: http://tinyurl.com/6mxskdy.”
’08 A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE We heard recently from Marya Maddox (Hughes), who writes: “My daughter, Bri Hughes, graduated from the University of Portland in 2008. And I bless the day that she chose Portland. The small class sizes, the wonderfully quirky professors, and the engaged and engaging priests made for a special experience for Bri. (Also, her grandfather grew up in a house on North Strong Street overlooking the river. Their cows were grazed where now stands the current baseball diamond.) Brianne at this moment is fulfilling her wildest dream by studying lin-
guistics at York University, U.K. It took her a little longer to head out to graduate heaven because her father, Frank Hughes, was brought down by lung cancer in February of 2009. A non-smoker, the loss of this witty, charismatic, Irish-American (both sides of his family) took us all down an unimagined road.” Thanks for the kind words, Marya, best of luck to you and Bri and our prayers and condolences on the loss of Frank. Isaac Achuil Chol writes: “Since UP; I have worked in the Office of the President of South Sudan, for the U.S. Embassy Juba, and I am starting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan in May!” Good to hear from you Isaac, we expect great things from you. Sandi Dennis writes: “Having finished my stint as a HIV/ AIDS Program Development Officer, I am headed to Burundi to finish up my volunteer commitment with Microcredit Empowerment Fund. The last time I left Burundi it was July 2008. My primary project will be working with the microloan organization that I interned with in 2008. ISHAKA is transitioning to the next level of a registered loan and deposit taking institution. They will be implementing organizational and program changes needed to meet the service demands of a growing clientele. To do that they will need greater reserves held at the central bank, along with strong corporate governance and financial management systems. I will have 2 months to participate in that before I come home from my extended 6-month East Africa venture.” Alice Rossignol writes: “I completed my Master’s in Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University in May 2011, and recently started working full-time at The Nature Conservancy in Michigan as a philanthropy writer and editor.” Thanks Alice, and good luck in your new career. Matt Eskue writes: “I finished Law School at the University of Oregon School of Law and am currently a member of the Oregon State Bar.” Thanks for letting us know, Matt, and congratulations.
’09 AN ALUMNI COUPLE Megan Lien writes: “I’m Megan Lien but when I graduated in 2009 I went by Megan Fitzgerald. I just married another class of 2009 alumnus, Ryan Lien. Ryan received his
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The Audigy Group, a financial company in Vancouver, Washington, enjoys a startling ten University alumni among their 120 employees: left to right are Isaiah Fentress ’11, Doug Kienzle ’99, Natalie Workman ’15, Stefanie Graiff ’03, Mason Walker ’03 (Audigy’s president), Ashley Walker ’06, Cathy Hernandez ’01, Christian Piuma ’05, Nick Roberts ’07, Heather Roberts ’03, and Chris Roberts ’04. Mason Walker, in particular, lauded his time on The Bluff as career preparation writ large: “The environment UP creates is so much more than students on a campus attending a university—it’s culture and a family. My professors truly invested in me. They taught me that college was more than graduating with a degree—it means developing as a person who continues to give back to the community that nurtured you.” Our thanks to Audigy’s Nathan Miller for the entertaining photograph. B.S. in nursing and now works at Good Samaritan Hospital in downtown Portland. I received my B.S. in mathematics and continued my schooling at Portland State University where I just received my master’s in mathematics. We actually just got married on St. Patrick’s Day at the University of Portland chapel and our priest was Fr. Mark Ghyselinck, who Ryan knew from doing the Europe summer study abroad program. We first met during our freshman year when we were both living in Corrado hall so we’re very thankful for our time at UP since it brought us together!” Thanks for writing Megan, we love to hear about couples who find each other here on The Bluff. Jordan Allensworth writes: “I started medical school last fall and will graduate from OHSU in 2015 with an MD.”
’10 WELCOME, JETT! Our very own Krista KennedyHo, who works in the interna-
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tional student services office, along with her husband, Phong Ho, welcomed Jett Si Ho, born on October 5, 2011. He was 6 lbs. 6 oz. and 19
inches long. “We are so excited to have him in our lives,” she says. “He is a very happy baby and enjoys walks on the University of Portland campus.” Michelle Oliver writes: “After completing a year of post grad