Alumni Updates: 1996-2000
Excerpts from some notes we received from you in response to the 2002 call for info. We need some updates!
Melissa Muehler, '00
Howdy!! I was wandering around the internet and LOVE the Speech Com web site. Very impressive! How are things at Augie and the Speech Com Department? I am doing wonderfully. I am a Student Activities Director at my old high school (Providence Catholic) in New Lenox, IL. It is basically a PR job for 1200 kids! I plan special events for the school and also have a seat on the Administration (BIG TIME!!). This August was the start of my 2nd year and it is so much easier than the 1st year. I recently moved out of my parents house and moved into an apartment with a friend from Augie. I am enjoying my independence, but boy is it expensive! I am traveling to Spain next June with students from the school and am so excited because I have never been out of the US before. . . . Please tell everyone in the department I say hello and I will try to get out there soon:) Have a great day!
Nick Popoli, '00
Just wanted to give all of you some new information. Effective April 2, 2002 - I received a new job -- District Service & Parts Manager Toyota Motor Sales. I apologize if I have not been in contact with many of you for a number of months now. I am on the road Monday through Friday in central Massachusetts. Hope everyone is well!
Joe Tolnai, '99 (jrtolnai@hotmail.com) It is July 4th, I have just returned home to Chicago from Alaska. I was married to my long time girl friend Katherine on June 22nd. Katherine is a grade school teacher, and I am still working in technology at the Chicago Tribune. Now that we are back and settled I am looking into getting an MBA, and she is looking into a graduate degree in Library Science.
The lessons I learned in the department at Augustana manifest themselves every time I open my mouth in a meeting, write E-mail, or send a memo. I find technical people that can speak in nontechnical vernacular, or speak at all, tend to be more successful... I will of course need to find at least 10 sources to back up that statement... another item the department taught me is how to research. I think you did a very good job!
Christy (McKee) Warlow, '99 (staleylr@dtnspeed.net) Hello everyone! I really enjoyed reading the letter I received from Dr. Snowball updating me on everything that has been going on in the Speech Com department at Augie. It sounds as if there have been a lot of changes, both in the faculty and the curriculum.
There have also been a lot of changes with me. After graduating from Augie, I got a job with State Farm Insurance in Bloomington, IL as an HR/Benefits Systems Support Analyst. I have been working in HR at State Farm for the past 3 years, and I recently received a new job within State Farm. I will be transferring from the HR department to Systems where I will work as a Project Planner. My communications degree definitely helped me to land this new position!
Personally, I was married September 11, 1999 (who knew it would be such a horrible day 2 years later) to Chip Warlow (high school sweetheart). We just had a first child on September 19, 2001. We had a beautiful baby girl who we named Charly Christine. She is doing wonderful and growing like a weed (I would have to challenge Dr. Snowball's statement that his son is the smartest and cutest...although I did check out his web site and he has a pretty strong argument:)
