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CLASS REUNION CELEBRATIONS
10th Reunion Cluster: Classes of 2012, 2013 & 2014
25th Reunion: Class of 1998
30th Reunion Cluster: Classes of 1992, 1993 & 1994
45th Reunion Cluster: Classes of 1977, 1978 & 1979
50th Reunion: Class of 1973
55th Reunion: Class of 1968
60th Reunion: Class of 1963
Dear Valued Alumni and Friends,
I’m sure you have heard the expression “it takes a village.” This common colloquialism is even more true when it comes to our alumni volunteer community. By offering their time, talents and treasure, our outstanding alumni volunteers help to create a strong and deeply valued aspect of our Titan community. These volunteers can be found just a few short blocks from our campus to as far as the West Coast, and through their fine work, many programs are further enhanced and organized for the benefit of their fellow alumni and our students.
One of our most committed groups is our Alumni Council, spearheaded by the current president, Bill Eavenson ’73. The council’s nominated members have invested their energy into strengthening the foundation of the College. Each year, they consistently boast 100% participation in their financial support, provide student recommendations to our admissions department and are strong advocates of our crowdfunding efforts, which can be directly tied back to thousands of dollars in peer-to-peer solicited gifts.
Additionally, through our regional representative network managed by the Alumni Council, volunteers have succeeded in growing their presence to various corners of the country. These self-identified representatives planned nearly 13 events—both virtual and in-person—in the last year and helped to keep their constituencies engaged with Westminster information on a quarterly basis. Many of these representatives, in addition to non-reps, chose to host and organize a national networking day event in April, offering their geographically-close alumni the opportunity to gather and expand their personal and professional networks. Similarly, we’ve witnessed other volunteers give back through panel discussions like that of our Analyst Program and Professional Networking Symposium and through planning reunion events. Opportunities like these allow our community to recognize that although they may not be in New Wilmington any longer, their Westminster community is wherever they go—ready to support and welcome them. These alumni volunteers understand that their connection to Westminster did not end when they received their diplomas, but rather it continues throughout a lifetime.
In working closely with our alumni volunteers, I consistently witness their deep commitment, extraordinary passion and selfless dedication to a place that laid the groundwork for their successes. I am deeply appreciative of this outstanding group. It is this village that offers assistance to scale our outreach, stewardship and institutional priorities to a level that could not be achieved without their contributions. To become an active volunteer, I invite you to contact me—and share your love of Westminster with those around you! I also encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIN! (Scan the QR code below with your phone’s camera to find my profile.)
Thank you for your support of Westminster!
Kara Montgomery Senior Director of Alumni Engagement
1954
MARYBETH McINDOE HOEKJE reports that while attending a pancake breakfast at St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas, in November 2022, she was approached by a woman she had never met singing “Ring out the bells in Old Main Tower again.” Marybeth joined in and the trio finished the song together—“including the appropriate ‘rah, rahs,’ much to everyone’s amazement.” The woman was Nancy Schlafer Stenberg ’66, who knew MaryBeth’s daughter Susan Calkins Elliott ’76, who was also present. “We had a lovely few minutes remembering our alma mater. Who would imagine that in one church in the middle of Texas there would be three who have such great memories of Westminster— and who can still remember the fight song!”
1966
JEFFREY KELLAM, retired Presbyterian minister, cohosts “The Spirit of Jazz” podcast with Bill Carter, pianist, composer and founder of the Presbybop Jazz Quartet. The podcast’s general theme is the link between jazz and spirituality. For more info visit www. presbybop.com
1967
JACK RIDL’s new collection, All at Once, was one of six manuscripts chosen from more than 500 submissions for publication in 2024 by CavanKerry Press. He also received his 19th nomination for the Pushcart Prize. On the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine he joined several other poets for a reading from their anthology Busy Griefs/Raw Towns, the proceeds from which will go to the Ukrainian Relief Fund. Additionally, Jack continues teaching from his home and each Thursday he hosts a 15-minute YouTube show, “The Sentimentalist.”
1968
VIRGINIA MAYO, retired hospice chaplain and recorded minister with the Religious Society of Friends of Pittsburgh, recently published a devotional book for Advent, Let Nothing You Dismay: Reflections at Advent. The book features 28 days of reflections, carols and prayers as a way to embrace the spirituality and mystery of the advent season.
TITANS TOGETHER | Katherine
“Tat” Resovsky Baine ’68 played the dedication and celebration service of the transplanted and updated 95-year-old pipe organ from a closed church in Binghamton, N.Y. to Northminster Presbyterian Church in Endwell, N.Y., in April. Tat performed the music of Bach, Dupont, Schroeder, Langlais and Childs. She is the organist at Northminster, where the Rev. Rachel Helgeson ’01 serves as pastor. Jeff ’66 and Joan Maisch Kellam ’66 of Oswego, N.Y., were in attendance.
1972
TIMOTHY BONNER was reelected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November 2022, serving the 17th legislative district. Bonner also practices law in Grove City, Pa., with partner Timothy McNickle ’66
1973
ROGER NEEL was inducted into the Binghamton University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 in October 2022. Roger has been a radio, television and streaming play-by-play announcer for 23 years covering several Binghamton University sports. Roger and his wife, Beth, reside in Endicott, N.Y.
1975
STEPHEN METCALFE’s third novel, Attachment Patterns, was released by Austin-Macauley Publishing in April. Metcalfe lives in La Jolla, California.
1979
THOMAS TUPITZA received the 2022 Tocqueville Award from the United Way of Erie County (Pa.). United Way’s highest honor, the award recognizes outstanding volunteer service to the community through personal leadership and long-time commitment.
1983
The Rev. ELIZABETH “BETSY” CRAFT WOOSTER was installed as pastor of transformational ministries of Federated Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. She and her husband live in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
1986
BRUCE BARTOO launched Gratitude Health Group, which advises healthcare organizations on building a culture of gratitude to enhance patient experience, reduce clinical burnout and expand philanthropic support. He serves as president and chief gratitude officer, and his wife, Lyndsey Price Bartoo ’88, is vice president and chief operating officer. They live in Walkersville, Md.
1987
VICKI JEWEL RAISLEY published a children’s book, Patrick’s Boring Day, which incorporates singing, movement and instruments into her story. Vicki lives in Goose Creek, S.C.
1991
DARREN GUIDO presented “Collaboration is Key: A Coalition and a DOE Working Together and Improving Social Studies Education” at the National Social Studies Supervisors Association
(NSSSA) conference in Philadelphia in December 2022. He also presented “Can You Picture That? Using Picture Books in Your Secondary Classroom” and “Teach Social Studies Every Day in Grades K-5…Ask Me How” at the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) conference, also in Philadelphia in December. He is a supervisor of instruction for social studies, world language and immersion, as well as multilingual learners in the Caesar Rodney School District in Delaware. He co-chairs the Social Studies Coalition of Delaware and is an adjunct faculty member at Wilmington University.
1995
JONATHAN POTTS was named vice president for communications for the Allegheny County Airport Authority’s Terminal Modernization Program. He and his family live in Pittsburgh.
1996
MARC BANTEL was promoted to chief of investigations for the Virginia Division of Securities and Retail Franchising in March. Marc oversees 10 investigators who examine the offer and sale of securities, investment advice and franchises.
ANDREW ERB was promoted to full professor at Grove City College, where he is the director of bands. Andy performs professionally with the Northwest Passage Trumpet Trio, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown Fine Arts Brass Quintet and several rock bands in the Western Pennsylvania area. He lives in West Middlesex with his wife and their three children.
SINGING SIG KAPS | School of Music graduates and Sigma Kappa sisters Rachel Read Balog ‘17, Taylor Powell ‘19 and Kelsey Weightman Kotun ‘11 are vocalists with the Westmoreland Choral Society that recently completed its 2022-2023 season. The 80-member choir based in Greensburg, Pa., performs choral concerts throughout the community. In addition to its annual three-concert season, the society has performed in New England, Baltimore, Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, Lancaster, Pa., the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Montreal and Toronto.
1997
ANDY BLATT, a two-time NAIA
All-American Titan running back, was inducted into the Mercer County Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. Blatt was inducted into the Titan Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Blatt and his wife, Valerie McCowan Blatt ’98, reside in Eighty-Four, Pa., with sons, Aiden—a first-year finance major at Westminster—and Ashton.
VALENTINE BRKICH recently published a new eBook, Hit the Wall, Silver! And Other Stories from an Unremarkable Yet Magical Childhood. Val and his family reside in Beaver, Pa.
ASHLEY DAVIS was named one of “The 10 Most Disruptive Business Leaders to Follow in 2022” by Time Iconic Magazine. Ashley is a founding member of West Front Strategies, a bipartisan consulting firm in Washington, D.C.
ROBERT LYTLE was promoted to Lt. Col. He is the operations/logistics manager and squadron commander with the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
1998
BECKY RICKARD was named Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s assistant director of institutional giving, helping oversee corporate, foundation and government support for the organization.
1999
KIMBERLY CHASE PAGLIA was the program lead for middle and high school students at the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) international conference in Orlando, Fla., in July 2022. Kimberly lives in Mercer, Pa.
2001
KENDRA McCLYMONDS BROZICH was promoted to the role of enrollment coach and assistant director of graduate admissions at PennWest University’s Edinboro campus.
2004
KATE SWEENEY POSTLE’s first book of poetry, Worrisome Creatures, earned the gold prize in the Florida Book Awards, coordinated by the Florida State University Libraries. She lives in Seminole, Fla., with her husband, Steven Postle ’02, and two children.
2005
RUSSELL MILLS was named vice president and senior regional officer of the Pittsburgh branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He previously served as senior director of the Center for Regional Development at Bowling Green State University. He lives in Perrysburg, Ohio.
2007
COLIN DEAN was elected to the Project Leadership Committee of the Homebrew Project. Homebrew is a free and open-source software package management system used by programmers and power users to install software tools for macOS and Linux. Colin traveled to Brussels to represent the project at FOSDEM, the largest free and open-source software conference in Europe.
BLAKE ORDELL was named head coach at the UDA Soccer Academy at New Mexico State University (NMSU), which allows students from around the world to compete in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) while studying at NMSU. Blake played soccer professionally throughout the U.S., Canada and Sweden for nine years and played for the U.S. National Arena Soccer Team.
TEAL KAWANA, an environmental analyst with Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management, was profiled in the September 2022 Southern Living Magazine article “Turtle Heroes of Palm Beach” for her work in sea turtle conservation. Teal lives in Stuart, Fla.
2008
MALLORY STRICKLAND CIUKSZA, an internist with St. Clair Health System, was named one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2022 40 Under 40 class, which recognizes those who strive to improve diversity, equity and inclusivity in the Pittsburgh region.
2013
SARAH AVERY was named academic adviser for the Information Systems Program at Carnegie Mellon University.
2015
MICHAEL ANNARELLA was named communications manager for the Cleveland Browns.
ALEXIS SHELLOW was named president of the Tyson Chapter of the National Contract Management Association. Alexis currently works as a contracting officer for the federal government, specializing in IT acquisitions.
2016
ERINN ENANY graduated from a threeyear combined general practice dental residency and pediatric dental residency with special health care needs focus at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health in Rochester, N.Y., in 2022. She is a full-time assistant professor of clinical dentistry at Eastman’s Division of Pediatric Dentistry. Erinn resides in Pittsford, N.Y.
2020
EMMA POLLOCK was awarded first place in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences category at the 37th Edward F. Hayes Advanced Research Forum for her oral presentation on “Exploring Perovskite Derivatives as Potential Hosts for Exotic Spin States.” Emma is a chemistry Ph.D. candidate and graduate teaching assistant at Ohio State University.
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FUTURE TITANS | A few tiny Titans represented their future classes at Homecoming 2022. Pictured above right, from left, are Brooklyn Quinn ’44, Colton Weil ’43, Harper Misenhelder ’42, Halle Misenhelder ’41 and Abigail Quinn ’41. They are the children of Sarah Webster Quinn ’07 and husband Jeff Quinn ’07; Tiffany Snyder Misenhelder ’08 and husband Gary; and Tara Snyder Weil ’12 and husband Jeff.
1993 | JENNIFER BOWSER and BENJAMIN
JAMIESON were married in 2022. Ben is the vice president at First National Bank in Butler, Pa., and Jennifer is the chief financial officer at Diamond Drugs Inc. in Indiana, Pa. The couple resides in Butler.
We love a wedding!
Did you recently tie the knot? Be sure to send us your wedding announcement and a photo. Do you have a big Westminster group photo? Send it along! We love to show those Titan connections! Email your high-resolution picture to alumni@westminster.edu or use the online form at www.westminster.edu/classnotes.
2021 | NATALIE FOX and BENJAMIN THOMS ’19, Aug. 14, 2022, at Cherry Barc Farm in Vermontville, Mich. Several Westminster alumni were in attendance, including Ben’s swim teammates Gabie Johnson ’20, Patricia Loughney ’19, Clay Murray ’19, groomsman Luke Simmons ’19, best man Michael Spencer ’19, David Peffer ’19, Mitch Stahara ’18 and Brad Kolesar ’18 Samantha Douglas ’21 served as maid of honor, while Madeline Keenan ’20 was a bridesmaid. Ben is the head brewer at Handmap Brewing in Battle Creek, Mich. The couple is residing in Kalamazoo, Mich.
2008 | CARLEY MIHLO
MCDOWELL and her husband, Adam: a son, Rowan Isaac Ulysses, on Sept. 13, 2022. The family resides in Pittsburgh.
2009
HOFFMANN and her husband, Shawn: a daughter, Molly Penn, on Feb. 6, 2022. The family lives in Gibsonia, Pa.
2011 | LEIGHA KRIVACEK
TIPLEY and her husband, Christopher: a son, Brody Christopher, on Oct. 14, 2022. Brody—who joins brother Deklan and sister Violet— attended his first Westminster function in April: the Jacksonville, Fla., gathering for National Networking Day. The family lives in St. Augustine, Fla.
2013
WELLER and her husband, Troy: a son, Tristen, on Jan. 20, 2021. The family resides in North Wales, Pa.